Answers

15 answer(s)

<< First   < Prev   [1]   [2]   [3]   Next >   Last >>

Reply	John says: I would think that the horse simply preferred to lie on its back, which although unusual and apparently slightly more stressful (physically) to the horse, is not actually unheard of.As for the legs sticking up, I understand that there is a 'locking mechanism' that a horse's legs have, that enables them to sleep standing up, which is the most usual way they sleep.Presumably this horse's legs were locked straight when it was asleep, even though it was not standing.  (no votes) Tags: animals, human body.
	posted on 2009-04-16 14:11:00 | Report abuse

Reply	KJ says: Are they sure that their horse is sleeping? According to Nathaniel Kleitman (author of 'Sleep and Wakefulness'), horses sleep in any of the 4 ways:a) standing w/ head held freeb) standing w/ head on stall partitionc)lying on bellyd)lying on the side..the most common being sleeping while standing. The forelegs employ a "stay apparatus" and the hind legs, a "check apparatus" so as to prevent falling while resting...this is one unusual horse. Maybe he is suffering from some kind of sleep disorder :s or is simply one of a kind.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2009-04-16 17:07:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Dan says: There are always goings to be a few cases of unusual behaviour for any animal. Extremes exist in any species. It could lock its legs in the air due to the well documented "locking" ability that prevents them from falling over whilst sleeping stood up. Exactly why the horse slept upside down is difficult to know, without being able to communicate with the horse...(lol) or perhaps track down the owner who put up the sign for further information. Perhaps it was taught to sleep on its back like that by a previous quirky owner? Maybe as a foal it saw an horse who was in fact dead and copied it? (Although how even a dead horse would get upside down is a further mystery) Maybe it likes the attention it gets from all the people who come rushing over thinking it might be dead?  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2009-04-20 14:41:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Anonymous says: My horse used to sleep in a similar way and I often had calls from passers-by to let me know that he was dead! It is unusual because horses are prey animals who usually like to sleep in such a way that they can easily take off at the first sign of danger. For this reason, only younger, more agile horses tend to sleep lying down, and only horses that feel secure in their surroundings would sleep in this awkward position. But sleeping lying down is comfortable for horses, from what I can gather, since most sprightly horses will do it whenever they feel relaxed enough.  (no votes) Tags: animals.
	posted on 2009-04-21 02:53:00 | Report abuse

Reply	Anonymous says: Perhaps the horse had recently been transported from Australia.  (1 vote) average rating:5 Tags: animals.
	posted on 2009-04-21 04:05:00 | Report abuse

<< First   < Prev   [1]   [2]   [3]   Next >   Last >>