mare in season? please someone teach me about pattern etc..

showpony

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2mths ago I had a real testing week with my mare, tanking off with no warning, mini rears, not concentrating, throwing strop if she was being ridden and saw horses out on road etc.. Gelding in stable next to her was rearing up at partition, she was eh " throwing " shapes back..... So put it down to her being in season...

Today mare was a right numpty for friend of mine who rides her once a week - wouldn't concentrate, easily distracted - threw a bit of a hissy fit on a canter circle as she saw horses on the road , threw in a buck and then tanked it off @ speed and poor friend thought she was going to jump 6bar gate to arena - managed to get her turned just in time as to not!
This behaviour is very very unlike her so I think she may be in season again - is there any definate way to tell???
 
Have a look under her tail, there will be a mucky discharge. Also her stable will most probably be wetter than usual.

If she is really uncomfortable when she's in season, bute can help.
 
there often isn't much warning other than general grumps. The weather has been funny this year so a lot of mares have been in season at unusual times. It does sound like this could be hormone related as my mare is clingy around other horses when in season. She calls a lot and gets nervy whereas normally she is ok, but she is quite a tarty mare so I usually see her squirting at others, weeing a lot etc as well..

I have her on mag ox which has had some effect on her general nervousness, and I am now adding agnus castus powder. I have only been adding that for two weeks and she is less sensitive about being touched/picking feet out which was an issue, although she hasn't had a stressy phase for a while. Might be worth trying a supplement for your mare if she is becoming a handful!
 
Thanks for the replys - this is my first horse so apologies about the cluelessness! ! I rode her all week and she was exposed to same circumstances eg seeing horses on road and zero issues - she schooled great..
Re suppliment I will defo look into it - as I can't cope with a wk every mth of her eh acting like a tart! Its just typical that we are heading out to do our first ever dressage test next weekend, couldn't have happened at a worse time - the neckstrap may need to be put on, lol:)
 
I have not owned a mare, but had a very 'marish' mare on livery here.

Her first season usually hit around this time of year and then carried on every few weeks until the colder weather come oct/nov. Her first and last seasons were always the worst and she would be virtually un-rideable.

Moving geldings near her would also set her off so had to be careful what she was grazed with, or stabled next too, over the summer mnths.

You could tell she was in season as would 'wink' with her female bits and 'squirt' around the geldings - this would leave a discharge down her back legs. She also became harder to ride and handle and would generally be a madam! This would last between 5 - 7 days.

There are several herbal supplements that are meant to help such as 'oestrous' by Naff.

Hope that helps x
 
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