Mare has turned crazy...

[Autumn30]

Hello

I posted a thread about my mare previously being in season and being turned out with a herd just wanted to shed some more light and see if anyone has experienced anything like this.

She was the most docile mare, gentle good as gold and would stand for forever, she was turned out with 3 other mares came into season and went bonkers (she's always been turned out individually) also chatting to previous owner she remembered she became obsessed with a mare over the fence in her first livery and the only way to calm her down was to move to a new livery all together. I have had her 9 weeks now, and I went to see her a few times before I bought her- always so gentle and kind the previous owner had her 2 year old child in stable with her cuddling her- she was the same with me until last week.

However her personality has changed she tries to bite when you touch her rug, wont stand still, seems constantly panicky, always on edge- looks like she's constantly standing on her tip toes (she's also 16.3 so now looks like she's 100hh lol) she chases you out the stable with her ears so far back when as before she would sit down with you on the straw.
The girls down the livery haven't noticed a change other than the fact in the morning she paces in her stable and works herself up until she's allowed out- and really pulls you to her field. Its just strange since she's been turned out with others she has a new personality and she's becoming quite scary- maybe she's just taking the mick out of me but she's also tried to bite my boyfriend too now...

I understand she's obviously happy being with her herd now but she is becoming hard to handle and has now become nappy when hacking and winnies quite a lot even with other horses. I just feel she is so unpredictable.

Any help would be amazing, my trainer does think its an issue and he's probably the only person thats been honest with me.
She was also sold as suitable for a novice (which she was) I hadn't owned a horse for a few years, and I had horses for over 13 years previously so I'm not a complete novice just rusty.


EDIT: She also was swollen around her girth for 2 days which she was very sensitive when this all started.

 

[shamrock2021]

My horse was exactly like that turn out to have a very big cystic ovarie.

 

[fredflop]

Maybe speak to the vet about putting her on regumate

 

[Red-1]

I would treat for ulcers and have ovaries checked. I would also get some help on the ground with her. If all is good, it may well be that she needs a different yard.

 

[Equi]

What’s her feed/turnout been the last 9 weeks... is it too much feed for her workload?

considering she’s had issues with seasons definitely speak to a vet about getting a scan or trying regumate and also considering ulcers.

 

[Autumn30]

My horse was exactly like that turn out to have a very big cystic ovarie.

The vet is coming out next week so I am going to have a chat with him.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Some horses are only suited to individual turnout, so that may be the case. I have seen horses who become obsessed with others and get really bad separation anxiety and the behaviour sounds similar.
Can you put her back on individual? I wouldn't usually advise this for any horse ideally, but it seems as though she can't cope with herd turnout, you also have to consider the safety of other people tending to their horses in the field.

Other things I would look at are removing all hard feed if she is overfed, possibly Regumate or similar or even a marble if you think it may help.

 

[Muddywellies]

These posts come up time and time again on here. You've had her 9 weeks. It takes time, clear boundaries and routine similar to the last home as far as possible. But mainly time. It's impossible (or rare) for a horse to completely settle into a new home without any hiccups. If you're completely satisfied that her feed is correct for her level of work, she has enough hay, she's not too cold or too warm, she has company, adequate turnout (all the basic requirements) then you just need to support her through this. If it doesn't improve then you'll need to investigate further.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would strip her feed right back to just hay/grass, no hardfeed, no supplements, no treats. If she has to have a bucket feed, I would give a small handful of Emerald Green grassnuts or Agrobs haycobs, as neither of them have anything added. You could use either of those as rewards, too.
There are all sorts of possible reasons for a behaviour change but start simple is my motto.

 

[Melandmary]

A few years ago my mare had a personality change when I moved her to a new yard. She had always had a mixed herd turnout but with the move and new herd she became fixated and even mounted another mare in her field. She was uncontrollable and frightened me. This parti ular mare had very erratic seasons that was in her herd. I had my mares ovaries checked and put her on rugumate for a while then onto an oestress supplement for about a year which helped a bit. It wasn't till my mare changed field mates that her season problems stopped and she went back to her old self and never had a problem since. I second getting her ovaries checked and then taking it from there. The fact you are a new partnership makes it more difficult because you don't know if this is a new behaviour or normal for her.