mares feeding question

[BroadfordQueen]

do you feed your mares any special suppliments to keep them "sane" and "nice"? My new mare is 99% lovely in and out of the stable, however she has a glitch that when you do up her girth for the first time and you are holding her reins she will try and bite you- she is fine after that. Got a text last night off old owners stressing to feed her 4 "primrose" tablets a day. What are they and what do they do? If we dont feed them her, will she get more "marish"?

Thanks!

 

[nomini]

Have never fed my mares anything different to my gelding, but have been quite lucky with both in that they are not really marish at all! Haven't heard of the 'primrose' tablets but I suppose you could give them a try. Primrose probably has a calming effect of some sort...failing that you could try a moody mare supplement or a calmer

 

[Broodle]

I've never heard of feeding Primrose oil to horses, but it is supposed to be a good herbal remedy for PMT!! Sorry... not very helpful really!

 

[Malibu]

the girth "thing" should not be a problem, i know alot of horses that do that and its not a problem really, i have handled horses that do that when putting rugs on etc. I take primrose oil which is good for lots of different things but not sure why you woudl give it to horses although supposed to be good for us girlies.

 

[joanne1920]

sounds like shes just got a phobia with her girth rather than being marish, lots of horses who either have had ill fitting saddle sor girths do it, or if you do it up too tightly too quickly... try just doing it up loosely enough just to hold on and then make a big fuss over her, then try doing up just another hole and carry on... has worked for me in the past...

 

[Hattikins]

Hattie as you know is a chestnut mare and we dont feed her anything for her mareishness - she occasionally bares her teeth or flicks her heels at you but i think a gelding is just as likely to do that, i think you'll just have to accept that she will be slightly more sensitive than a gelding and will have the odd off day but otherwise she'll be fine

- i agree, her girth problem probably isnt marey behaviour - she probably just really doesnt like it for some reason or another