Understanding Horse Depression

A groundbreaking look at today’s “healthy body, broken spirit” phenomenon in domestic horses, and how we can change it. A horse’s eyes, once bright and curious, now look sad and dull. His head, once held high, now hangs low. His body, once full of energy, seems tired and lifeless. What is the cause of distress this horse is experiencing? His body is healthy, but his spirit seems broken. Traditionally, humans care for horses’ physical needs—feeding them, grooming them, and ensuring they are sheltered from the harsh elements. But their emotional well-being, equally if not more important, has long been neglected, as their subtle signs of distress can easily go unnoticed. In these pages, lifelong horsewoman and horsemanship educator Joanna Lepiarczyk explores how horses, like humans, are social animals with complex emotional landscapes. Drawing on recent research, she explains how horses form bonds, experience stress, and suffer from mental health issues like depression. Lepiarczyk translates scientific findings into practical advice and strategies for identifying signs of depression and improving equine mental well-being, including: - The stress-depression connection - The role of learned helplessness - How changes in attention, posture, and responsiveness indicate mental health concerns - Signs of anhedonia (inability to express joy) in horses - Depression risks and treatment steps By bringing horse depression to the forefront, Lepiarczyk helps horse owners, riders, and trainers understand and support the mental health needs of their horses—skills that will foster deeper bonds and better care.