Izzy

Does depression occur in horses? I know that many animals can suffer forms of depression but I haven't personally experienced it in horses.

hossingaround

My friends boarded horses and they got a mare once that was what I call depressed. The poor thing had been raised by a girl and had always been with her. The family had to board her due to unfortunate circumstances. The poor horse wouldn't eat and was very listless. The family actually had to put her down in the end because she would not respond to anyone else. It was heartbreaking.

Buckskin

I'm not sure about depression personally, but horses can develop steryotipic behaviour. Stallions sometimes self-mutilate by biting and kicking themselves until they bleed, usually if they are frustrated by seeing mares without being able to acess them.

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Izzy

Right-that is the kind of thing that I was referring to as depression! I had a cat who used to bite himself, and that was just because he wasn't allowed to sleep in bed with us. Of course he earned himself a spot in bed with that silliness

But I wasn't sure whether it could affect horses too.

Sugar89

You see horses that are known as 'windsuckers' too, which is a similar thing. They kind of bite onto a hard object and arch their neck while breathing, making an odd sound. It wares down their teeth badly and it's an addictive behaviour, like chewing your fingernails when you're bored.

sallyanna

I think horses can have hormone imbalances just like humans. Some imbalances can cause depression. I also think horses can feel sad or lonely or bored just like us too. That's why we need to make sure they get lots of attention, from us or other animals. Even a llama or other non equine can be beneficial.

beauty

Has this improved in some stallions if they have a companion? I know we've used goats or sheep before; but if they are causing mutilation to themselves, does that mean that they will get mean and violent towards the other animals too?

Izzy

So given that this kind of thing does occasionally happen, how is it treated? Is it just by trying to identify and fix the cause of the depression, and what if they can't identify the reason?

sallyanna

If it's psycological, to fix it, one could try adding a companion or just spend more time with the horse. If it's physical the vet may need to perscribe an antidepressant, if one exists for horses. I wonder if horses can suffer baby blues like humans do.

Buckskin

Some horses get 'hooked' on the behaviour and it becomes very dificult to get them to stop. Some vets prescribe the same drug that's used to treat heroin addiction. In some cases physically stoping the horse from doingth ebhaviour helps - particular halters in the case of windsucking for example, or even surgeries. For stallions it's usually take away teh mares so they can't see them, or let him at them.

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beauty

I had not heard that. They give methadone to horses? What is the point in that and how is that to help with behavior difficulties?

Buckskin

The behaviour is addictive. The horses get a chemical high from doing it, from their own neurotransmitters, just like people can become addicted to behaviours like gambling.

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Izzy

So do they treat it in the same way as a heroine addiction, with a gradually reducing dose of the drug to wean them off it? Or are they on it for life?

And boy that must be a BIG dose of methadone!

flatback_frannie

Interesting about the windsucking and the methadone. I've heard it being a problem for the teeth, but I didn't know it was chemically addictive.

I have also heard of mares suffering baby blues or depression when parted with the foals. Makes me so sad!

rdez

Is this something only prone to this type or are all horses? Thats really sad to think about, esp. if it affects all. I have never heard of any animal doing this before.