04/01/2026
Introducing the first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for Horses:
The DSM-Equine is a standard classification of mental disorders in horses. It allows owners to diagnose their horses and medicate them appropriately so they can become more functional, compliant, and productive members of the barn.
The DSM-E contains more than 70 equine mental disorders. This edition also includes a new diagnosis: Prolonged Grief Disorder, defined as a horse taking too long to recover from the loss of a herd mate.
Below are real-life examples of how the DSM-E has already helped us identify and treat patterns of ongoing instability in mood, behavior, self-image, and herd functioning.
Subject 1. Huckleberry R. - Shetland Gelding - Aged 16
Symptoms: Inattentive, Impulsive, Compulsive, Defiant: H.R. is unable to follow rules and directions. He acts without thinking of the consequences and routinely escapes enclosures in order to do whatever he wants to do. He ignores reprimands and reminders. He never stops eating and frequently steals food from others.
When asked why he behaves this way, he does not respond.
However, when the word “cookie” is mentioned, he looks up immediately.
Diagnosed with
• Conduct Disorder
• Eating Disorder
• Specific Learning Disorder
• Social Communication Disorder
• Selective Mutism
• Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Subject 2. Cielito Lindo R. - Thoroughbred - Aged 28
Symptoms: Excessive worry, Mood Swings, Difficulty concentrating, Delusions, Hallucinations, Panic Attacks. C.R. cannot tolerate being 24/7 indoors without turnout, movement or sensory stimulation. When turned out, he refuses to go into /near his stall, even during rain. When the rest of the horses leave, he experiences severe panic and cannot stand still. He shows extreme distress when asked to work during cold windy days, and appears to have a plastic bags phobia. When routines are disrupted, C. has great difficulty adjusting. When feed does not have correct flavor or consistency, C. refuses to eat.
Diagnosed with
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Grand Mal Delusions
Subject 4. Zen R. - Haflinger - Aged Unknown.
Symptoms: Oral fixation, Emotional Numbness, Suicidal Thoughts, Difficulty Concentrating, Impulsivity, Defiant, Persistent malcompliance. Z. has a difficult personality. Z. displays an oppositional behavior toward people, often doing the exact opposite of what he is asked to do. He cannot stay focused or maintain a routine. If he is asked to do two circles in a row, he displays destructive tendencies, such as pushing the rider's knee into a post or sitting on a car. He also displays self-destructive tendencies and instead of going over a jump like normal horses, he opts to go through a jump, often breaking wooden poles, and seeming to enjoy it. Z. puts random object in his mouth and takes it away, including water-hoses. His strong oral fixation is exceptionally strong with female humans with breast augmentation, and he has been observed twice using his teeth to grab hold of breast tissue, suggesting he may be stuck in a Freudian developmental phase.
Diagnosed with
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Kleptomania
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Delusional Disorder
• Bipolar I Disorder
Subject 4. Wik R. - Dutch Warmblood - Aged 23
Symptoms: W.R. shows high anxiety when his herd members are taken away from him and becomes extremely agitated when separated. He displays explosive behavior when neighbors shoot their AR-15 next to the barn. W.R. displays emotional numbness and is generally not interested in socializing unless people scratch his withers. When people don’t scratch at the the right slot he can switch from sweet to psycho within the same minute. While a high performing show jumper at age 4, he has a loss of interest in all activities other than grazing, napping and rolling in the dirt. He appears unable to function unless he is in full control of the other horses in the herd and becomes violent when others do not comply. W.R. frequently flaunts his ge***al parts in public settings, traumatizing little kids.
Diagnosed with
• Unspecified Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorder
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Exhibitionistic Disorder
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Anxiety Disorder
Herd-Wide Treatment Program
After extensive research, we discovered that nearly all symptoms of equine mental disorders eventually disappear when subjects were provided with the following therapeutic interventions over the past 15 years:
• 24/7 turnout
• 24/7 access to hay
• Clean water
• Never being hungry
• Free medical care
• Safe housing
• Low-stress environment
• Living in the same herd for years
• No trailering
• No coercive riding
• Gentle, respectful interactions
• Weekly grooming sessions
• Low sugar / low carb feed
• No confinement
• No fear-based training
• Training matched to natural interests and abilities
Side effects include dramatically improved mood, cooperation, and overall herd stability.
Interestingly, when these environmental treatments are applied consistently, many previously diagnosed psychiatric disorders appear to resolve spontaneously.
Our research suggests that symptoms may have been caused by systematic conditions failure rather than individual brokenness.
Further research is needed.
DISCLAIMER:
Like the DSM-5 for humans, the DSM-Equine contains many diagnoses whose biological basis remains unclear. It relies heavily on cultural bias and overlooks context, environment and meaning.
Of the 297 mental disorders listed, most lack clear scientific markers.
Despite this, the DSM strongly promotes the idea that psychological disorders are primarily genetic in origin and can be resolved by pharmaceutical intervention, even though no gene variants have been identified for approximately 97% of diagnoses.
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