Depression is sadly a common occurrence in humans, and it is often made worse at this time of year with the short daylight hours and cold weather, but do our horses suffer with depression too?
Studies, such as this one by Fureix et al. (2012) have shown that horses share similar emotions to humans and other species. So just like us, they can occasionally feel down in the dumps! Further research is necessary to better understand equine behaviour, but for now we have the understanding that they can be susceptible to depression.
Symptoms of depression in horses
Usually, it is easy to recognise when a horse is depressed. Signs of depression in your horse may include:
- Quiet, unengaging behaviour
- Stereotypical or destructive behaviour such as crib biting
- Withdrawn posture (immobility with stretched neck and ears turned back)
- Physical discomfort
- Decreased appetite
- Poor performance
Why is my horse depressed?
Depression in horses can be a result of many different factors. These can include pain, hormonal changes or stress due to environmental changes. Over-working a horse is also believed to lead to depression, but it is often confused with fatigue. Conditions such as Cushing’s disease, gastric ulcers or low-grade pain from ailments such as arthritis are all known to cause a lack of energy and could potentially lead to depression.
If you are at all concerned about your horse, it is important to consult your vet as there may be an underlying health issue that requires treatment.
How can I help him to feel better?
Firstly, you need to establish when your horse started displaying withdrawn behaviour. Has there been a recent event that has caused him stress? A loss of a companion, a new yard, a long period of box rest or just a slight change in the routine can be enough to cause chronic stress in some horses, which can ultimately lead to depression.
Are there symptoms to indicate that he may be in pain? Pain caused by illness or injury can lead to depression by reducing the horse’s ability to feed, socialise and exercise.
In terms of nutritional help, ensure your horse is receiving plenty of forage and the essential vitamins and minerals to support the body. A supplement such as Feedmark’s ImmunoCharge can be helpful in providing a boost for those horses in need after a period of immune suppression, or low mood. ImmunoCharge contains pre and probiotics, as well as the herbs Echinacea, Astragalus, Ginseng and Rosehips for their supportive properties.