Moody4 year old mare - can anyone recommend supplements

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opinionuk

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Hi,

I've just brought a 4 year old Mare -ISH, however she seems to be continually in season and stroppy, i know shes a youngster and a lot of her attitude could be down to her being young but I thought a supplement might help her.

Any ideas ..
 
At four her seasons should have settled and she should be coping with them 'normally'. I say this as my rising two year old took a few months to get into the hang of having her seasons. They really unsettled her for some time, but now she's three she's fine. Just a bit edgy, as to be expected.

If your new mare is as bad as you say, I'd definitely have the vet out to check her over and give her an ultrasound. Internal problems can cause the symptoms you describe and I'd want to be sure there was nothing internal causing the problem before heading straight down the supplements route.

If she's very new to you, the move to a new yard and mixing with new horses may be exacerbating the problem.

There are various supplements and veterinary treatments available to help with hormonal mares but I'd think your first port of call would be to call your vet and describe the problem.

Hope she's okay :)
 
Thanks. I have already asked the vet about this and he says theres nothing to worry about as its likely to settle down, I have only had her a few months, she was shipped over from Ireland which I imagine is quite destressing so I should be more patient but I feel she would benefit from sort of 'moody mare' supplement, always an idea to keep a youngster well mannered while i'm schooling her, I seem to be having a continual battle with her which isn't healthy for either of us! :-)
 
Well, if it doesn't settle by the spring I'd ask the vet to check her over. Give her time to settle over winter but don't struggle on if it doesn't settle down. There are things the vet can do to help.

Meanwhile, a friend of mine who's mare was so hormonal and difficult that she was eventually retired from ridden work at 7, found NAF Oestress worked best out of the many 'mare' supplements she tried over the years. She'd bought the mare as a 5 month old foal and by the time she retired her at 7 she'd tried almost everything on the market. She said Oestress really did make a noticeable difference. I guess I'd have to recommend that one, as it's the one supplement that's made a noticeable difference to a horse I know and who I know was a very, very difficult horse.

Have you altered her diet coming into winter? Certain hard feeds, sugar beet and/or haylage can make some horses metamorphasise into monsters at this time of year. My filly was a nightmare in her second winter. A combination of good food, haylage and less turnout than she could have done with made her very awkward, highly strung and temperamental. I was worried I'd bred a monster, but she settled once spring came and she was able to go out 24/7 again. This winter I've switched her from haylage to hay, and give her minimal hard feed (just a balancer, linseed meal, Copra & Graze On) and she's a like new horse. Hopefully your girl will settle down too.
 
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