Difficult Mare.

[showjump]

Not strictly competition based. ( Although I do compete- if we can get her sorted.)
Ive tried to keep it brief and to the point.

Owned my mare for 3 years, knew she was a complex horse when i go her. But i was prepared to take her on as she was brave and careful jumping. Plus i'm used to 'special' horses!!
All going great, and happy. I had a few falls down the line, confidence issues, and she started stopping.
Fast forward to last year, had her looked at. Soft tissue damage in back, miso therapy, saddle widened and we cracked on. Lockdown/covid all that arrived and we didn't manage to do any competing.
We massively improved her way of going on the flat, but felt the wheels feel off slightly when jumping. My confidence issues came back. However she had become reluctant to move off my right leg, as much as left. I had begun wearing one spur to help. I did however feel there could be more to this, as when she did go off my leg it was a dramatic result. Then drop off it again.. I truly felt we needed to look into it.
We had her scoped for ulcer, and they found a handful. As she was insured vet said we could inject her weekly. Although he didn't think that the small amount of ulcers would be having an effect at all. (I did state what a drama queen/ wuss she is!)
Roll on to 3rd injection, and the mare was so so different! More settled and happy. Going off both legs equally. Jumped round courses at home happy and in a lovely rhythm. (im so gutted i never videoed her) A pleasure to ride her.
Now 10 days post 3rd injection, i started to feel she was a little off at home. Little bit grouchy and unsettled. I had entered her in a clear round at a local venue 2 days later, only 80cm for our first outing in a year. Came off the lorry like a firing breathing dragon, collecting ring throwing her head up/down like she used to do, and calling for her pal back on the lorry. She stopped at jump 1, twice. Jumped that, no2, no3, stopped at no.4, no.6 double (my bugbear) then flew the rest of the jumps no.7-no.12. Decided to put her straight back in for another go round. Genuinely thinking shes had a look, and will be better.
Jumped no.1- no.3 stopped at no.4 and napped to the gate. Mini rears the lot. Managed to jump them all but had more stops along the way.
Rang vet and told him the old behavior was back with a bang.
Took her monday to be re scoped. No ulcers on the scope. He also checked she was sound- yes. Also checked her back- Ok. He scanned her ovaries while she was there. She was about to ovulate the next day or so, so he says this could be the reason behind the behavior. We have cleared the uclers and now coming into season upsetting her.
Hes given her regumate, to start this monday. (he says he would like to see if the behavior gets any better on its own for a week, prior to starting Regumate.

So I guess i was looking for anyone whos experienced a difficult mare. Im honestly getting to the point of wondering if its me shes taken a dislike to, so thinking of getting someone to ride her. Vet also suggested bute for a week and ride her see if the behavior alters.

Help im so frustrated and cant see the light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[milliepops]

did you have anything else for the ulcers or just the omeprazole injections? just wondering if the hindgut needs considering particularly with the one-sidedness?

One of my mares is very difficult when she's struggling with her seasons and regumate does settle her within a week or 10 days so I think you'll know fairly quickly if that's going to be part of it.

 

[Sail_away]

I think a bute trial is a good idea, that’s pretty easy to do. Regumate did make a difference to my sensitive mare though it took longer than I think it does with most - about a month before I could reliably say there was a difference.
I think the thing about sensitive mares is that if you know them well enough, you should be able to put a reason to their behaviour. Eg, I know and expect that my mare will be a cow if I change her routine at all. If you can’t find a reason for it, then a vet workup would not be a bad idea. If you’ve no idea where to start then it might be worth sending her to one of the big equine hospitals for a loss of performance work up.

 

[showjump]

did you have anything else for the ulcers or just the omeprazole injections? just wondering if the hindgut needs considering particularly with the one-sidedness?

One of my mares is very difficult when she's struggling with her seasons and regumate does settle her within a week or 10 days so I think you'll know fairly quickly if that's going to be part of it.

Yes omerprazole injections. Shes already on coligone power daily. I havent have one suffer with ulcers before, so i dont know masses about them. What sort of thing could she have to treat her hindgut? Would be interesting in looking into this for sure.

 

[showjump]

I think a bute trial is a good idea, that’s pretty easy to do. Regumate did make a difference to my sensitive mare though it took longer than I think it does with most - about a month before I could reliably say there was a difference.
I think the thing about sensitive mares is that if you know them well enough, you should be able to put a reason to their behaviour. Eg, I know and expect that my mare will be a cow if I change her routine at all. If you can’t find a reason for it, then a vet workup would not be a bad idea. If you’ve no idea where to start then it might be worth sending her to one of the big equine hospitals for a loss of performance work up.

Thanks. Yes bute trials next on list. I just dont think shes a nasty mare, deep down i think theres still something a miss with her. Vet did lameness workup briefly monday and hes happy shes sound.

 

[Xmasha]

have you tried a hind gut supplement like protexin ?

Aria would always have a bit of added sass when in season. It turns out she was sucking in air when in season, so we had her caslicked and she was much happier.

 

[ihatework]

I think you need to take it in a stepwise approach. Given the ulcer history I’d be very diligent about gastric management/supplements all the time moving forwards.

Regumate does sound like the logical next step. Keep a diary of symptoms and it might help you pinpoint if it is hormonal.

If regumate doesn’t help at all then I’d probably do a painkiller trial next.

I Assume she is like this with a more experienced rider/trainer too? Any chance she is picking up vibes from you?

 

[Birker2020]

My friends horse had a marble put in her mare for her mareish behaviour.

https://www.equinereproductiveservices.co.uk/intra-uterine-spheres https://thehorse.com/151334/marbles-keep-mares-out-of-heat/

 

[showjump]

have you tried a hind gut supplement like protexin ?

Aria would always have a bit of added sass when in season. It turns out she was sucking in air when in season, so we had her caslicked and she was much happier.

She was once on acid ease when she was being difficult once before. I dont remember it having much affect at the time. How would i know if shes sucking in air? She tends to not show any outward signs of being in season full stop. Unless my other mare who will be flirting with everything and squirting.

 

[showjump]

I think you need to take it in a stepwise approach. Given the ulcer history I’d be very diligent about gastric management/supplements all the time moving forwards.

Regumate does sound like the logical next step. Keep a diary of symptoms and it might help you pinpoint if it is hormonal.

If regumate doesn’t help at all then I’d probably do a painkiller trial next.

I Assume she is like this with a more experienced rider/trainer too? Any chance she is picking up vibes from you?

Shes on coligone powder, angus castus and brewers yeast supplement wise. Redigrass and sugar beat feed wise.
Yes will go down bute route next if no improvements.
I have also thought this about another jockey, my trainers rode her and she was the same with her (reluctant to move off right leg) shes not sat on her since the ulcer injections. I also want someone to ride her away from home, to rule out me being the cause. Thanks

 

[showjump]

My friends horse had a marble put in her mare for her mareish behaviour.

https://www.equinereproductiveservices.co.uk/intra-uterine-spheres https://thehorse.com/151334/marbles-keep-mares-out-of-heat/

i asked the vet about marbles on monday! He said they issue is they have to be put in/taken out and then theres a chance of implantation and death!? I was like eekkk ok maybe not.

 

[Xmasha]

She was once on acid ease when she was being difficult once before. I dont remember it having much affect at the time. How would i know if shes sucking in air? She tends to not show any outward signs of being in season full stop. Unless my other mare who will be flirting with everything and squirting.

we didnt know, it only came to light when we looked at putting her in foal. The vet noticed some fluid only when in season. Its worth asking next time when you have her checked over. After she was caslicked and back in work she was noticeably happier.

 

[Birker2020]

i asked the vet about marbles on monday! He said they issue is they have to be put in/taken out and then theres a chance of implantation and death!? I was like eekkk ok maybe not.

I think it was more dodgy with the glass marbles but the spheres are made of some sort of polymer and don't cause the problems that the old ones did. But it says they last up to 90 days so it's an ongoing thing with putting in/taking out like you say.

 

[milliepops]

My vets were not enthusiastic about marbles, it's very hit and miss.

 

[showjump]

Will mention it next time i see the vet. Yes marbles seem hit and miss with vets. He mentioned injections that stop her from coming into season, but can affect the possibility of ever breeding from her. So i've said see if the regumate has a positive affect first of all.

 

[barefootbeginner]

In my experience (rather than any expertise!), mares regumate have helped have been ones for whom their seasons themselves were the tricky time i.e. behaviour changes througout the cycle from - great to challenging. Not to say regumate wouldn't help with other hormonal/ovary issues, just that if you're seeing more consistent patterns (except for the injection 3 success) maybe other options possible.

Again, from experience rather than expertise, horses sound on workups but with forwardness/leg responsiveness issues (when those aspects of ridden work have been strong/fine before i.e. have now deteriorated) have had gut or PSSM2 as their root cause.

Now from knowledge, albeit research rather than expertise/training, the omeprazole can worsen any hindgut issues due to reducing the stomach acid (to allow the stomach lining to heal), causing under-digested food to pass through the stomach leaving the hindgut with the problem of having to digest food that is less digested than needed for its normal function. Please anybody with more specific/accurate information correct me! That could possibly fit with the timeline of some improvement before a worsening? In terms of supplements, I know some people have had success with Equishure, but also that hind gut acidosis and hind gut ulcers can benefit/improve from different treatment/support so failure to improve with some hind-gut supplements doesn't rule out a hindgut issue necessarily. I have heard of great success with hind-gut "reset" protocols, which utilise colloidal silver, though have never conducted one myself and know no more about it than that.

Finally, best wishes, I've loved my tricky mares though golly they had me cursing too many times!!

 

[Jenni_]

I would say you need to supplement the injections with Sucralfate for the hind gut - I re-treat my mare from time to time if she gets a bit stuffy, and I wouldn't give omeprazole without Sucralfate.

 

[Karenchol]

Not strictly competition based. ( Although I do compete- if we can get her sorted.)
Ive tried to keep it brief and to the point.

Owned my mare for 3 years, knew she was a complex horse when i go her. But i was prepared to take her on as she was brave and careful jumping. Plus i'm used to 'special' horses!!
All going great, and happy. I had a few falls down the line, confidence issues, and she started stopping.
Fast forward to last year, had her looked at. Soft tissue damage in back, miso therapy, saddle widened and we cracked on. Lockdown/covid all that arrived and we didn't manage to do any competing.
We massively improved her way of going on the flat, but felt the wheels feel off slightly when jumping. My confidence issues came back. However she had become reluctant to move off my right leg, as much as left. I had begun wearing one spur to help. I did however feel there could be more to this, as when she did go off my leg it was a dramatic result. Then drop off it again.. I truly felt we needed to look into it.
We had her scoped for ulcer, and they found a handful. As she was insured vet said we could inject her weekly. Although he didn't think that the small amount of ulcers would be having an effect at all. (I did state what a drama queen/ wuss she is!)
Roll on to 3rd injection, and the mare was so so different! More settled and happy. Going off both legs equally. Jumped round courses at home happy and in a lovely rhythm. (im so gutted i never videoed her) A pleasure to ride her.
Now 10 days post 3rd injection, i started to feel she was a little off at home. Little bit grouchy and unsettled. I had entered her in a clear round at a local venue 2 days later, only 80cm for our first outing in a year. Came off the lorry like a firing breathing dragon, collecting ring throwing her head up/down like she used to do, and calling for her pal back on the lorry. She stopped at jump 1, twice. Jumped that, no2, no3, stopped at no.4, no.6 double (my bugbear) then flew the rest of the jumps no.7-no.12. Decided to put her straight back in for another go round. Genuinely thinking shes had a look, and will be better.
Jumped no.1- no.3 stopped at no.4 and napped to the gate. Mini rears the lot. Managed to jump them all but had more stops along the way.
Rang vet and told him the old behavior was back with a bang.
Took her monday to be re scoped. No ulcers on the scope. He also checked she was sound- yes. Also checked her back- Ok. He scanned her ovaries while she was there. She was about to ovulate the next day or so, so he says this could be the reason behind the behavior. We have cleared the uclers and now coming into season upsetting her.
Hes given her regumate, to start this monday. (he says he would like to see if the behavior gets any better on its own for a week, prior to starting Regumate.

So I guess i was looking for anyone whos experienced a difficult mare. Im honestly getting to the point of wondering if its me shes taken a dislike to, so thinking of getting someone to ride her. Vet also suggested bute for a week and ride her see if the behavior alters.

Help im so frustrated and cant see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Hi,
Did you ever get an answer as this sounds just like my mare and I’ve been try f to find an answer for 7yrs!!!
Karen

 

[Karenchol]

Hi,
Did you ever get an answer as this sounds just like my mare and I’ve been trying to find an answer for 7yrs!!!
Karen

 

[Maddie Moo]

Hi,
Did you ever get an answer as this sounds just like my mare and I’ve been try f to find an answer for 7yrs!!!
Karen

The original poster hasn’t been online since August 2021, so you will possibly not get a response.