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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Risk factors associated with owner-reported sleep disturbanc...
Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14560

Risk factors associated with owner-reported sleep disturbances in Nordic horses.

Abstract: Very little is known about sleep disturbances in horses, although several management or animal-based factors may contribute to an increased risk of disturbances. Objective: To investigate factors related to rest and sleep behaviour of horses kept in stalls as perceived by Nordic horse owners or caretakers and their association with suspected sleep disturbances (SSD). Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: The 40 question online international survey included a convenience sample of horse owners or caretakers with horses over 4 years old kept in the same individual stalls for at least the last three previous months. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to generate models of the factors associated with the SSD and their possible causes and consequences for the horses. Results: Overall, 5.0% of respondents (88/1749) suspected that their horse had sleep disturbances. The horse-specific factors which were associated with SSD (adjusted OR; 95% CL) were age in years (1.12; 1.07-1.16), withers height (1.05; 1.03-1.08), current illness/injury (3.14; 1.92-5.15), if the horse was not seen laying down (27.82; 8.72-88.75), nightly injuries (9.16; 3.36-25.00), loss of balance/unexpected fall (40.30; 16.77-96.87), daytime drowsiness (3.85; 1.68-8.82) and difficulties lying down/getting up (16.33; 6.02-44.30). The environment-specific factors associated with SSD were hard and dry (3.50; 1.56-7.84) and hard and wet (8.63; 2.41-30.94) lying surface. Conclusions: Self-selection enrolment of participants may limit the generalisability of the findings. Conclusions: Several environmental and horse-related factors were found to be associated with SSD in horses, including hard and dry/wet lying surfaces. Unassigned: Pouco se sabe sobre distúrbios do sono em cavalos, embora diversos fatores relacionados ao manejo ou ao próprio animal possam contribuir para um risco aumentado desses distúrbios. Objective: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os fatores relacionados ao comportamento de descanso e sono de cavalos mantidos em baias, e sua associação com suspeitos distúrbios de sono (SDS), de acordo com observações e relatos de proprietários ou cuidadores de cavalos nórdicos. Unassigned: Uma pesquisa internacional online, voltada para proprietários e cuidadores de cavalos, com quarenta perguntas foi realizada com base em uma amostragem por conveniência. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa incluiu proprietários ou cuidadores de cavalos com idade acima de quatro anos, mantidos nas mesmas baias individuais por pelo menos os últimos três meses. Utilizou‐se regressão logística binária multivariada para gerar modelos dos fatores associados aos SDS, bem como suas possíveis causas e consequências para os cavalos. Results: No total, 5,0% dos respondentes (88/1749) suspeitavam que seu cavalo apresentava distúrbios do sono. Os fatores específicos do cavalo que se associaram aos SDS (OR ajustado; IC 95%) foram: idade em anos (1,12; 1,07 a 1,16), altura da cernelha (1,05; 1,03 a 1,08), doença ou lesão atual (3,14; 1,92 a 5,15), se o cavalo não era visto deitado (27,82; 8,72 a 88,75), lesões noturnas (9,16; 3,36 a 25,00), perda de equilíbrio/quedas inesperadas (40,30; 16,77 a 96,87), sonolência durante o dia (3,85; 1,68 a 8,82) e dificuldade para deitar/levantar (16,33; 6,02 a 44,30). Os fatores ambientais associados aos SDS incluíram superfície dura e seca (3,50; 1,56 a 7,84) e dura e molhada (8,63; 2,41 a 30,94). PRINCIPAIS LIMITAÇÕES: A inscrição voluntária dos participantes pode limitar a generalização dos resultados. CONCLUSÕES: Vários fatores ambientais e relacionados aos cavalos foram associados ao SDS, incluindo superfícies duras e secas/molhadas para os cavalos se deitarem.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-24 PubMed ID: 40704824DOI: 10.1111/evj.14560Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates factors that contribute to suspected sleep disturbances (SSD) in horses, based on surveys from Nordic horse owners or caretakers, and identifies several horse-specific and environmental factors linked with such disturbances.

Objective and Methodology

  • The research aimed to understand the nature of rest and sleep behavior in horses, particularly those kept in stalls, and their association with sleep disturbances as perceived by horse owners or caregivers.
  • The research engaged a convenience sample of horse owners or caretakers across the globe through a 40-question online international survey. This sample comprised owners or caretakers of horses aged above four years, kept in the same individual stalls for a minimum of the preceding three months.
  • A multivariate binary logistic regression was utilized to create models showing the factors associated with SSD alongside their potential causes and impacts on the horses.

Results

  • The survey indicated that roughly 5% of respondents (88 out of 1749) suspected their horse to have sleep disturbances.
  • Horse-specific factors found to have a correlation with SSD included the horse’s age represented in years, withers height, current illness or injury, if the horse was not seen laying down, injuries during the night, unexpected loss of balance or falls, drowsiness during daytime, and difficulties while getting up or lying down.
  • In the case of environmental factors, a hard and dry as well as hard and wet lying surfaces associated with SSD.

Conclusions and Limitation

  • The research concluded that a number of environmental and horse-related factors correlated with SSD in horses, inclusive of hard and dry/wet laying surfaces.
  • However, the study admitted a significant limitation — the self-selection enrolment of participants, which might restrict the broad applicability of the findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Suomala H, Brotherus I, Hänninen L, Ternman E, Mykkänen AK. (2025). Risk factors associated with owner-reported sleep disturbances in Nordic horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14560

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Suomala, H
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland.
  • Equine Information Center, Kiuruvesi, Finland.
Brotherus, I
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Hänninen, L
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Ternman, E
  • Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Steinkjer, Norway.
Mykkänen, A K
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Grant Funding

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland

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