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WHY B0 HORSES STAND WHILE SLEEPING? Veterinarians Cant Tell Why They Seldom Lie Down — One Died Standing. All horses when turned out in pasture are more prone to take their rest lying down than when confined in stable stalls, but even when practically tree from human restraint and observation, or any likelihood of danger, they seldom take more than an hour each Bight in the recumbent position, and that period is generally indulged ill 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 good feed and water, but. tired as he may be. he is an animal very shy alxait lying down. "I have known instances where stablemen declared that the horses in their charge had never beea known to take rest in that manner, but always slept standing. "In some of these instances the animals were constantly under human watchfulness night and day, and in Other cases the conclusion; were arrived at because no marks of the bedding were ever found upon their coats. "I now recall an instance of a herse that stood in a stall Beat the entrance of a livery stable. No one ever saw the animal lying down with a period of f iftot n years, and he finally died standing." It is a theory — only a vague supposition — that a horse sleeps standing because iie fears that insects or mice may creep up his nostrils. A mouse in tiie hay at a 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. It has always been said that horses sleep with one eye open and are constantly on guard. An Indian shod in cotton felt moccasins, pra tit ing all the sly arts of his people, could m t. with the wind in his favor, approach a sleeping hoise without being detected. No odd?: how weary a horse may be. his ears are constantly turning anil twisting, so that their funnels may catch the slightest unusual noises.
