Anyone elses horses feeling a bit down at the mo?

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Kelly1982

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My horse is not her usual perky self, she stopped eating her feed a few weeks back, she is fussy and was living out 24/7 so put it down to her not being hungry.

Last few days she seems really depressed, the sparkle has gone in her eyes and she is not herself.

Have brought her in tonight incase it's her telling me she wants in now the nites are drawing in.

She is still eating hay and drinking and going to the toilet fine. Just nit herself and refusing to eat hard feed.

Another pony on the yard is the same too??
 
sometimes they go a bit quiet when changing their coat...how old is she? one of the reasons i got mine tested for cushings was she was not quite right in herself, seemed a bit dejected and not really interested in much..might be worth getting ablood test if she doesnt pick up in a few days...
 
Mine was perfectly well behaved in my little makeshift school today even with dodgy little cone dressage markers, her daughter galloping about and my shetland deciding to replace 'C'..... this is very unusual behaviour for her so yes i think she is a little 'flat' at the moment :( Am putting it down to changing weather at the mo :o
 
Splashgirl45 she is only 10yo. Was thinking of blood tests in a few days incase it's a virus or something.

She has also been retired since April so hoping she is not feeling down due to this.

Hopefully she will pick up now she is in at night
 
:(:( unlucky you to have to retire her so early, im still riding my 21 year old (just hacking ) unfortunately some horses get diagnosed with cushings even if they are younger although it is more common in older equines.

is there any chance your feed could have been contaminated, maybe by rats, dogs, or by getting damp and going off? might be worth opeing a new bag of feed to try.....
 
My 16 yr old mare looks very cheesed off at the moment, shes looking a bit rough! her winter coat seems to be coming..only a few weeks ago shes was a picture of health..shiny and happy! on the other hand my 6 yr old gelding looks lovely and pretty content....go figure...
 
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Blackberry time!! My old horse always used to go flat this time of the year (one year I had blood tests done, came back clear)....was always around mid to late Sept, when he had a real coat growth spurt, and was exhausted, depressed and dull. Is very common.
Current one doesn't seem to be as affected, but then he grows very little coat, so it doesn't require as much energy.
 
Mum was telling me Binky has been a bit quiet and not eating much the past few days :( He's 20 but was neglected quite badly for 4 years before we got him, so seems much older (if that makes sense?).

If he doesn't pick up soon, she'll get the vet out to him. I'm going to get her to have him tested for EMS/ Cushings too.

Amber is also a little grumpy- we can always tell when the grass is not so good, so been putting out hay and will be getting feed for her and Matti this weekend.
 
My horse is a little flat as well, but as his winter coat has started to come through I have put it down to that. He seems to want to start coming in at night again but as the horse next door to him is still living out mine will have to stay out, as he will be fretting all night if he's on his own.
 
i have found that the coat change can take it out of the older horse, i use to put my oldies on EnerG from Naf (yep the competition one) this seemed to help, the grass is changing in goodness and they need a bit more to make their coats etc
 
Yep my tb seems really down in the dumps today, couldn't decide if he wanted to sit down or stand up I think in totally over 3 hours we had a total of 5 air downs and get ups, then again he probably isn't feeling his best with coming back of loan a month ago in a real poor state and I'm still waiting on the physiotherapy to come and sort his back out. the other boys and girls seem fine though :)

Then again I don't feel so cherpy today after I saw the swallows gathering today on top of the barns - winter is nearly upon us :'(
 
I was watching my girls in the field this morning and was just thinking to my self that the smallest one (16yr old welsh) was wandering around the field looking like Eeyore she was so miserable. Guess they all have the winter blues too.
 
It is accepted that there is a seasonal hormonal change in autumn - which is a problem for Cushing's horses.

I wonder if it generally causes some horses to feel a bit low in mood?

My old chap (who has rampant Cushings) has suddenly gone off the 'naughty' Spiller's Cubes and is eating 'healthy' Fast Fibre and unmolassed hay chaff like it is going out of fashion.....last month he would have turned his nose up in favour of the Spiller's stuff.

Interestingly, both horses totally go off their bucket feeds in spring too.
 
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