Dollamur Ortho Stall Mats: When Horses Sleep
Why bolster your horses stall with quality stall mats?
Stall mats are vital for anatomical support and safeguarding horses from injuries Just like us, quality sleep is essential for horses to maintain optimal health and well-being. In general, healthy adult horses require about five to seven hours of sleep per day but since they are polyphasic sleepers, they get their sleep in short naps throughout the day and night instead of consecutive hours. The majority of this sleep can be standing up, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep however, horses need about sixty minutes of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep each day and that can only happen while lying down.
Why do horses sleep standing up?
Horses are prey animals, so sleeping while standing is an adapted survival mechanism that makes them less vulnerable to predators. Another reason is that their large body size and weight can interfere with blood flow and put stress on internal organs and nerves.
And how do they sleep and not fall over while standing and sleeping? Horses have a special system of tendons and ligaments that stabilize the major joints in their legs called the stay apparatus. These soft tissues stabilize the joints in the forelimb and hindlimb, allowing horses to sleep lightly while standing with little effort. Sleep provides horses an important rest and recovery period that repairs muscles, flushes accumulated brain toxins, and strengthens the immune system. Conversely, sleep deprivation can cause unexplained injuries, lethargy, anxiety, and low performance. Whether standing or lying down, we can set our horses up for sleep success.
TIPS to ensure the best rest for your equine partners:
- Be sure your horse has enough room to lay down comfortably, whether in a stall, run in,
or paddock. - Let your horse become familiar with his surroundings so he can feel safe.
- Provide high-quality stall mats featuring shock-absorbing foam and a durable, anti-skid vinyl surface, as well as bedding and that physically supports your horse while in a stall.
- Turn off barn lights at night to support their circadian rhythms allowing for the natural production of melatonin.
- Address underlying medical causes that may prevent horses from lying down, such as osteoarthritis. While they are in their stalls. Mats act as a shock absorber between the hard stall floor and the horses' hooves providing them with the surface they need to thrive.
Dollamur Ortho Stall Mats are the ultimate choice for stall comfort and product quality providing:
- Joint support for your equine partners musculoskeletal system, which includes their bones, muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons.
- Shock absorption to reduce joint stress and fatigue allowing proper rest and recovery after training and competitions.
- Insulation that is important in colder climates giving a horse a more comfortable resting place.
- Easy to clean mats that do not absorb odors or urine.
- Resistance to mold and mildew with their closed-cell, cross-linked foam technology.
- BPA, lead-free mats that do not contain harmful phthalates.
- Respiratory Health support and no off-gassing like most rubber mats.
Many customers use their Ortho Stall Mats to help their equines get quality sleep, as well as to provide a stable, comfortable surface for grooming, at events, and more. Additionally, Ortho Stall Mats come in a variety of sizes, making them ideal for virtually any space – and Dollamur’s innovative FLEXI-Roll® technology makes them easy to roll up for storage or travel. Sizes include:
In summary, horses need both light and deep sleep for their health, and quality stall mats play a crucial role in providing a comfortable, safe, and clean environment for to get the restorative rest to help them thrive. Dollamur is here to support you and your equine partner!
For more information: https://dollamur.com/ortho-stall-mat.