Winter Woes - Extra Sensitive to Energy - What to do?

[HorseBuff]

My mare is very sensitive - in all ways. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Winter has been super tough for the past 6 years since I’ve had her. She is extra sensitive to the energy around us.

I board, it doesn’t matter the size of the boarding facility (we’ve been at a few) or the discipline (dressage, h/j, eventing). She has temper tantrums when another horse’s energy is too much for her liking. They can be the quietist, kindest horse and rider and she still will toss her head, dance around and buck out at them.

She also get’s tummy upset (vet term). She’s being scooped tomorrow to rule out ulcers. I don’t feel she has them as she has very specific “tells” and she’s not giving me any of them but better safe than sorry. She’s had them in the past but not always. She’s been scooped 3x in the past. She gets a minimum amount of Balancer, hay 24/7, mostly in hay nets, and needed supplements including a really good pre/pro biotic. We analyzed her diet by 2 separate companies including a hay analysis plus 2 vets reviewed her diet. Everyone likes what she’s on.

Her hormones are out of whack in Jan/Feb - yes, she cycles year round. She went on Regu-mate this past Spring and is still having issues right now. She just had 2 cycles 2 weeks apart. This is when she is at her worst. We’ve tested her ovaries twice in the past, no issues (physical and bloodwork to check for cysts/tumors).

She cannot have molasses so no Purina Outlast. She gets spooky on Magnesium which is in just about every calming supplement. I tried Mare Magic - she was more jumpy, edgy.

She NEEDS exercise which has been incredibly difficult to be consistent in the winter months. She’s overweight due to surgery she had last spring (colic surgery).

I go to the barn in the mornings when I can (work permitting and it’s not too cold). Other than that, what other options are there to help support her in the winter? I’m going to have a conversation with the vet tomorrow about all of this but am hoping for ideas for those who may have gone through this with their horses.

[Simkie]

Other than bouncing around and being playful around other horses, what exactly are the symptoms that you’re concerned about?

It’s totally normal for horses to bounce around and be more playful with their herd mates when it’s colder. It’s also totally normal for horses to be more up and “spooky” in winter.

I’m glad to hear you’re scoping her, especially given her hospitalization & colic surgery last year. Ask your vet about the possibility of a hind gut issue, too, as that can cause “ulcer” type symptoms, but the stomach will be clear.

[JB]

Is she blanketed? If so, under what conditions? How cold is a typical Winter?

PSSM can make horses “extra” in cold(er) weather, have you ever tested her?

[tabula_rashah]

Honestly it sounds like she needs turnout, training and a heavy work schedule

[Pico_Banana]

Is she still on Regumate? You can up the dose if she’s still cycling, IIRC. Also, consider trying Evitex or another high quality chasteberry supplement. That really helped my mare’s cycles and made her overall more comfortable.

[Salty]

My Thoroughbred was like this in the winter and it was definitely due to lack of turnout, and needing actual work every day. Once I found her a field with a shed, and had to hack a mile to the arena to ride, all the problems went away.

[HorseBuff]

This is in the indoor arena when we go to do ground work or ride. She more than bounces around! It’s not playful, it’s annoyed. She doesn’t like the energy. Her behavior is upsetting to others. It’s not “normal” by any means!

[HorseBuff]

We’re in NH. She is blanketed. She’s negative. I had her tested a couple of years ago, both 1 and 2.
This is not the typical “extra” one sees. This is very deliberate and she bucks toward the other horse. She doesn’t like the energy. It’s annoyed behavior. Otherwise she is one of the most “whoa” horses you’ve ever met. Her favorite gait is standing!

[HorseBuff]

Thank you. I was going to ask the vet about upping the dose for the winter months. She was great all summer and fall until January came along.
I’ll look into Evitext. She was on Chasteberry before the Regumate.

[HorseBuff]

Was he hyper/spooky? Because this isn’t what she’s exhibiting. It’s very deliberate and annoyed behavior. Not I have too much energy behavior. She gets turn out every day, all day, unless the weather is really bad. She also has a run out off her stall.

[Jump314]

What do you do when she acts that way? Are you keeping her focus on you during work?

[HorseBuff]

Depends on what’s going on in the arena. If there are lessons, a timid rider or a rehab session going on, we have to leave. She gets really big! Huge bucks, etc. It’s not fair to the other rider, horses and trainers to have to deal with that. It’s distracting to say the least and sometimes upsets the other horses. I’d feel horrible is another horse spooked because of her and someone got hurt.

If the rider can handle it and are OK with it, we work on focus and quiet movement. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It depends on the day, and probably if she in her heat cycle. If it’s bad, she won’t stop until they are done and the energy subsides. I try to end on a good note so we can leave without it being from her actions but that’s not always possible.

If we have the arena to ourselves, which happens on occasion, she never does this. It’s only when other horses are in the arena.

During the rest of the year, she’s fine. There can be several horses in with us and it’s not a problem at all. It’s from Jan-March that she’s this way.

[Jump314]

@HorseBuff

If there are lessons, a timid rider or a rehab session going on, we have to leave.

It sounds like she has learned that her behavior gets her out of doing work.

[endlessclimb]

Yup, she’d get a come-to-god meeting from me about her behavior 1) on a line and 2) around other horses/people. You’re making it into a “thing” with this energy baloney. Stop. She is either focused on you and the work you’re doing or she’s not. Hint - she’s not. You should make it VERY advantageous to her to quit the crap and get her head in the game

OP this is how people get hurt by their horses “by accident”. When she’s on a line she is not allowed to behave this way.

[ThreeWishes]

Exactly. What does their energy mean? Because it sounds like their (other horses)general existence in the world.

[Simkie]

Since this has been going on for years, perhaps it’s worthwhile to consider putting her in full training over the few months where you find her unmanageable.

[luvmyhackney]

Sounds like she needs more transitions and busy work while riding. Serpentines and changing directions are great for this.

Basically if she has time to focus on other horses she’s not busy enough from the work you are giving her. Make her work more mentally stimulating not necessarily harder.

My horse is kinda like this if I don’t put him straight to work and keep his mind busy.

Welcome to the world of having an intelligent, sensitive horse.

[awaywego]

My mare used to be a reactive nightmare in the winter. Everyone suggested just about everything that has been suggested in this thread. Nothing worked, and I now believe nothing was ever going to work because she was in pain. She had an ovariectectomy almost 2 years ago and now she is a normal horse through the winter - as in, now I can ride her through the winter freshness and get her attention back, whereas previously she would become increasingly reactive. It was a many year process to figure this out for my mare. I really feel for you and your mare. I think the unsual cycles and their correlation to her behavior are possibly a clue to look into further.

[goodhors]

Have you had her Selenium tested? This is a specific test for Selenium, not a blood panel test. I am saying this because you (NH) are in a Selenium poor area. She won’t be getting much or any natural Selenium from the soil or locally grown forages, like grass or hay.

You may be supplementing her for Selenium, but without getting her specifically tested for Selenium, you don’t know if she is getting enough. Selenium MUST also be fed with Vit E to make sure her body will absorb the Selenium, not just pee it out.

Selenium affects mares cycles, regularity and releasing follicles during the cycle. It can affect how often she cycles, normal 28 days, longer or shorter times she appears to cycle. They may not be true heat cycles, even with her winking and flagging tail, no follicles moving or they are clustering instead of moving thru her reproductive system.

Selenium also affects her muscles, which need it for smoothness in performing gaits, getting fit and endurance during work. It also affects other parts of the body, but reproductive and muscles are usually the most visible. Horses lose Selenium during work, sweating, so they need a constant daily supply since they cannot store Selenium.

After testing, getting Selenium test results, possibly getting a low number, you supply the additional Selenium supplement. Give her a couple weeks to reach “normal,” then retesting to see if she has reached normal. Once she is in “normal” numbers she has LOST HER EXCUSES for acting like a bratty pig. We have owned and use/d a lot of mares over the years, with most issues corrected once their Selenium levels were in the normal range. Not going to cure everything, some are just pigs. BUT you don’t wonder if they have a true issue once the excuses have been removed. Teeth, Selenium, shoeing, tack fitting, good diet. We are down to “basic horse” now and she is corrected as needed!! We love our mares, they work hard for us, willing to give 110% if needed!

I totally agree with above poster, she “is NOT reacting to energy” given off by others!! She doesn’t want to be cooperative around others! Your hopping off to remove her from the ring is enforcing bad behaviour! She gets to quit work! She may hate ponies, little horses, so she acts aggressive and you quit riding.

I would locate a horse trainer, hire them to come watch you work her in the bad situations to devise a plan of retraining the bad acting times. This might be you working her or horse trainer working her and disciplining any bad behaviour. Get horse going so she is non-reactive to things she meets in the arena, on the trail or at show settings.

Quit giving horse excuses when she acts up! Sorry, she is NOT allowed to behave badly! She may be “reading” other horse’s body language, trying to threaten to make herself Alpha. But that isn’t allowed when she is tacked up or being handled in any fashion!! Get help from a Pro if you don’t know how to manage the situation or corrections needed. Such horses are no fun to own or try to use.

[HorseBuff]

This is all on the ground before we ever get into the saddle. It happens very quickly.

We do all of that with our regular training. If it were a regular issue, like year round, then it makes sense. But this is just in the winter. She’s just as sensitive and smart in the summer!