New to owning a mare

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Dizzydancer

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Just wondering if anyones mare struggles with working properly when in season?
My mate appears to find right canter difficult to manage when in season but my sure if this is normal?! Thanks in advance
 
This sounds a bit like a pain issue, maybe her right ovary is inflamed when in season so as she stretches it is painful or something like that. I wouldn't say it was normal as my mare works the same in season and not. I think people say that struggling to hold one canter rein (can't remember which, possibly left) is to do with ulcers so it could be something similar only the reproductive tract is sore.
 
Not normal, but definately normal for my mare. She really struggles when in season, can't cope with the simplest tasks. Stiff, sore, almost lame, can't canter, cant bend..... List goes on. We've tried Regumate and marble, now trying the jab. Worth speaking to vet.
 
We had one that was almost lame when she was in season. A supplement sorted it out, but I can't remember which one.
 
My PSSM horse is more prone to issues while in season, it would appear. I'm not sure she cycles normally, as there are no signs she is in season, but the stiffness / issues I am seeing are worse on a cyclical basis and apparently worse in Summer (only owned her since December so still unclear on that).

However according to the vet her being tense due to hormones could absolutely make the PSSM worse, so something to consider as PSSM is in my opinion, very very under diagnosed and a lot of naughty or non specific lameness, schooling difficulties, bucking and really any odd behaviour type stuff could be PSSM symptoms.

When I bought her she was very reluctant to bend or accept a contact and chomped on the bit all the time, couldn't canter on the correct lead, often disunited. I wrote that off as green horse stuff. However, she was working beautifully for a couple of months, supple and accepting a contact etc. really thought we were getting somewhere but she reverted to all those faults again practically over night for no reason other than "something" going on inside which would appear to be hormone related.
 
Thanks guys- nice to know it's not totally unheard of.
FW that's very interesting as everything you say does sound like my made although only had her since May so still learning and she has gt worse in behaviour since getting on good rich grass which obviously won't help if it is a PSSM type issue.
Just out of interest how did your vet diagnose and has your management of her had to change?
 
She was diagnosed after a catastrophic tie up. However, I don't think she would have tied up had her management at that time been different. (She was on livery to try and avoid EGS at my place...!). I've totally changed her management and she's pretty much normal. I may not notice the niggles if I didn't know.

A tail hair test for type 1 is 30 quid, you just pull some hair out by the roots. What breed is your horse? Type 2 testing is much more invasive. If you google and the symptoms seem to fit, I would just try her on the diet and see if she improves. It wouldn't hurt her.
 
The issues I have with Tia is that she doesn't like to be caught when she's in season! Perhaps it looks 'cool' infront of the boys! XD Also she can be a pain around the geldings always needing to go and see them - but that's normal!
 
No, never experienced this. But they are all different. Mine is just very noisy to ride when in season & has to say hi to everyone! I would be asking vet for advice as if she's in pain cyclically there may be a hormonal problem. Best of luck
 
I don't make any allowances for mine when in season. No one does for me with PMT lol
She always gets on with riding, but she will just be very 'hatey' as I call it (more than usual lol)

I did have one tying up episode with her which the vet thought could be hormonal, but touch wood not had problem again so far. I am just very prangy now about feeding electrolytes. She is very sweaty though, she will literally be dripping and shaking if I go on a hunt ride or something. Eveything she does is just more over the top when in season really.
 
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