Agnus Castus for sensitive mares?

[spotty_pony2]

Wanting to hopefully hear some success stories. We have a lovely mare, she is 17 this year but hasn’t done a lot until we got her at 14. She has always been sensitive, quite a sharp ride and can be a little bit mareish.

Physio last time commented she was tight in lower back and short on left hind. The shortness was not something I’d witnessed before but two days after she had been she came into season - and a few more days once it had finished I watched her on the lunge and she was definitely not short at all - in fact she was almost forging she was stepping under so well. Fast forward three weeks and she’s been in season again - farrier commented she felt a little tight when trimming her yesterday. She’s a lovely mare, not a nasty bone in her, I’ll obviously get it investigated more if needs be but first port of call is going to be to try agnus castus - just ordered some in fact. I’ve used it before for my last pd mare who had cushings. I so question that she is borderline ems so I think it may help for this reason too.

I’ve mostly had geldings so interested to hear about your experiences with mares and what helped. She has also had two foals in the past if that makes any difference or ovary pain more likely?

Photo of her being trimmed yesterday to thank you for making it this far!

 

[Traks]

Yes I’ve used it for our mare. Initially when we got her she was quite mareish in that she would kick out if horses got too close to her and she would squeal. So started her on oestress and it seemed to really help. Had her on that all summer, I decided to try and save a bit of money and switched to just Agnus Castus from omega equine in about August/September. I definitely saw a difference and that it wasn’t so effective…so I did go back to oestress recently as she has just had the worst season she’s ever had which is bonkers when we are in the middle of winter! They both have agnus castus in them but oestress has a few more things which obviously help mine.

Her behaviour in the stable has got worse (she has a gelding next to her now with open bars plus she is more nippy when we do her rugs)..so I have had the vet to look at her who scanned her ovaries…they were reasonably normal but we are just starting a regumate trial to see if it makes her more comfortable. I suspect it will help, she’s very mareish!

Under saddle she definitely appears more stiff when she’s in the height of a season so yes it absolutely can affect their physical movement and our physio has noticed she’s more tender behind the saddle and over her quarters when she’s having her cycles x

 

[ihatework]

Not something I’ve used to date, but considering for my mare come spring, but a friend who events at a high level swears by oestress for her mares

 

[shortstuff99]

I feed my mares straight agnus castus (from omega). They all cycle really well and most of the time I don't even notice they are in season as their personalities don't change.

 

[skint1]

I use Hormonise for my mare, this is straight Agnus Castus liquid (my mare is fussy so need to syringe it) Have tried a few others, but this one she seems to like the best.
She has been really hormonal this winter she gets quite anxious, clingy, spooky and particularly sensitive to touch/rugging- this does take the edge off her anxiety and sensitivity but you'd still definitely know she's in season.

 

[whizzer]

I find Oestress really helps my mare, she's not obviously mare-ish & if you don't know her you wouldn't know when she's in season. There's lots of subtle things like she's just a but grumpy when her saddle goes on,she's tight in the back when riding & goes very spooky out hacking. I usually just keep her on it all year,knocking the dose back in winter a bit. I was economizing last spring & took her off it, she ditched my friend who rides her once a week by spooking & was promptly put back on it!

 

[Suechoccy]

Agnus castus relieved my gelding's springtime polyuria within 48 hours of commencing. (one heaped dessertspoonful per day in his morning feed)

 

[Mustard]

We had a mare years ago who went short on the near hind when she was in season. A supplement - NAF I think - did help.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Worked on my riggy gelding, we used the gold label one

 

[Barklands]

None of my tarts would eat the stuff

 

[onemoretime]

I give my mare Sassy Mare by Premier Performance which really helps and she eats it with no problem. Just one spoonful a day. She wasn't a problem really but was just a bit randy when out riding with my friends gelding. She would stand in front of him with her legs open and her tail cocked to one side offering herself . I had her on it all last summer and we had no sign of any of that at all. I get it on a monthly subscription so dont have to remember to keep ordering it. I stopped it in November and I will start it again beginning of February.

 

[Jacksie]

I feed this to my tarty mare and now no longer know when she’s in season. She was very hormonal before. I also notice a negative difference if she has too much grass, seems to make her hormones and grumpiness worse.

 

[spotty_pony2]

None of my tarts would eat the stuff

oh god I hope she’s going to eat it now I’ve bought it!!

 

[Jacksie]

If she doesn’t eat it initially you can try starting on a tiny amount and upping it slowly. I had to do it with mine and she’s a greedy sort.