ADHD in horses?

So I've been reading a lot about ADHD and have noticed a lot of similar symptoms in my horse. He is a 9 yr. old TB gelding and just seems to fit everything, from inattention and impulsivity and especially hyperactivity. I have heard that ADHD does exist in horses but I'm having a hard time finding any research about it. Has anyone heard of this or know where I can get anymore info. From what I've read about it with children, he seems to be the poster horse for equine ADHD, and I would hate for him to have it without me knowing how to deal with it properly.

This is not something that I'm truly concerned about with him just curious. He functions just fine and has no bad habits just a little inappropriate and unfocused. Unfortunately he had a very rough past so I do not doubt that his sometimes inappropriate behavior stems from human problems. I'm not looking for anyone on here to diagnose him I would just like to find some more research about it so that I can figure out the best way to help my horse learn and behave.

The ADHD behavior you see in thoroughbreds is a result of HUMAN action. And therefor completely different then ADHD in humans. OCD would be more fitting, in terms of actual symptoms
compared to human mental illness. Weavers, Cribbers, general anxiety disorder in equine, are all relative in factual cause, which comes in prior to symptoms being shown, therefor rendering a cause thereof. Its sad to say, but we are the cause of equine mental illness, more often then not, yet we do not do much by the way of prevention or treatment. Usually we have some half witted form of a collar, or extra tie or strap to limit the horses behavior, rather then seeking and dealing with the root cause. I see it all the time, thoroughbreds are very effected by such ailments. Exact medical cause is debated on all those sites. But look for yourself, look to the wild horses, what do you see?...........do you see the wild horse on the edge of the field cribbing, or weaving?.............no, not at all, So if the same applies to humans, are we the reason for our illness's?.........is our environment the reason, rather then the accepted theory of chemical imbalance in the miceline sheaths at the nerve ends in your brain?.........I think that we cause it all, I think that Indians had no "bi-polor"............or "manac depressant"......."or........"adhd"........ think when you say "ADHD" that you are feeding into what a medical marketing group wants you to believe, souly for their financial gain.

This same condition does exist in horses, but it isn't referred to as ADHD. Horses like that are just considered "hot" or "hyper". A good trainer with experience with these kinds of horses can advise you about how to handle it.

i have never heard of that in horses. most horses have a short attention span though. if you are worried then ask your vet. she probably has some test that she can give your horse.

I highly doubt that horses get ADHD, though people always joke about this horse my mom used to ride because he acted ADD sometimes...short attention span for a "mature" horse, lol.

get a vet in to cheack him and then tell the vet that you think he may have ADHD

Go to the vet and they'll check him out.

I think if we are to class horses as ADHD we have to qualify it as Attention (to you) Deficit and Hyper (righ-brained) Disorder!

Having brought up a teenager with ADHD and having spent my life working with horses I have often joked that a particular animal I'm working with must have the condition; but that is all it is - a joke.

Like all mental conditions there is a spectrum of behaviour that we expect animals to display from calm and placid to spooky, from attentive to no brainer, but I have not yet met a horse that with the right training, cannot learn to be more attentive, less spooky and calmer. (Or the opposites of these)

The age of the animal is immaterial, so too is the life experience as many horses perform as 'trained monkeys' having learnt their tasks through operant contidioning which so often can be fear based. Their 'personalities' are under developed and they have never learnt the control (of their instincts) that is necessary for them to 'think' about life around them and how to assess their environment with their left-brain capabilities. They often have a limited repetoire of 'communication' with humans too which is something else that can be developed.

As a Tb your horse is by breeding more on his toes but he will be intellegent. He is displaying equine intellegence by paying attention to his surroundings so will seem inattentive; he will have fast reactions so will seem impulsive and if he is fit and healthy he will be hyper-active.

On a practical level check that his feed/work ratio sensible. Give him lots to think about with a gradual increase in variety and difficulty of tasks. Take him to as many weird and varied situations as you can and start to really listen to what he is telling you through his reactions and body language - what scares him, what does he do but doesn't really feel confident about? Try to engage his brain and get him using his body. Massage can help relax him so will Natural Horsemanship games. Check out Parelli. They have developed a 'Horsenality' chart that can really help you break down the reasons for the type of behaviour a horse is displaying.

Inorder to be diagnosed as having ADHD a child is assessed by a Psychiatrist - there is no physical test that can be done to determine the condition- it is merely subjective. I have heard that Ritalin has been used in the show ring for fractious little ponies but as with children teaching self awareness and thinking skills is far more sustainable a strategy than short term medication.

Enjoy your journey :)