Mare comes into heat around other mares – what?

[Lottie!]

Your advice/experiences please!!

My mare comes in to heat when stabled or turned out with/near to other mares.

At the same time she becomes absolutely obsessed with the other mare; becoming aggressive if you try to take her away from the other mare, and extremely anxious if the other mare is moved.

When put near another mare she appears to come into heat the very same day(??); squirting, displaying and winking to the mare, prancing when lead, completely unfocused on the handler and calling desperately almost constantly.

She does not display this behaviour with geldings, (she is calm, focused and sweet) and she appears not to come into season when only around geldings. Because of this it is hard to tell if this behaviour is due to a separation anxiety towards mares, or to her hormones. The only certainty is that the behaviour is triggered by other mares.

I am at a livery yard so am unable to control the environment (nor would I expect to!) but obviously her attitude around mares is potentially harmful to both of us, not to mention the stress it causes her!

Does anyone have any advice or experiences they can share? Help!

 

[PandorasJar]

We have two mares at our yard who throw other mares into heat. They are both herd leaders and more gelding than mare in behaviour.

Perhaps it is some display of submission?

Personally I'd turn her out with or next to the mares in question (if at all possible) as they seem to lose interest after the initial season.

Pan

 

[Lottie!]

The behaviour is around any mare, not just one or two in particular; even if they are not at all interested in her.

Also the behaviour doesn't calm down. I tried her next to other mares for 5 months and she was practically unhandleable for the whole time :/

 

[Laafet]

Sorry to tell you but this is completely normal! I work with TB broodmares and the non pregnant ones are constantly teasing each other, showing to each other, acting like stallions (well you must remember they are entires) and will even mount each other. It is quite handy for us as we can tell before scanning if they are infoal or not sometimes just by observing how they are.
I don't have any suggestions for what you can do, other than ask a vet to scan her and check for any abnormalities and maybe discuss using Regumate (which is very expensive) etc.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

Maybe she wants you to respect her life choices?

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Maybe she wants you to respect her life choices?

Indeed!

 

[Lottie!]

Sorry to tell you but this is completely normal! I work with TB broodmares and the non pregnant ones are constantly teasing each other, showing to each other, acting like stallions (well you must remember they are entires) and will even mount each other. It is quite handy for us as we can tell before scanning if they are infoal or not sometimes just by observing how they are.
I don't have any suggestions for what you can do, other than ask a vet to scan her and check for any abnormalities and maybe discuss using Regumate (which is very expensive) etc.

Nono I'm glad it is normal! Thank you for your help - I will certainally try scanning & Regumate - I had been thinking about that.

 

[Lottie!]

Indeed!

Hahaha!

It's ok I don't mind what sexual preferences she has - she'll always be my girl and have my support

 

[fatpiggy]

I'm not sure if my mare bats for both sides or its just a case of any port in a storm but she always used to hang around another mare and squirt at her on the first day or two of coming into season.Apparently in women's prisons the inmates all have their periods at the same time. Hormones are weird things!

 

[AmyMay]

Have you tried a Regumate trial for her?

 

[claireandnadia]

Nadia comes in to season when she see's another mare. More so if a new mare comes on the yard.

 

[posie_honey]

yup my mare does this too - turns into a screaming hussey fortunatly it doesnt affect her ridden work much and shes fine (but is on oestress which has helped)

 

[caitlineloise]

The mare herd at our yard are constantly bringing eachother into season, more so when they had a very dominant herd leader. Bunch of hussy's!

 

[mcnaughty]

I believe my mare is dominant in her field of 6 mares. When they come into season they all squirt and mouth like a foal to her.

She on the other hand is totally unmarish and doesn't really show when she is in season.

A gelding in the adjoining field who was kept uncut until around 4 (and knows it!) has an ongoing love affair with my mare and she knows he fancies her too! He does not seem to even notice the other mares in the field.

Its like she doesn't need to go out of her way to behave like a girl - she knows she is boss and he knows it too!