Mares, don't you just love em!

[lisan]

After two weeks, of having all horses in their stables as the fields were being done, she was getting a bit fed up. Had a battle worming her thurs eve, then Friday had a dressage lesson, she is coming into season and was absolutely awful!

I did'nt rise to her behaviour and sat quietly, but the 15mtr canter circles sent her over the edge and she nearly had me off! Finished with some walk transitions.

She went out for the first time today, left her out just for a few hrs, then took her to a rc jumping show this afternoon. The warmup was horrendous, so decided to jump the WH clear round to warm up - could'nt even get her round the course

She jumped at the same venue last week, absolutely fantastically.

Must make a mental note - give her a couple of chill out days when she is like this!

But she is such a sweetie on ground, so lovely to handle, don't know if to try some Oestress.

 

[Puppy]

Oh don't get me started on this, lol, I almost made a similar post earlier.

Star is hormonal at the moment - her first lot of spring hormones are a killer.

Currently she will only be caught on alternate days.

Sometimes she refuses to speak to me. Other days, she will walk away mid feed to where I'm putting out hay just to give me a cuddle and be soppy. Yet days like this morning she will walk away from her bucket if I try to approach her whilst she's eating. Most annoying it makes trying to change rugs with this weather very hard work

The other day it was gloriously sunny and yet she refused to let anyone near her all day, to have her rug off.

We had such fun and games this morning. She was walking away from her bucket every time Mum or I tried to approach her (mine are field fed/kept). Literally she'd walk off four steps, you back off two, she comes forward two, you come forwards two, she backs off another two....

It was just ridiculous!!

In the end, I put a headcollar on Beans, walked her off towards the gate, as in "fine, well we shall all to off without you then" (and Star is quite confident and happy being left in the field alone, she doesn't stress, I leave her alone whilst I ride Be) but as soon as I even headed for the gate and gave up trying to catch her, she called me walked up to mum and asked to have her headcollar on. All that so we could take her rug off *rolls eyes* Then afterwards, whilst we were doing waters etc, once we'd caught her and the job was done, she wasn't in the slightest bit worried about us walking off and then back up to her to pat her...

Last winter, I was riding her every day, catching her every day no trouble; on the occasional day I didn't ride and I just fed her, she would run up and down the fence calling asking me to bring her in to work (Had her ten years at this point and never known her act that clingy to me) then Spring hormones kicked in, and I literally couldn't get ANYWHERE near her for a whole week

She has me in tears

Luckily today I just couldn't stop laughing at her. After 11 years I KNOW she is like this every spring. Thankfully it passes and she is not like it all summer.

Plus, I can't really complained because I've been an unreasonable PMT fueled so and so myself this last week

Still prefer mares to geldings though. And will continue to buy them.... I must be mad

 

[lisan]

Glad its not just mine!! They were soooo happy to go out this morning, she certainly did'nt seem bothered by pmt then, galloping round bucking, rearing, having lots of fun - watching that, I thought she would be fine to take this afternoon. Never mind! Can't stay cross with her for long thou!

 

[cobwithattitude]

One word.....MARBLES!!!

Before you think i am loosing mine-ask your vet about them- really have helped my mare.

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Mine was mardy today, she bit me hard on the arm and drew blood when the saddler was there reflocking my saddle!

 

[Puppy]

Out of interest L154xxx, is your girl like this EVERY season, or is it just the start of spring for you - because for Star it dies down, hence I don't want to resort to regumate or anything like that as it doesn't last all summer, and maybe it's her becoming a moody old bag as like with her other antisocial behaviour (she hates strangers!!

Likes to scare them for fun!

), but I think she's getting worse/more extreme each year with age. Just like most of her habits are.

But to be fair my elderly gelding was the same with his idiosyncrasies as he got older....

Having said that, if you asked my farrier/dentist/saddle/physio they would sing her praises because they've known her long term. With strangers she pulls Jurassic park faces and squeals, stamps her feet, gets her teeth out etc. For those of us who know her, you would say she has manner to burn

Box, shoe, clip, roads, tack up, at an event, attacked by a dog out hacking, she is bold, trusting and a totally Star by name and nature.

Funny thing is, my other mare, apart from the grotty tail, you'd never know it when she's in season - she's always sweet and perfectly behaved, bless the baby! But Star can overnight suddenly be as unreasonable and stroppy as she likes.... but hey, having spent about half our lives together, I love her just as much

Silly old moo!!

She wanted cuddles and attention at tea time tonight after this morning's drama - man, I can't keep up!

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
Can't stay cross with her for long thou!

[/ QUOTE ]

I bet you can't. If nothing else then because she's too beautiful

Despite this morning's drama, I would always pick a mare over a gelding because for all their stroppy times, you know if you have a mare on your side then you will get that extra big bit of heart from them - I am a mare fan through and through

Only ONE gelding has been an exception to that rule to me, and he was an anglo-arab, so had a mare's temperament anyway

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
One word.....MARBLES!!!

Before you think i am loosing mine-ask your vet about them- really have helped my mare.

[/ QUOTE ]

Out of interest is that possible with older mares? And is it expensive? Or have any side effects?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lisan]

I love mare too, and not sure I would have a gelding now.

As for being like this, she is like this the first season, but previously came into season all winter too, but this year did'nt! And I really feel we have turned a corner, our dressage scores are improving, I can hack her out alone, with no problems now, so I did'nt really expect this today. Put her back in the field when we got back, just for an hr, thought I would be there for ages trying to catch her, she came straight up to me!!!!!

Might just try some ostress for the summer.

 

[lisan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
One word.....MARBLES!!!

Before you think i am loosing mine-ask your vet about them- really have helped my mare.

[/ QUOTE ]

Out of interest is that possible with older mares? And is it expensive? Or have any side effects?

Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is always the risk of infection, and they can 'spit' the marble back out

My friends mare has one, and it works a treat

Her mare is 13, can't see it being a problem in an older mare?

 

[guisbrogal]

Ellie too is being absolutely horrid at the moment!

I am at present sporting a black hand and very nearly broken thumb after she spooked at the farrier the other day. Fair enough he put his tool box down with a very loud clang (which normally she would have just jumped at) and she literally took off over the top of me. At 16.3h you don't have a lot of say when they smash into you like that. She sent me flying flat on my face and then fell over the top of me and I think kicked my thumb as I put my hand over my head.

Normally she can be hormonal but I give her tranquility and it works a treat. Not at the moment though. I think she is totally peeved at not being out yet and is just in a real strop with herself and everyone else. She bit another horse the other day which she never really bites to hurt

and she is walking around with a face like thunder.

I am really upset about her. A lady I know has a marble in her mare too but I am reluctant when normally I can keep her calm. Roll on some better weather!

 

[RuthP]

I'm so glad its not just me who is struggling with her grumpy girl at the moment! My horsey is being an absolute nightmare! can't take her anywhere without the chifney and all she does is neigh for a gelding she's turned out with. I'm just going to ignore her for the next few days. tried riding tonight to see if it would calm her- she was loopy- but very 'collected'! Luckily i'm not quite despairing as have had her a fair few years now and know it will pass. But i'm ringing the vet tues to enquire about getting her scanned for cysts / reguamate as her behaviour can be dangerous to the other liveries and their horses as they continue to walk their horses really close behind her even though i continually tell them she kicks when in season. I love the summer but with her like this i can't wait for winter again!