How the Horse Sleeps.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 21 September 1917, Page 3

How the Horse Sleeps.

Fifteen Years on Its Legs.

Horses when turned out to pasture ere more prone to take rest lyinn down than when confined in stalls, but even when practically free from human restraint and observation, or any likelihood of danger, they seldom take more than an hour each night in ihe recumbent position, and that period is generally indulged in at about midnight. A noted veterinarian says: "There are some curious facts regarding the disposition of horses in the matter of lying down. To a hard working horse repose is almost as much of a necessity as food and water, but, tired as he may be, be is an aoimal very shy about lying down I have known instances where stablemen declared that horses in their charge have" never been known to take a rest in that manner, but always kept standing. In some of these instances the animals were constantly under human watchfulness night and day, and in other cases the conclusions were arrived at because no marks of bedding were ever found upon their coats. I now recall an instance of a horse that stood in a stall near the entrance of a livery Btable. No one ever saw that animal lying down within a period of fifteen years, and be finally died.standing.

It is a theory—only vague supposition—that a horse sleeps standing because he fears that insects or mice may creep up his nostrils. It is also known that the elephant has the same horror of mice, and that a small rodent can cause more consternation among a herd of those colossal animals that can a tiger or boa-constrictor. A mouse in the bay at a t circus will cause "every elephant in the collection to hold his trunk "aloft, plainly indicating that they fear the little creature may take refuge in the proboscis orifice.

Bat to return to horses. It has always been said that they "sleep with one eye open." and are constantly on guard. An Indian shod in cotton felt mocassins, practising all the sly arts of bis people, could not, with the wind io bis favour, approach a sleeping'horse without being detected. No odds how weary a horse may be, his ears are constantly turning and twißting, so that their funnels may catch the - slightest unusual noises.—lnland Farmer.