This I don’t disagree with - keep a distance while you teach her to put a lid on it when she’s with a human. Then incrementally move to normal distances (2 horse lengths is all I’d expect from a very moody mare, we’re not talking drill team maneuvers). I don’t believe that the horse should be kept from the situations entirely - that’s avoiding a big hole in the training, which is leading and manners.
4 Likes
Absolutely. Step WAY back in the training and work from there
Maybe this is simply a mare who gets extra spicy in cold weather. If you assume that, then you have to train differently. If this is the case, then it’s clear there are gaps in training, so focus on that. Get help if needed, because a horse like this can blast through several warning signals in a hurry before a less educated eye can see them happening, much less react to start shutting down the unwanted behavior
3 Likes
Identical with Grundy. Seeing her personality come out has been extremely rewarding for me, and having her seek me out to interact with is the best feeling ever.
1 Like
OP do you keep her back warm when tacking up and use a quarter sheet on her? I have a mini who is a complete loon to work in the winter, it took me longer than I care to admit to discover that the problem was he was just cold. Once I addressed that, his attitude improved 100%.
6 Likes
Well a hormonal problem or pain problem can certainly put them in a state where they are more or less untrainable. There is a point in which we cannot overrule their instincts. Not saying it’s acceptable behavior, but it is hard to address the behavior if a chemical imbalance is allowed to continue at the same time. It’s been years including working with trainers, and no one has trained it out of her yet.
6 Likes
Has the OP described regular professional training anywhere?
I’ve looked again here and didn’t see it, and thought maybe it was in a different thread so looked at the history, and again didn’t find anything.
There is this, though, which does seem to suggest a handling issue.
Whoops, nevermind! She’s not a 5 year old anymore, if this is the same horse.
Maybe the horse isn’t in full training, but it sounds like there has been training help available and trainers who witnessed the behavior.
1 Like
It’s even more interesting to me that the mare started acting uncharacteristically spooky at the end of summer/early fall. That timing coincides with when transition begins for mares.
Unless the OP similarly loses her own mind in the winter (which I honestly kinda relate to 
), then it’s not a huge leap to assume that she handles the same horse the same way all year round, for better or worse. If the horse has learned to truly take advantage of her, wouldn’t she do that year round?
5 Likes
We don’t show. Depo is no longer allowed in general. At least where I live.
Hormone related per vet. So, we need to offer more support from Jan-March. Regu-mate isn’t enough. Looking into other things we can do. B12 injections behind the ears and acupuncture helped before so maybe adding that back in. Another boarder had a similar issue and they added a product from Equine Elixir along with Regu-mate and that has worked for her.
My last mare died after colic surgery so I don’t know what else may have helped her. I hadn’t had her very long, 15 months. Some mares don’t have many issues with hormones and some do. Both my mares, friesian paint crosses, have had bad hormones. Maybe breed related, maybe not.
In the US, depo is banned by USEF, and perhaps other agencies that govern showing and racing, and you cannot use it if you’re participating in their “stuff.” If you’re not participating, you absolutely can use it.
You’re where? Didn’t you say NH? There’s nothing to prevent you from using depo.
2 Likes
The vet feels its hormonal so now to figure out how to best support her this time of year. She’s on Regu-mate year round, just started last summer. She used to be B12 injections and acupuncture so I’ve asked about adding that back.
I think some vets won’t prescribe it anymore, and it’s always compounded for horses, and perhaps some of the pharmacies have stopped. There is an injectable alternative to Regumate that some do better on. Are you already giving the max dose of Regumate?
1 Like
Yes, vet agrees! We’re looking into options to support her better this time of year along with the Regu-mate.
1 Like
Vet agrees it’s hormone related. Her E levels are good, no need to post here. I asked and she said her levels are great and would just pee out any extra. So is her selenium. Vets won’t prescribe Depo any longer. We don’t show but they won’t do it anyway. We use Regu-mate so now to find something additional to help support her. We had been doing B12 injections and acupuncture before Regu-mate which helped until last year when she blew through those, hence trying Regu-mate. Perhaps adding those back in. The vet is coming back this coming week.
She’s been ultra sounded and had bloodwork done for ovarian tumors (some call cysts but they are actually tumors according to the vet). She’s been clean both times.
1 Like
Yes, BOT and a quarter sheet all winter. Good thought though.
3 Likes
Vet thinks hormones, too. So now to figure out how to balance them! My last mare was similar. Makes one want to switch to geldings some days!
That’s us! And yes, we fixed this issue. She hasn’t done it since. It was actually a fellow boarder who helped me through that one.
This issue is very different because it’s only in very specific circumstances and from what I can tell, happens around her cycles. I went through my notes last night. Although she is OK with just me, it’s other horses she has issues with.
Currently we have an instructor and a trainer plus a rehab specialist so lots of help. We are all stumped.
The vet feels she is having issues with hormones.
Just the vet…no Depo.
