Researchers finally solved a long-standing mystery that interested many horse lovers: why do these animals prefer to sleep standing up?
This information was reported by T4, URA-Inform reports.
It turns out that this is not just a strange habit, but a well-thought-out survival strategy.
Sleeping on the Hooves: Protection from Predators
As Karen Waite, an equine behavior expert at Michigan State University, explains, sleeping standing up is an adaptation that allows horses to be always ready in the face of danger. If a predator approaches, the horse can react instantly and run away, which gives it a significant advantage.
A Unique Relaxation Mechanism
It's worth noting that horses don't just tense up while they sleep. Nature has endowed them with a unique mechanism that allows them to stabilize their joints and relax their leg muscles, tendons and ligaments while they doze while standing. This helps them save energy and avoid fatigue.
Adequate rest in a horizontal position
However, despite all the benefits of sleeping standing, horses need to rest properly need to go to bed. Only in a horizontal position can they achieve the REM sleep phase, which is necessary for full recovery. Lack of such rest can lead to sleep deprivation and negatively impact their health.
The ability of horses to sleep standing up is therefore an amazing example of an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to survive in the wild. However, to maintain good health and full recovery, it is also important for them to go to bed from time to time.
Recall that we previously reported how to make a green banana ripe in 15 minutes: simple life hacks.