A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare.
Abstract: Sleep is a significant biological requirement for all living mammals due to its restorative properties and its cognitive role in memory consolidation. Sleep is ubiquitous amongst all mammals but sleep profiles differ between species dependent upon a range of biological and environmental factors. Given the functional importance of sleep, it is important to understand these differences in order to ensure good physical and psychological wellbeing for domesticated animals. This review focuses specifically on the domestic horse and aims to consolidate current information on equine sleep, in relation to other species, in order to (a) identify both quantitatively and qualitatively what constitutes normal sleep in the horse, (b) identify optimal methods to measure equine sleep (logistically and in terms of accuracy), (c) determine whether changes in equine sleep quantity and quality reflect changes in the animal's welfare, and (d) recognize the primary factors that affect the quantity and quality of equine sleep. The review then discusses gaps in current knowledge and uses this information to identify and set the direction of future equine sleep research with the ultimate aim of improving equine performance and welfare. The conclusions from this review are also contextualized within the current discussions around the "social license" of horse use from a welfare perspective.
Copyright © 2022 Greening and McBride.
Publication Date: 2022-08-17 PubMed ID: 36061116PubMed Central: PMC9428463DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.916737Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study reviews the sleep patterns of horses, aiming to determine what constitutes normal sleep in horses and how to optimally measure it. The research also explores how changes in a horse’s sleep could reflect changes in its welfare. The information gathered will inform future research and potentially improve horse performance and welfare.
Identification of Normal Sleep in Horses
- This study aims to determine the standard characteristics of normal sleep in horses both quantitively and qualitatively. This includes the amount of time a horse should normally sleep in a day, when and for how long it goes into deep sleep, among other things.
- Understanding what constitutes normal sleep in horses would make it easier to identify any anomalies that could indicate health or welfare issues.
Measuring Equine Sleep
- The researchers also set out to identify the most effective methods for measuring equine sleep accurately and conveniently.
- This would involve researching and comparing various techniques used in previous studies, considering both their accuracy and their logistical implications.
Evaluating Animal Welfare
- Another objective of this research was to determine whether changes in equine sleep could indicate changes in the animal’s overall welfare.
- Problems with sleep could be among the first symptoms of various health issues, so this could be a vital tool for early identification of such problems.
Factors Affecting Equine Sleep
- This review also sought to recognize the primary factors that affect the amount and quality of a horse’s sleep. These could be environmental factors, biological factors, or other variables.
- By understanding these factors, we can create better environments for horses and thereby improve their sleep quality and overall wellbeing.
Future Research and Equine Welfare
- This research will be used to identify gaps in existing knowledge and determine the direction of future equine sleep research.
- The ultimate goal of this and further research is to improve equine performance and welfare. This ties in with broader discussions regarding the “social license” of horse use and how to ensure that the wellbeing of these animals is taken into account.
Cite This Article
APA
Greening L, McBride S.
(2022).
A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare.
Front Vet Sci, 9, 916737.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.916737 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Hartpury University and Hartpury College, Gloucester, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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