Horses need to sleep lying down at some point. If they sleep standing up, they never sleep very deeply, so in order to rest fully, they sometimes lie down. It also lets them rest their legs :) As long as it's not constant, there shouldn't be anything wrong.
Okey, to clearify:
1. Horses only sleep 2-3 hours a day. They can just stand there and rest aswell, but deep sleep is only for 2-3 hours.
2. Not all horses lay down to sleep, and they certanly don't NEED to. Hence horses beeing "flight, not fight" animals it feels safer for them to stand.
3. It's most common for foals, young and very old horses to lay down sleeping. It has to do with their balanse not beeing 100%.
4. It's very hard on their lungs to lay down for long periods of time, becouse of the amount of preasure they get, so again; it's safer for them to stand.
5. This does NOT mean that it's any danger when the horse lays down to sleep, at any age or time of day. If the horse feels safe (usually with other horses around to warn about predators) and sleepy, they often do.
Comming from someone who's been around horses all her life, went to school to learn about horses and horsetraining and now IS a horsetrainer, and owns 3 horses.
1. Horses only sleep 2-3 hours a day. They can just stand there and rest aswell, but deep sleep is only for 2-3 hours.
2. Not all horses lay down to sleep, and they certanly don't NEED to. Hence horses beeing "flight, not fight" animals it feels safer for them to stand.
3. It's most common for foals, young and very old horses to lay down sleeping. It has to do with their balanse not beeing 100%.
4. It's very hard on their lungs to lay down for long periods of time, becouse of the amount of preasure they get, so again; it's safer for them to stand.
5. This does NOT mean that it's any danger when the horse lays down to sleep, at any age or time of day. If the horse feels safe (usually with other horses around to warn about predators) and sleepy, they often do.
Comming from someone who's been around horses all her life, went to school to learn about horses and horsetraining and now IS a horsetrainer, and owns 3 horses.