Random thoughts: napping

 

Didn’t get much sleep the other night, so around noon a nap sounded good. While driving out of town towards the country I finally spotted a barn next to a wide open field full of horses. I put my van in park, turned the key off and got out.

 

 

Walking out to the middle of the field I looked in all directions to make sure there were no predators. After I felt comfortable, I stood tall, closed my eyes and went to sleep.

 

Of course that’s not where I napped. I STOOD in the middle of my bedroom while sleeping??? Why go out in a field, right?

 

Horses are prey animals, so they need to be cautious where and when they get their rest. Because of their straight back they have difficulty getting up quickly from a lying position. To avoid an attack from a predator, most of their sleep is standing in the daytime not at night. They have the ability to lock their back legs and lean forward while sleeping.

 

A horse requires approximately an hour or less of REM sleep a day. That’s why on a sunny afternoon you might see several horses lying down, while one remains standing on guard watching for intruders.

 

Sitting is not a normal action for horses either, because of the pressure the position puts on their internal organs.

 

While we feel safe and comfortable laying and sitting in our own setting. A horse basically stands all of it’s adult life; and sometimes while someone is sitting on them.

 

Poor horses !!!