Not sure where to ask this question about a young mare I am starting under saddle.( She may make a hunter, not sure yet) So far she has been no problem, learning easily and happily and we backed her for the first time this past week and she was just fine. walking on the lunge line and then off it. Problem is as soon as we asked for the trot which she was willing to step right into, she started squealing, squirting, and kicking out with both barrels! She was of course told not to do it but she continued to want to do it though after several minutes we did get her to trot around both ways ok but she had that look in her eye! So, my question is: is this a hormone issue that I need to talk to my vet about or is an issue that needs some really firm correction? I have started a lot of young mares but never had this problem before!
Was she in heat? Sounds like it.
Track her behavior over time. Watch her with other horses to see how her cycles go.
I expect that it is a combination of training and heat cycle, only because of the squirting.
I am currently experimenting with Regumate on my mare and it is quite effective. But it isn’t cheap. You could certainly go on this as a trial.
I would however track her heat cycles for a few months first to get s sense of who she is first.
Seems all my mares are in heat and this one is. I just never had one that acted out so strongly before! Regumate is a definite possibility but I need her to understand this behavior is not acceptable! At least the kicking part!
It may be a physical issue-- some mares are very uncomfortable when cycling. I agree with giving it a bit more time, then if it continues doing a repro exam to make sure she doesn’t have cysts or anything and trying regumate.
You betcha…that urge to reproduce is hitting this young mare particularly hard. The squatting, squealing and squirting is really disgusting to us but spreads the smell to let all the boys know she’s in the mood and right now. Even get some geldings going (no they aren’t proud cut, just reacting to natures strongest instinct).
Do yourself a favor, track it on a calendar and research estrus and anestrus. Cycle is 21 days in equines, strongest about this time of year, nature likes late spring/early summer babies. Something called transitional estrus in early spring and fall that can be wicked, most don’t cycle in winter so only need help 4-6 months a year.
Found the RM the only thing that was predictably effective and now there is an injectable, Altrenogest, that removes the side effects in humans getting the RM on their skin. Wasn’t out when I was showing my diva but would have jumped on it. Sometimes ovarian cysts can make a mare uncomfortable, girthy, sensitive to leg but not showing her stuff to get a date. Not as common a cause for mareishness as the Internet suggests.
You will get suggestions for " natural" cures but the only ones I found did anything had sedating substances, primarily Valerian root. Can’t show on it. Some folks who don’t show just dont plan on doing anything with their mares 2 days or so every 3 weeks over summer, not a bad idea if you keep at home where she won’t get the other horses in the barn agitated and aggravate surrounding humans.
Hormone help does not replace training or earn the respect of a mare, won’t solve any deficencies in that department outside of being less truely obnoxious a couple of days out of every 21.
This to me sounds like young uneducated horse stuff. People are too quick to put horses on meds without first trying proper training. To me her behavior is pretty normal for a young horse that has just been backed. They don’t know anything yet, and some are just like that when you start them.
It is always a good idea to rule out pain issues. Your vet is the best person to advise you on what is normal and what isn’t. It could be a saddle issue. You could be rushing the training.
Frankly, I’m amazed what mares put up with when they’re in season. If it were my TOM and someone kicked me to go forward, well…
I guess my points really are 1)rule out pain/saddle issues 2)She’s a horse, not a machine. Set her up for success. Take your time. Don’t push her too hard.
I don’t think most mares need a lot of pharmaceutical intervention, but they can be more sensitive during their heat. DD’s mare is not normally one who is different (other than being a shameless hussy) undersaddle normally. The other day, she was. DD had to suck up and get her to pay attention when she started having a tantrum. I’ve always loved mares - I have owned ONE gelding ever!
I have owned multiple mares over the last 30 years and this year was the first time that one has ever needed hormone help. Current mare is 6 yo and started having very uncharacteristic behavior last fall (right around her 6th birthday) and again this spring (even worse). She was basically unridable away from home sometimes…not all the time. No other signs of hormone issues or even being very demonstrative when in heat (I really couldn’t tell). A clinician suggest hormone issues and I plotted the good days and bad days on a calendar, and the bad days did seem to be about 21 days apart while the good days were between those times (hard to tell for sure as we don’t go away from home that often). We did a trial of regumate and she was back to her normal, consistent, happy, ridable self!
Young horses are really tough to distinguish between training vs. physical issues. However, I tend to lean towards at least ruling out all the physical possibilities before putting the behavior down to training and just pushing through it. A trial of regumate won’t cost too much and will let you know which way to respond. I can say I am personally a danger to myself and not functional with others without hormone supplementation, so I am certainly sympathetic towards mares that might have issues such as I do!
I have started many fillies over the years and have worked with lots of mares and I do love them but this is the first one I have had this major issue with. Yes, cranky, uncomfortable bitchy in season and that has generally been not a big issue. This one surprised the heck out of me because in every way she is as nice as she can be. I am not “rushing her training” as someone suggested-taking the normal amount of time and she is quite ready to ride. fine at the walk, fine to line drive, lunge, etc, but after she has trotted around with a rider, maybe one circle on the lunge, the antics begin. she is definetly not bucking, but kicking with both hind legs while still moving forward. I of course corrected her but need to get to the bottom of the behavior to find the best way to work around it. I do have a vet consult this week so I will let you know what the result is. Thanks for all the input
