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VETERINARY VIEWS
A 2018 German study found that 90% of collapsing horses from sleep deprivation injured themselves – 72% knees, 68% fetlocks, 31% head injuries, and 18% hock injury.
Soft bedding can help prevent injury in horses with sleep disorders.
to protect skin from abrasion. Good bedding in the stall and less abrasive footing in the paddock also help to minimize skin abrasion wounds from falling. Any time a horse collapses, it is at risk of more serious injury than skin abrasion. A 2018 German study found that 90% of collapsing horses from sleep deprivation injured themselves – 72% knees, 68% fetlocks, 31% head injuries, and 18% hock injury.
Another important concern is to pay attention to how a horse is tied. Break-away snaps should always be used on lead shanks and in cross-ties in case a sleep disorder horse starts to fall. Stalls and paddocks should
be configured with protection for horses at risk – padding on walls and forgiving floor material in a stall, and removal of dangerous objects in turn out. It helps to document frequency of these occurrences, and to get a video recording to characterize the behavior when possible. A security camera in the stall can also be informative, particularly if set up to record 24/7 for a week.
Break-away snaps should always be used on lead shanks and in cross-ties in case a sleep disorder horse starts to fall.
IDENTIFYING A CAUSE
Monitor your horse for signs that he may not be getting sufficient rest. A horse that never lies down, rarely rolls, and tends to sleep primarily on his feet is one that could benefit from a veterinary evaluation. Consult with your veterinarian about any pain issues your horse might be experiencing that need to be addressed to allow him to lie down for rest and sleep. A full blood panel and diagnostic testing are important to rule out other causes of collapse – cardiovascular, respiratory,
neurologic problems, or electrolyte derangements.
For horses with sleep deprivation issues, it helps to provide a safe environment with good bedding, housing with or next to compatible horses, and in an area with no overt threats. A horse in pasture turnout with other horses
may feel the need to remain vigilant and guard his “herd.”
A full blood panel and diagnostic testing are important to rule
out other causes of collapse
– cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic problems, or electrolyte derangements.
Environmental insecurity may also interrupt normal sleep rhythms. Examples include things you might find trivial, but a horse may not. Such as: separation from a buddy, change in stall location or size, change in routine, blanket changes, even weather matters. High environmental activity and/or noise issues like high-voltage power lines or persistent noise
of tractors and cleaning equipment might affect some individuals and cause anxiety. Loud music in the barn is also a deterrent
to sleep whereas soft guitar music is said to be calming. Stress from training, travel, and competition may create anxiety and lead to disrupted sleep patterns.
For horses with pain issues, a trial of a non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drug may ease a horse’s comfort and enable more time lying down. Older horses may be suffering from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID aka Cushing’s) that alters normal sleep patterns – testing for PPID is easy and the syndrome often well managed with pergolide medication. Other syndromes, like Lyme’s disease, gastric ulcer syndrome (GUS) or equine protozoal myelitis (EPM), also may impact a horse’s ability to achieve appropriate rest; there are therapeutic medications to manage these problems.
Addressing the issue of sleep deprivation in
a horse is possible by sleuthing out a potential cause. When resolved, a horse’s performance and attitude are likely to improve dramatically.
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