Growing up, we all heard one or more myths about animals. Ever heard that a camel stores water in its hump? Or that the dogs are probably colorblind? Without looking deeper into the realities of these beliefs, these phrases have been passed down from one generation to another. However, researchers have found that at the end of the day, they are just that- myths. One such myth is about the one-toed mammal, the horse.

Many believe that horses sleep only in the standing position. While this might not be all wrong, it isn’t the complete truth either. A popular equestrian and YouTuber once shed light on the facts related to this common misconception.

What you know about horses might not be true

In September 2019, Youtuber Han highlighted 10 common misconceptions about this domesticated mammal. Among the others, she answered whether horses sleep only in the standing position. Firstly, Han confirmed that horses could sleep while standing. Explaining how that works, she said, “…now don’t get me wrong horses can sleep while they’re standing. I think we’ve all seen that before. They do have a locking mechanism which allows them to not fall flat on their faces while they’re doing that.”

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However, it isn’t the ONLY position they can sleep in. She continued, “…but they also still need REM sleep. Now that is essentially a very deep sleep, and they can only achieve it when they’re lying down. But unlike humans, horses don’t really need that much sleep. So, they only lie down for REM for maybe 1 to 2 hours every single day and usually, it’s taken in like little intervals.”

She further explained that these intervals are usually 15 minutes at a time. Another myth surrounding these animals is that they lay down only in their last moments. While it is nowhere near the truth, at times some horses tend to go into a deep sleep and become unresponsive. Though the owners are aware that the horse is just asleep, the misconception has sowed seeds of doubt even in the experienced minds. Not getting a response from the horse, even after constant nudging is enough to scare even the most knowledgeable rider.

Read More: French Equestrian Forced to Withdraw Hours Ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2020 Event to ‘Preserve the Health and Integrity’ of the Horse

To reiterate, horses can sleep in a standing position. But they also require a few hours of sleep every day where they are comfortably resting on the ground.

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