Mare advice needed!

Dizzleton

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Any help would be great!

One of our liveries has a 21 (22 in Apr) year old Shire mare that she's owned for most her life. She's bred two foals in her past, her last one being 8 years ago, that is still kept with her. The mare and daughter have always been together and seem very settled until recently. She has always been very friendly, loving and gentle - Typical Shire!

About a month or two ago she started to get really upset having a rug on, where she would put her ears back and bite at the air. She eventually got to the point where she turned round and really bit her owners neck leaving a lump and bruising - something she has never done before. She frequently pulls faces when you walk past her in the stables, but doesn't try to bite.

She is also turning very grumpy towards her daughter; nothing too aggressive, just face pulling, tail swishing and nips on the bum.

She is on 12 hour turnout on good grass, has ad lib hay 24/7 and two small feeds a day. Nothing has changed in her routine that would trigger her aggression.

Her owner has had a physiotherapist and chiropractor to see her, but they couldn't find anything wrong.

Could it be ovarian cysts? Age? Winter blues?

Thanks for reading :)
 
It could be many things so my suggestion would be to call on the experience of a decent equine vet. It may be worth running some bloods to see if they can give any clues.
 
My mare only objects to rugs when she has pain which turned out to be coming from her feet causing her to tighten her muscles at the front of her neck and girth which when sorted she is fine again. The equine vet pinpointed the spots and then ultra sound and equine bowen and much less grass as she has been diagnosed with ems .
 
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