Urgent advice pls- horse lying down in.field

[tearinghairout]

Am out in the country, horse is lying on its side in middle of the field in.wet grass..it did move its head as though it was gong to get up. I've been away for ten mins & come back - same. Should I knock on the owner's door or is this normal? Thx

It's companion is grazing as normal. I walk past here most days and the pair are always upright.

I don't know anything about horses but I do remember a friend who keeps horses complaining about people calling her to tell her one of the horses is lying down. She said it was normal and they sometimes sleep like that.

It just doesn't feel right, but I don't want to be a twit if this is normal. It's not moving.

Ah, ok thanks xx

Perfectly normal. Unless its panting or visibly distressed it's having a rest.

By panting I mean shallow breathing.

I’ve got 4 ponies and quite often I go out and think they’re dead! They lie flat out sometimes and are quite happy basking in the sun at times!

Perfectly normal!! My mare spends a lot of her field time laid flat out sun/rain/wind bathing!

Thaaaaank yoouuuuuu all! Much appreciated. it doesn't appear distressed. I've seen the owner check on.them at around 4pm in the past so doubtless she will be out soon anyway. Phew!

It is pretty normal - I’ve got 2 ponies. 1 is always laying flat out snoring her head off and if I had a £1 for every “oh my god, I think your horse is dead” phone call I’ve had, she could pay her own vet bills. She catches me out sometimes.

However, I have another one who rarely lies down when she’s out in her field or people are around. When she does, it means she has colic and I need to get the vet out pronto.

If you’re worried, can you get close enough to them without going into their field to try and get a reaction from them - clap your hands or something and see if you get an ear twitch?

Normal. Some sleep flat out, and some even snore!

Even my cat does this, he lies in the garden pretending he's dead until he has a crowd asking if he's ok. Then he snaps one eye open and rolls over little brat

Op you are so kind! My horses still occasionally give me a fright when stretched out! Little swines!