How can you tell when a horse is depressed

[roxy007]

Is it loss of appetite and just standing around not grazing.
if they are miserable would they still eat like the proverbial horse and graze. Owner of horse in next paddock to ours tells me she is changing yards as her horse is depressed. Not sure what symptoms she is seeing cos I never see her mare do anything but graze and trot down the field to greet her owner. She's also very friendly with other people and although not too keen on grazing with the other horses in her paddock she does graze on her own but it seems its her choice to move away from them and not the other way round. Just curious?

 

[Ticktockted]

I think the mare sounds ok but if the owners not happy she will probably see things in her horse she doesnt usually see and read too much into it. Maby she thinks her horse is being rejected by the other horses and if she's like most horse owners inc myself we can be quite defensive of our equine friends! maby the owner's not sure if she fits in? horses do show depression in different ways however is she looks well in herself then she's possibly not depressed as i have found they don't thrive the same

 

[dun_in]

Change of attitude more than aything, less interested/keen on things, less reactive, less into food - just not 'right'. Stand around doing less than normal.

I've only seen podge depressed once, and then he was seriously ill with a virus.

 

[Salcey]

When my mare was depressed it was horrible. SHe was on box rest with her foal (foalie was ill at the time)
She lost all interest in everything around her, stood in a corner with her head lowered. She continued to eat but with no enthusiasm (sp).

It was horrible.

 

[kendra2705]

my previous horse was diagnosed with depression he stopped walking out on a ride one day, and just stood still but i had recently let him out on loan and he was in shock i think plus lady was a nervous rider and vet gave him some powder, came right once i took him back