Depression in horses?

My mare has obviously been uncomfortable with something for a while when ridden and so we've had vets and physios out, none of whom can tell us what's wrong! Vet's coming out in the morning so they can hopefully confirm something or send her off to one of the nearby equine hospitals to get to the bottom of the problem as she's obviously in pain but is the sort of horse that grits her teeth and does her best anyway so it's very hard to tell whats hurting (I wish she'd just throw a buck or something)! I'm sure nobody can help with this problem at the moment if the vets and chartered physiotherapists can't so that's not my question.


Its not only her performance thats changed recently its her behaviour. I'm sure she's become depressed because of the pain or uncomfort and shows all the symptoms of depression. Lethary, sulking, off her hay, unusual aggression, lowered head, passive, standing in a corner etc. Any1 have suggestions as to how to help her until the underlying problem is solved

Depression in horses?
Judging for your horse knowledge, I'm sure that you have already thought of this, but have you given her pain meds, like Bute (that when there is a lack of pain, you can tell a difference in her demeanor?) or felt any heat anywhere that might suggest inflammation or pain? Has she been shown a lot? Has the farrier tested her with hoof testers for navicular or other problems...or hot nail or something that hasn't even been considered. I value my farrier's opinion completely...I don't know how long this has been going on, but a hoof tester would find an abscess that could have been caused by nothing but stepping on a stone wrong. How old is she? Sometimes nothing but a steady regime of Glucosamine and Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid can make a different horse out of her...does she lie down a lot? does she seem to have difficulty getting up after lying down? If so, this will help. This regime is easily tolerated, unlike Bute and/or Banamine over a long time.
Reply:has anything changed in her eviorment latley? buddy gone? new horse added?


How bout riding? does she act like she is lame?Bit hurting her?saddle or girth pinching??does she refuse to do normal things that she is used to undersaddle?


Is she up to date on her shots-deworming??


just try to keep her normal routine that she is used to...I really have no clue-I am stumped just try to narrow things down.Best of luck and hope the vet can help you out tomarrow.


* I guess I don't understand what you are trying to say,obvioully you know what depression is and what causes it,i have suggested to keep her in the same routine and keep her calm,till you vet comes out tomarrow-but obviously I have not diagnoised what you want me to say correctly considering I have got two thumbs down....I tried to help the best I can- I have never heard of anti-depressents given to horses for the fact when horses get depressed there is usally a reason for it-not the same reasons us humans do-I belive, so i tried to give you maybe options of why she may be acting like she is,,,,,I am not a vet and I don't know your horse- but obviously you are not happy by my answer I gave you the best I can,sorry but I tried ,....best of luck anyways
Reply:Depression in horses is usually either related to how they're being kept or to ill health.





Most horses dislike being confined to a stable too much of the time, especially on their own, as they are "flight" animals and you can't run away in a stable! They like to have company, being herd animals, and most prefer another horse for company, although it has to be said that some horses are not tolerant of "babies" who want to play, or if they themselves are young can find an older horse's company not stimulating enough. Too much confinement or being kept on their own can cause depression and behavioural problems (or vices) in horses.





Aggression is natural in a horse at times, eg mare protecting her foal, a horse protecting "his" herd etc. Some horses are protective about their personal space and don't like others too close around them, particularly when eating or in their stable. At times this aggression is shown to humans when handling them and should be handled firmly but with tact. Persistently aggressive horses have often been mishandled in the past and need a confident, understanding handler.





And no as far as I am aware anti-depressants for horses don't exist, but you can help by having him checked over by the vet and possibly changing his environment.
Reply:maybe she is sad cause she wants to spend more time with u. maybe u hav been spending less time with her and she misses u... that might be the pain not physical but emotion
Reply:I'm suspecting a constant low grade colic...a load of worms, sand, feed change, etc.,





We have a horse who is very emotional and in the past has developed a colic over something in his environment that upset him.
Reply:The symptoms that you describe sound like gastric ulcers - has she been scoped? You might want to put her on a month's course of GastroGard and see if that resolves anything. Depression though is a very common sign of ulcers even when there is nothing else apparent.
Reply:I'm not gonna spout some random nonscense coz i dont really have an answer... but i just wanted to wish you all the best... because there is nutin more painful to you then to see your horse depressed and cant help it... i've seen a few depressed horses... one turned out to be because he stall was always in the dark... we put him out side and he bucked up with in a few days and we now use that stall for hay storage... the other mare we had depressed was one who lost her foal.. she never got over it... its so sad... BEST WISHES and i hope your vet has some answers for you...
Reply:My friend's horse who was an absolute lover, became very mean and just like yours when his back was out of place. Just think when you back hurts, you feel crappy. Try getting a horse chiropractor. They almost had my friend's horse put down b/c the vet thought he had a brain tumor. Here, he had just slipped out in the pasture, or something.
Reply:Several years ago I had a horse come to me to train, he was an older horse that just developed a severe attitude, I considered the probability of pain issues and called a vet out to look, he assured me we had a healthy horse that just had no manners. Later on in the week a friend suggested the most absurd thing I had ever heard, Equine Chiropractics. I laughed him out of my barn. A week later we were driving to the chiropractor cause the owners and I were perplexed and they were willing to try anything. I have never seen a horse bend that many ways before but the differences showed immediately. After three sessions he seemed to be a completly different horse. Sorry I couldnt help with the depression but it is an idea. Equine Chiropractors are reasonably priced but hard to find. Good Luck



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