Advice please - mare owners

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Hanson

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I have a very laid back mare...until she comes into her first season, which is usually in February. The first time in season, which can last a couple of weeks, she turns into a hormonal monster. She is not aggressive just gets so full of herself I find her difficult to manage. She has so much energy and it's almost like she been fed oats for days as she gets silly, bucking, spooking and jogging everywhere!

She has at least 10 hours turnout a day and daily exercise (light work). She doesn't get a short feed, but ad lib hay.

By May or June she settles down and I hardly notice when she is in season.

I've never given her any supplements for her hormones and wondered if anybody could recommend anything...as (hopefully) Spring will be here soon.
 
Being mild, my mare still comes into season. The first season is always the worst, but I'm hoping it won't happen this year as she hasn't stopped!
Can you get her out 24/7? it might help, or being in, leave some lights on, as I was told it can help. (not sure how though!)
 
Thanks for you reply...she goes out 24/7 in summer but paddock is fairly small so don't think it would survive with how wet it's been. She shares the field with my oldie who doesn't do well out on boggy ground all the time - I have to get a balance for them both (she also gets clingy to him when hormonal, so couldn't leave her out on her own).

I was wondering if this warm weather would make a difference. She has started moulting, which is usually in sync with her first season, hence the premature post!
 
We had our mare on Agnus Castus last year and it did seem to make a difference - however we didn't start it til Spring and you have reminded me that I planned to restart it early in the New Year before the hormones kick in.
 
Best bet would be to put her onto Regumate (only obtainable from your vet) during the transitional period (say February until late May). That will stop her coming into season within this period. It's safe and effective - either put in feed or give with a syringe if she's a fussy eater (but you shouldn't handle it if you're pregnant!!) It's not super cheap - but it works.
 
My mare (ex broodmare) was a nightmare when she first came, pestered my gelding so much I had to put both of them on stroppy mare, luckily it worked, then he got bored and chased her off when she started pestering, she is another one still having seasons and refusing to leave pretty boy behind
 
I have my mare on agnus castus. She was very hormonal especially in early spring. I started it last year and found it really took a good 8 weeks or so to make a difference but it definately helped. I have kept her on it all winter this year. I have been that pleased with it that I have bought myself agnus castus tablets to see if they help me as I have a terrible time of it every month 😬
 
Thanks all. Sorry, stupid question, but how would I feed agnus castes? Do I get it from a health food store or can you get it in equine version?
Thank you very much.
 
Hanson said:
Thanks all. Sorry, stupid question, but how would I feed agnus castes? Do I get it from a health food store or can you get it in equine version?
Thank you very much.
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It tastes blimming awful so it's easiest to get tablets and put them in slits in apple slices. If you put the powder on feed there's a good chance they won't eat it
 
Oh, she'll eat most things!

JanetGeorge, is regumate instantaneous in effect? It just that by the time chaste berry has taken effect her worst season will probably be done and over... Just pondering on all your replies- thanks very much.
 
Try Equine America No More Moods - just liquid chasteberry (agnus castus). It's fast acting. I used it when mare was young and spooky/aggressive/dominant. Great stuff and very palatable.
 
EQUIDAE said:
It tastes blimming awful so it's easiest to get tablets and put them in slits in apple slices. If you put the powder on feed there's a good chance they won't eat it
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My mare will only eat agnus castus if it's well mixed in with her speediBeet. In Spring and summer I don't feed her speediBeet - where do you buy it in tablet form - they'd be really useful! How many would I need feed?
 
wiglet said:
My mare will only eat agnus castus if it's well mixed in with her speediBeet. In Spring and summer I don't feed her speediBeet - where do you buy it in tablet form - they'd be really useful! How many would I need feed?
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I got mine from amazon - a health food supplier. I paid about £6 for 60 tablets. I started with one tablet and increased the numbers until I found a number that worked. 4 tablets work on my stallion when I take him out competing with mares around. He's quite a chilled lad normally and is placid without but it does take the edge off when he is excited at shows.
 
See if your vet will give her receptal its a cattle drug that is used in horses a lot in the southern hemisphere works wonders with a stroppy mare here its £16 for the injection and will last 6 months . It works differently to regumate in that it settles down the cycles it was my vet who suggested it as he had worked a lot in Australia and New Zealand. The issue with regumate is its a sledgehammer to crack a nut and an ongoing cost
 
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