Sunbeds boost for sad horses fighting depression

A horse owner thinks she has the answer to the age-old question, ‘Why the long face?’ Donna Cumia has been giving her horse, Murphy, light treatment therapy in order to combat his Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The condition, known as SAD, is a type of winter depression, and is thought to affect around half a million people between the months of September and April each year.

Believed to be caused by a lack of sunlight and the shortening of daylight hours, its symptoms include fatigue, lethargy, difficulty in concentrating, sleep problems and overeating. But according to experts, it isn’t just humans who suffer; the illness also affects animals too.



Donna said: “It is not only humans who suffer from SAD but animals also, and we are currently testing light therapy on ‘SAD’ horses in the local area with great success.”

Donna began to wonder whether moody Murphy, whose bad-temper had proved too much to handle for his previous owners, was in fact suffering from SAD. And after 10 weeks of light treatment, she admits that his temperament is a lot more stable.

“The change in his mood is remarkable. This horse was labelled an ‘impossible and dangerous horse’ by the lady who had bought him to hunt with before he was eventually given to me. I have persevered with him for several years but it is only since he has been receiving light therapy that I can now safely ride and show-jump with him.”