Mare in heat?

[Hippophilia]

My 22 yr old TB mare has been acting very oddly for the last week or so. Unusually for her she is very fizzy, bucking on the lunge line in canter and spooking when ridden in the arena and being led back to pasture. I am almost 5 months pregnant so I have decided to stop riding her due to her unpredictable behaviour (I was planning to keep riding for another few months). During the summer and autumn she was kept with another mare who was definately the boss and I had no problems handling her (this is our first year together). About 3 weeks ago she was moved to a new pasture for the winter and is now in with two geldings, one of whom she has bonded very closely with and she is now clearly the boss of the herd.
So my question is this: could she be in heat despite the fact that it's winter? I wa always led to beieve that mare did not cycle during the winter months. Or could it be due to the move and her new position as herd boss? Or both? If she is in heat, is there anything I can do to steady her up or should I just wait and let nature take its course?

 

[Ladylina83]

My TB cross seasons right the way through the year - I first figured this out after having to get the vet out Christmas week one year as she was acting oddly. Dont forget that this year the weather has been very unusual, Nature is the switch that turns on and off the deire to mate and nature is up the wall !! Some one also told me that the welsh are know for going all the way through too. Being with boys could be bringing out her hidden desires and she may also be sensitive to your horemones too - I sound like mystic me lol

I think you are right to stop riding to be honest for now.

 

[Kenzo]

My little TB mare came in season start of this month and did the same last December, think she's the only mare on the yard that does it though!

 

[Hippophilia]

Dont forget that this year the weather has been very unusual, Nature is the switch that turns on and off the deire to mate and nature is up the wall !! ......she may also be sensitive to your horemones too.

Very good point - somehow I never thought she would pick up on my hormones but I guess there is no reason why not. In our last few sessions we've been doing gound work with poles which she seems to be enjoying. I hope its making her use her thinking brain rather than her hormone-addled loopy brain!

 

[frozzy]

The majority of mares come into season all year round due to improvements in feeding and nutrition.
The exception to this would be animals kept on the hill or moorlands (as in mares kept on welsh mountains) whose diet is not that of most stabled animals. Even most grass kept horses will come into season all year round.
I have had two foals from one mare , one born November, one born December, her choice of when to foal as she had run with the stallion all year ( she most definately insured being kept stabled all winter away from the elements!!)