Michèle and I have a herd of 5 horses. They are all aging and well past their prime. My pony, Chops, is fast approaching her 36th birthday, and I have noticed a few behavioural changes I had never seen before.
When I go out to feed the horses, they all know which bucket to stand by. But more recently, Chops has walked to the wrong bucket in anticipation of being fed. She seems confused when Birch reminds her it’s the wrong bucket, or when I put my hand on her neck to lead her to the bucket with her feed.
Chops has always loved to be vigorously scratched all over. However, lately she has become rude and pushy for a scratch in a way I have never seen before. She’ll rub up against me with her hip like I was a tree trunk. I have noticed her grazing by herself at various times, which is completely out of character for a horse that has been herd-dominant horse for most of her life. She seems a different horse from even just a year ago.
Her more recent personality changes have me wondering if Chops is suffering some degree of dementia?
An internet search revealed dementia has been reported in many animals, including dogs. However, there is no hard evidence that horses suffer dementia or some form of mental decline. Many sources suggest it is very possible and perhaps even likely. But there is a clear lack of research and absence of evidence. At this stage, the possibility of dementia in horses is only a theory.
Last year we were faced with the horrible decision to euthanise our 35-year-old gelding, Guy. He had some major physical problems, like bad arthritis in a knee. But, like Chops, Guy also showed unusual behavioural changes in the last several months of his life that would be consistent with some degree of cognitive decline.
I never hear people talking about aging in horses and mental impairment. Normally, most people associate the problems of aging in horses with a physical decline. No doubt, a horse's body does wear out as they age, and it is often the reason people will euthanise a horse they love. But I am confident that a mental decline is also a factor in older horses that we need to consider when thinking about their welfare.
This brings up the question: what other undiagnosed health conditions do horses suffer from? Can horses experience migraines, vertigo, deafness, tinnitus, earache, depression, chronic low blood pressure, chronic high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, autism, etc.? It makes me wonder. Do you know of any horses that have you asking the same question?
Chops in her prime.