Help mare in season really don’t know what to do.

[Csc21]

Hi.
Hoping for some advice. My daughter who is 9 and suffered from anxiety got her self a project back in April this year. We found a wonderful rescue pony gypsy cob type 4 yrs old. marvellous nature and just wanted to be loved. She was lightly backed. My daughter has gently brought her on and takes her to pony club. She has been in season a twice that I know of before but is in season again now.
At home she is marvellous and you wouldn’t notice (no other horses around just cows in other field)
The only time we notice is if we are in pony club as she urinates about 5 -7 times in about 2 hours.
However last night was beyond. She normally is able to concentrate and carryon but last night she was way off. Not nasty or anything. If anything very soppy around ppl and wanting to be cuddled. But she was doing the little bit of urinating every time around 2-8minutes she would go again.
She was difficult to respond to commands when being ridden as she was just ignoring them.
She was a little more focused when jumping.
I was so unsure if I should have taken her home.
There were only a four others there 3 were mates and one gelding that she wasn’t in the same group as.
I’m unsure what to do as she is not aggressive or appears to be in any pain in any sensitive areas.
Unsure weather I should be giving her any supplements and if these will work. Due to her beeed she doesn’t have any hard feed and lives out 24/7. But I would have to give her a handful of feed to give her supplements if needed.
What are everyone’s views on this?
Has anyone experienced this before and what did you do?
I don’t have much experience with horses myself so need all the help and advice I can get

 

[Auslander]

I wouldn't worry, if I were you. She's just doing what comes naturally - part and parcel of mare ownership! She isn't urinating - she's showing the non-existent stallion that she's ready to be covered. If she isn't being difficult to manage/ride, then let her be. Supplements won't stop her coming into season - they're supposed to reduce unwanted hormonal behaviour, which your girl isn't really displaying.

 

[Red-1]

The only thing I see her doing that is 'wrong' is ignoring requests made by her rider. This is down to the rider to address though, so maybe some lessons with a trainer? Maybe once she knows that there is no excuse not to respond to an aid she will get on with her work. The squirting is her business, as long as she gets on with her work when requested. No need to be embarrassed, it is what mares do!

 

[Csc21]

I wouldn't worry, if I were you. She's just doing what comes naturally - part and parcel of mare ownership! She isn't urinating - she's showing the non-existent stallion that she's ready to be covered. If she isn't being difficult to manage/ride, then let her be. Supplements won't stop her coming into season - they're supposed to reduce unwanted hormonal behaviour, which your girl isn't really displaying.

Thanks. Like I said apart from the urinating/squirting her mood is not hard to deal with as she is more soppy and wants to cuddle. It’s just difficult for my daughter riding her. She hasn’t been bad like that before when she has been in season with us. Maybe we had her at a height or something. Usually she urinates a few times but yesterday was beyond. She wouldn’t stop. I have worked with horses before but never owned until now for my daughter. Mares that I have come in contact with only one of them used to display behaviour when in season.
I am very I experienced with seasons and mares.
Do you think that I should tell my daughter to be more firmer.
It was hard as even the head of The Pony Club was asking if she was ok as she felt she shouldn’t be like that and kept asking me if she was dehydrated. I’m positive she wasn’t as she had water before going plenty of fresh water in her field when she came out. So it wouldn’t have been.
With the frequent urinating we will have to get on with it or is there something that will help her pony with this.

 

[Csc21]

So my daughter needs to be firmer when riding? It is really only the urinating and not listening when riding that is the trouble. She seems fine in every other way. If it continues to be a problem should we just not ride her? Only problem with that is we don’t know she is in season until we get to the pony club and she around other horses to start displaying this behaviour

 

[Clodagh]

You could try agnus castus but mares are just hormonal bundles once a month ish. I expect PC was at the peak of her receptiveness and she should cycle back to normal again. Some are just more expressive than others. Yes to your daughter making her listen, but remember the pony isn't being awkward, just as we can't help PMT.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think the warm, sunny weather has made my mares worse this cycle. Usually they are very low key about it but The Beast is being very desperate this time flashing the boys next door and whinnying at everyone! Granny is being extra clingy and she NEVER shows she's in season normally. So perhaps it's just bad this time because of the weather.

It's only a couple of days so either give her the time off or take what she can give in some low key work. It's a shame it clashed with pony club this time but such is life. And mares. Such are mares.

 

[Red-1]

So my daughter needs to be firmer when riding? It is really only the urinating and not listening when riding that is the trouble. She seems fine in every other way. If it continues to be a problem should we just not ride her? Only problem with that is we don’t know she is in season until we get to the pony club and she around other horses to start displaying this behaviour

I would not say to suddenly be strict/firm now she is in season, but if the mare was truly infront of the leg etc then she would not ignore your daughter. I had a mare who was a nightmare in season, but if I told her to get her ass into the dressage arena she would, even if it was not the most relaxed test. Being in season is no excuse to just ignore the rider, but the work to get the horse off the leg would be best done when not in season so she is ready for next time.

 

[Gloi]

Through the summer she should normally come in season on a regular cycle of about 3 weeks. It should only be for a couple of days each time that she will be really flirty. If you mark on the calendar when it is you will know in advance and if you are worried arrange to go to your shows when she isn't as heavily in season. As your daughter gets more experienced she'll learn to handle it better. Once autumn come's she'll likely not be as bad. A gypsy cob is a substantial beast for a 9yo but as she grows she'll get stronger.

 

[meleeka]

If she’s kept on her own social situations are bound to be more exciting than they would normally.