A study by Doctoral Researcher Heli Suomala of the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine found that about five per cent of horse owners suspected their horse experienced sleep-related problems. Concerns about sleep disturbances mainly involved warmbloods aged over 13 and standing at least 160 cm height at the withers. In contrast, the horse’s sex did not appear to be a factor, as disturbances were reported equally in mares, stallions and geldings.
The study identified a link between hard bedding and sleep disturbances. However, no individual type of bedding material emerged as a statistically significant risk factor.
“In ensuring sufficient rest, the amount of bedding material is more important than its type. Horse bedding should be dry and soft,” stresses Suomala.
Typical signs observed in horses with suspected sleep disturbances include unwillingness to lie down and nocturnal fetlock injuries.
“Also reported were several cases of loss of balance or unexpected falls,” states Associate Professor Anna Mykkänen, who led the study.
Although horse sleep disturbances have received more attention in recent years, their underlying causes remain largely unknown.
The study examined horses over the age of four and kept in the same individual stalls for at least three months. The survey was completed in the Nordic countries by 2,578 horse owners or regular caretakers; of these, 1,749 responses met the study criteria.
The study was conducted as part of the UNIHEPO project on sleep as a horse welfare indicator, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Original article
Suomala, H., Brotherus, I., Hänninen, L., Ternman, E. & Mykkänen, A. Risk factors associated with owner-reported sleep disturbances in Nordic horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, DOI: 10.1111/evj.14560
Further information
- Doctoral Researcher Heli Suomala,
, +358 50 577 0321 - Associate Professor Anna Mykkänen, project leader,