Is my horse depressed?

So I just got my first horse on Christmas. (If you saw my thread in Meet the Community you know all about him) and we moved him to my house a few days afterwards.

He was really cool about it and worked really well at the house. Where he was before it was only him. But when we brought him here he met our next door neighbor horses. He got along with most of them, but then my neighbor moved his horses to another pasture.

And for the last two or three days Ziggy only comes to me to eat. He won't even let me brush him or pet him anymore. All he wants to do it eat and then he goes and paces by the back fence almost all day.

What do I do?

He may be still adjusting to his new place. He will want to be with other horses, they are herd animals and are more comfortable with other horses around. You might think about getting him a companion animal to keep him company. Try to spend as much time with him as you can just being in his space not doing anything just being with him.

That happened to my mare, Libby, when we first got her. She was attached to a pony mare, and she used to freak when the pony left. Anyway, she soon got over it.
He could also be very lonely - horses, in my book, should always have companions, or they can get depressed. Good luck.

My horse is acting out of the norm for him. Usually I can walk up to him and pet and brush him easy. Now when I do he walks away. Doesn't do anything else and doesn't run. He just turns and walks calmly for a couple of steps. I walk and brush him everyday and today I had to bribe him with sweet feed to put a lead rope on him. Is this normal? Or what's going on? Usually I can walk right up and put the rope on him.

Most of the time it's harder to catch on horse in a big pasture (which I'm assuming he is?). They have a mind of their own, which is what's so great about riding. Also, maybe you should put your halter and lead rope, cross tie him (if he does cross tie) and groom him, instead of out in a pasture, because he can easily walk away.

The pasture is actually only about three acres, and he is the only horse we got at the moment (another is one the way though to keep him company). But yea, cross tie? Sorry I'm new to all this! So tie him up and groom him?

^ emergancy realese


^ cross ties

Maybe you could try some Parelli with him. That will build your relationship with him and it will solve his hard to catch issue. www.parelli.com

Good to hear he has a buddy on the way :) If you just got him at Christmas that's not much time to have bonded with him. I have had Vida for almost 3 years and she will walk away from me in the pasture once she figures out I don't have any cookies
If you feel he needs groomed then yes I agree tie him up to do it. At least have a halter and lead rope on him for safety sake if nothing else. I like to have a specific place for grooming and tacking where they know they have to behave and stand still. If my horse moves at all when I'm grooming (unless I ask her to) I always move her back to the original place. Its a respect thing.

Actually, not every horse likes to be groomed too. They all have different personalities. :)