Ahhhhhhhhh what to do?!

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OzzyBuffy

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Okay so I rescued a mare as most know, she was advertised as a 6 year old rising 7 unbroken arab x tb.

I thought the owners a little suspicious but took her on as she really was a state and I felt I would be neglecting her leaving her there.

I phoned the original owners who had her from 2 till she was 4, and just had a long telephone conversation with them....turns out...

SHE WAS BACKED! So she was walking trotting and cantering under saddle, was being lunged and long reined.

But the reason they chose to sell her on was because on 3 occasions when being ridden she bronced crazily and wouldn't allow a rider, but every other time she was good as gold and never bucked, bolted, reared, napped, or span.

On the third occasion that she threw owner off, vet was luckily on-site scanning other broodmares for potential foals, and he had a look at the mare straight after owner was thrown off, he said shes coming to the end fo her season, and after working out the distance between the three incidents, that it turns out the times she was not allowing anyone too ride was when she was in season.

Vet suggested Regumate, which can apparently only be purchased on prescription, and owners said it was too expensive long term too keep her constantly on Regumate, so made the decision too put her in foal, however over winter she lost the foal and they decided to sell on.

They sold onto new owners telling them everything and being honest about her, who then kept her for 2 years (4-6), did nothing with her, and when I picked her up just over a week ago I was told she was never backed, just lunged and had tack on, and was never told of this hormonal issue.

So now what's should I do? I want to keep her and reback her, and I am much happier knowing that she CAN be ridden but during season is a problem, but really don't wish too rely on Regumate for the rest of her life with me. (Which I hope is forever), so is there any cheaper alternatives? Or did anyone else have this same problem and find a way to combat it? I don't want to use her as a broodmare, she is stunning and would love to get her rebacked and get her out an enjoying being ridden rather than a field potato!

NO nasty posters,I am just asking for advice on my next best move with her

Please bare in mind I cannot do any work with her for at least 6 months until she has got some condition and bonded with me.
 
You might find that now she's older she doesn't have this issue. My mare used to be a nightmare during seasons but she's loads better now :)
 
Can't exactly give advice, just encouragement. I have an Anglo Arab (Stallion though). They make such lovely rides. Good luck and please post a picture. I'm sure they'll be a clever person on this forum who'll help you out.
 
Cop-Pop said:
You might find that now she's older she doesn't have this issue. My mare used to be a nightmare during seasons but she's loads better now :)
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I didn't think of it like that.... she was backed very young (in my opinion) thanks for that reply
 
millreef said:
Can't exactly give advice, just encouragement. I have an Anglo Arab (Stallion though). They make such lovely rides. Good luck and please post a picture. I'm sure they'll be a clever person on this forum who'll help you out.
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She is beautiful :D Very arab face, mane and tail but rest of her is thoroughbred!

I will put up some newer pictures of her soon!
 
It may not be hormonal. She may have a physical problem that makes it painful for her to be ridden during her season, such as polycystic ovaries. I would get her insured for vets bills and then go ahead and reback her. If the problem returns (it may not) you could then get her investigated. Probably, this hormonal problem is just hearsay and guesswork and can be discounted/not mentioned re insurance.
 
Wagtail said:
It may not be hormonal. She may have a physical problem that makes it painful for her to be ridden during her season, such as polycystic ovaries. I would get her insured for vets bills and then go ahead and reback her. If the problem returns (it may not) you could then get her investigated. Probably, this hormonal problem is just hearsay and guesswork and can be discounted/not mentioned re insurance.
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I will be insuring her asap, was just doing a few quotes to find best insurance for her. Currently shes only a horse at grass but when she is in better condition will insure her at a much higher cost. Vet was there when problems arised and he said it's unlikely a physical thing, more just hormonal, as I did ask owners whether it could be anything physical rather than just a season, but will bare that in mind, thank you.
 
I would wait and see what the next 6 months bring.

Re-backing her carefully may result in absolutely no problems at all.
 
amymay said:
I would wait and see what the next 6 months bring.

Re-backing her carefully may result in absolutely no problems at all.
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I am hoping so, just have to wait and see what the future brings, I love having her around rebacked or not anyway! :)
 
I agree with other posters, now she is older the issue may have gone away. Also agree with getting her insured too. Otherwise it may well worth trying a herbal mare supplement like moody mare or suchlike. A herbalist would be able to advise if these supplements or a bespoke one would relieve sensitivity as well as mood swings. Herbal remedies tend to be more affordable as an ongoing supplement. My advice would be to just take it slowly - it may previously have been a combination of things, such as backing at a young age, seasons and maybe the tack was not a 100% fit who knows!
Good luck!
 
Agree with Amy and YasC. Also I think if she's had that time to learn to trust you while she's been poor, you are in a better position particularly if you do a lot of handling of her once she's started to feel better but not before she feels too well to revert to her old ways if that makes sense. Define her boundaries towards you very clearly to her right from the start, it could make all the difference whether she tries it on as it was a habit with her or not. I wish you both well.
Have you taken any more pictures of her yet?
 
She will have matured a bit now, give her the chance she deserves she's still only young really and I would have no qualms in restarting her :-)

Good luck
 
Maesfen said:
Agree with Amy and YasC. Also I think if she's had that time to learn to trust you while she's been poor, you are in a better position particularly if you do a lot of handling of her once she's started to feel better but not before she feels too well to revert to her old ways if that makes sense. Define her boundaries towards you very clearly to her right from the start, it could make all the difference whether she tries it on as it was a habit with her or not. I wish you both well.
Have you taken any more pictures of her yet?
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Hiya, thank you for reply, I do agree with other posters aswell, and it definately could have been a mixture of things.

I will try and get some pictures today as I am going to the yard in about an hour to fence off half the grass for my other thoroughbred, it is a new yard with a field thats been rested for a eyar and he has gone completely and utterly nuts on it!
 
I agree that in the next 6 months whilst you are caring and loving fowards her you will develop a fantastic bond, then hopefully with her now being a bit older and you slowely re-backing her the issues may not arise again.
If they do that is what insurance is there for
 
I am uploading some pictures I took of her yesterday in the ''picture gallery'', Id love it if everyone could follow them!
 
I had an old tb mare who into older life became very hormonal , irregular seasons ( sometimes as little as 2 weeks apart ) and really miserable , bucking and farting around and obviously not comfortable. At first i tried to just ignore it or not ride at these times ,until a friend of mine , who happens to be a retired vet suggested a homeopathic remedy. I can't think what it was called but i used to put a few crystals on an apple each day for about 5 or so days and Willow was a different girl. I could find out what it was called and send you a pm. I must admit i'm really sceptical about these homeopathic things but according to the vet , these sort of remedies are exactly what herbivores respond to , so i gave it a go and it really did work
 
paddy irish said:
I had an old tb mare who into older life became very hormonal , irregular seasons ( sometimes as little as 2 weeks apart ) and really miserable , bucking and farting around and obviously not comfortable. At first i tried to just ignore it or not ride at these times ,until a friend of mine , who happens to be a retired vet suggested a homeopathic remedy. I can't think what it was called but i used to put a few crystals on an apple each day for about 5 or so days and Willow was a different girl. I could find out what it was called and send you a pm. I must admit i'm really sceptical about these homeopathic things but according to the vet , these sort of remedies are exactly what herbivores respond to , so i gave it a go and it really did work
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I would be very grateful for that if thats okay, many thanks
 
I'd also restart her again slowly, but other options if it is related to her seasons would be to try a marble, and the herb agnus castus is said to be helpful.
 
Agree with general concensus, she may be completely different now!

Just wanted to add though when I had a look (quick internet search) I found mentions of inserting a marble into the uterus as an alternative to control hormonal issues.
 
Definitely worth getting her "bits" sorted out, also back etc and then maybe trying homeopathic treatments etc. Natural horse supplies a huge range of herbal supplements
 
Thanks for reply, I will wait and see in 6+ months how she is during her season when generally handled and go from there...new pictures uploaded from this evening!
 
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