Do horses get depressed?

BillyBob-Sleigh

BillyBob-Sleigh

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As title really! As some of you may or may not know from some of my previous threads I am currently out of action after breaking my leg and ankle coming off my 4yr old at an Arena Hunter Trials. Due to me not being able to drive now I am having to rely on my other half for lifts etc so Billy is on full livery Monday - Friday and I can only see him 2 - 3times a week which is horrible!! Anyway, I went to see him today and he seems so depressed! He's not being ridden, but as he's so young I thought the break might actually be beneficial, but when he's in (only about 3hrs a day) he just stands his stable staring into space (my YO has noticed this too) and he just doesn't seem to be very interested in anything and not his usual cheeky self which is really hard to see. I spent my time scratching, doing my best to groom with the OH helping and just spending time with him doing what I could with the limitations (mainly sat on my grooming box letting him lick his new lickit form my hand :rolleyes:). I know that he is being fantastically looked after by all the lovely people at the yard, but he's still not right and it's really heartbreaking to see, especially as I am finding it quite hard not seeing him all that often :(. I've only had him since June so I'm worried that the great bond we've already built will start to disintegrate with all this time off and limited in when I can see him!

Anyway, sorry for waffling! My question was do you think it's possible that he could be a bit depressed? And what can I do to try and perk him up? He's not off his food but his coat does seem a bit more dull (although that could be because I can't groom as often now).
 
He could be. He may just be tired- is he in his normal routine?
Did you take his temperature? Droppings normal, drinking normal? So many variables!
Get your yo to keep an eye on him, he will probably be fine. At his age, a break will do him no harm.

Also, don't worry about your bond. I couldn't do my horse for over 6 months, didn't see her for the first 2 due to injury. Our bond was still very strong throughout and after.
I hope you heal quickly!
 
Thank you. Yes he is drinking and pooing normally and certainly has a very good appetite :rolleyes:, my YO is very much the sort to have them all on a set routine - they come in same time everyday, fed same time, go out same time etc, so that shouldn't be the problem. He does thrive on work and a 1to1 bond even at his tender age so I'm thinking this may be the issue? It's only been 2 weeks that I've been out of action so he could be trying to get used to his lack of work and not seeing me so much? In all fairness I'm sure I am stressing over the situation more than he is, but I can't stand the fact he appears unhappy :(
 
Don't worry, he is probably fine!
There is nothing you can do at the moment so don't stress. It will do him no harm to have a break and relax.
Im sure he will settle into his new routine soon enough.
 
Absolutely yes, imho. My lad used to get very depressed when Elizabeth, my daughter, went away. So much so that our old YO commented on how bad it was. He hated it and would get very clingy when she came back. Now he is happier where he lives and does not seem to mind so much, but according to our YO he does still get very tetchy at times. Hope your lad is all right and don't worry about the bond, it will still be there.
FDC
 
Yes they do get depressed and they also grieve. I had two mares that were firm friends, one night they came charging down the field and one mare slipped and hit a post head on, It was clear she was badly hurt, we managed to get them both into the stables with the wall between low enough for them to see each other, but it was clear the one mare was so badly hurt we had no option but to pts, the other mare watched. She became very depressed and lost condition, we were at a loss as to what to do as we thought we could loose her as well she had no interest in other horses or food, until one day, a pony foal got away from his dam and into her field he only came up to her knees, as we rushed to get him, we noticed an immediate change in the mare so we put the foals mother in as well she started to thrive and became an aunty to the foal. on hindsight we should have moved her to another stable, but the other mare was calmer with her there.
 
I believe they do, and that they grieve.
My old boy's companion's personality changed so much after mine was PTS, his owner had to move him. 15 months on and he's only just getting back to his usual self.
 
Absolutley! My lad on box rest became very depressed, even when he was allowed in the field again he was still the same, loosing weight and biting (which he never normally does) until i could start riding again, the biting stopped, he put weight on straight away and he was back to normal. He hates not working, what about your otherhalf learning to lunge while your out of action? You could stand in the corner and shout at him :D That way you get all your stress out on him and your horsey will get some work ;) x
 
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