Summary:
- This article examines the physiological necessity of sleep in equines, specifically focusing on the critical requirement for Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep to maintain physical and mental health.
- It details the unique behavioral adaptations horses utilize to achieve sleep, including the "stay apparatus" for standing rest and the necessity of recumbency for deep REM cycles.
- The piece discusses clinical indicators of sleep deprivation, such as "sleep attacks," and provides evidence-based management strategies to ensure horses feel sufficiently safe and comfortable to engage in necessary restorative sleep.