פירוש על ברכות 6:22

The horse was known to be a light sleeper. According to Sukkah 26 b its sleep consisted of only 60 respirations.

Cf. Abot 5:23: "Judah b. Tema said : Be strong as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleet as a hart, and strong as a lion, to do the will of thy Father Who is in heaven" (Singer, p. 203).

[Never did midnight pass while I was asleep: Seemingly, He (King David) was expressing that it never happened that I was asleep at chatzot, and sometimes I would be up earlier from the neshef (evening)]