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  Discussion on Horse depressed?
Author Message
Member:
halln5

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 1:12 pm:

Here are the facts:
20 year old gelding--Appendix QH
Wonderful disposition, ride dressage & trails, shown some. I've had him for 8 years.
Moved him to a new barn in January, no turnout for 2 months due to weather.
Now turned out with one other gelding, separated from "his" mare, my friend's horse.
He has DrOpped weight at this new barn--wouldn't eat the grass hay they offered (yes, it was fine hay, not moldy or anything). We are introducing a more palatable grass/alfalfa mix which he loves but I've tried to keep him off much alfalfa as it gave him the runs in the past.
He is eating his grain ok, with supplement for hooves.
The problem? He just seems depressed. Head lowered, eyes dull, doesn't want to work. I have noticed this change in his general demeanor for about 2 weeks. I spoke to my vet yesterday and he is coming out on Monday, the 25th to draw blood and check him over.
I was just wondering if anyone else had any insights into depression in horses (if that's what it is).
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 - 1:03 pm:

Hello Vicki LH,
Depression is such a general symptom of illness it is not useful diagnostically by itself. A good first step is to see what your horses vital signs are. This may lead you to a possible cause or system effected. For more on this see, HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.
DrO
Member:
tdiana

Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2011 - 7:02 am:

Hi Vicky,
let us know if your vet doesn't find anything physically wrong with your horse. Due to my line of work I have a fair amount of experience with depressed horses that are otherwise healthy. Maybe you can describe what his environment is like in terms of comparing the "old" barn and the new place. That would be very helpful.
Diana
Member:
halln5

Posted on Friday, Apr 22, 2011 - 10:26 am:

Thank you. Dr. O. I know that "depression" is a pretty vague symptom and I wonder sometimes if I read too much into his behavior. I (and others) just noticed a change in his demeanor that doesn't seem to have any physical reason. Thus the vet call. I want to rule out anything physical. I rode him yesterday and while he didn't have that spark I'm used to, he was obedient and tried.
Diana, in the old barn, he had been there about a year. It took him a good month to get "into" the herd, then he worked his way up to being the boss mare's main man. He was unrideable in the spring when the mares were in heat--he exhibited stallion behavior, hollered constantly when removed from the herd, danced in the crossties, jigged on the lead, etc. After that, he settled down and was the calm good guy I knew and loved. He was turned out almost 24/7 on a large pasture with 8 other horses, mares and geldings. However, the pasture wasn't all that great and he lost weight, became anemic and had awful hoof issues.
I moved him to the present barn in January with my best friend and her mare.
In the new barn, there is turnout to a dry flat paddock when weather permits so he was in most of January and February except when we turned them out in the indoor arena together. He was introduced to the small herd of geldings where he was run around by the lead gelding in that herd to the point of me being worried about him--sweating and upset. So, we now turn him out with one other gelding on the dry lot.
I fully understand that they need their herd and that he has to become used to the newness of this new barn. I just posed the question because I wonder if he misses his old mare, if this is just an adjustment period and I just need to be patient. I know this is long. Thanks for any input.
Vicki
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