raspberry leaves or oestress for mares?

[CrazyHippo1]

Its been suggested to me that I try raspberry leaves for my mare who we suspect is suffering from painful ovaries whilst is season and its affecting her ridden performance.

The more research I do the more it seems its a case of trial and error which each mare responding differently.

Does anyone know where I can get the leaves from? I see theres an american product based on them but I cant find a UK alternative. Are they worth feeding alone, or should I look for a product that incorporates them?

Also - what exactly are the "Aromatic and appetizing herbs" found in NAF Oestress? The website is very uninformative!

Thank you

 

[Angua2]

If I remember correctly from the pot I had chasteberry and raspberry leaves were part of the recipe

 

[StinkiPinki]

Yes my pot of NAF Oestress says, agnus castus (chaste berry) and rasberry leaf , magnesium and lots of other stuff!

Works very well on my mare, she seems a lot happier on it.

 

[Equibeau]

I am interested in this thread, my mare's performance drops drastically, she has been great all winter and now is almost lame, she is very tight and "holding". Last summer she ended up at the vets, we didnt get to the bottom of it (she never seemed marish), and now it has started again, so am thinking it is her being in season. I tried the NAF Oestress but she wont touch it in her feed. I think I will get back in touch with my vet to see what he suggests. What symptoms does your mare show?

 

[StinkiPinki]

My mare wouldnt touch it to start with, i now add mint to her feed and she eats it no problems.

The mint costs around 6 pounds for a tub and its made by NAF and lasts for ages. Ive got horses to eat bute by adding mint too, its very usefull!

 

[Equibeau]

Thanks for that tip, I will try it and see if it works!

 

[CrazyHippo1]

Sorry Equibeau, forgot to recheck this thread.

My horse schools ok on the flat, but doesnt engage her hindend as well as she can - and last week when she was in season she stopped at an X pole in the SJ warm up at a show and was then eliminated (I normally school round 1.15m courses and compete round 1/1.05m currently so to stop at a X pole was very odd for her).

I hadnt really thought of season before, but that show was just so out of character. I had the physio out just a few days later who found a bit of tightness on one side behind the saddle - nothing severe but she said it could be due to her season, causing a kind of 'period pain' that made her tighten the muscles on that side. Then either she didnt want to jump as she'd tighten the muscles, or she was still suffering from a bit of pain around her ovaries and thus didnt want to stretch her hindend to jump or really step up herself on the flat.

My mares due to be in season again next week where I am also due to jump. If I have a repeat of the behaviour last time she was in season, we'll pack up and go home - knowing that her behaviour is mostly linked to her season and will then look for the best supplement which it seems will be oestress. Its hard as she doesnt get marey otherwise, no pulling faces or nastiness.

Ill keep monitoring her over the next few weeks and see how she is.

 

[Booga22]

HI, i know it's a little late, but have you tried straight chaste tree berries? Or liquid Vitex agnus castus (more palatable and pretty cost effective)? The latter i order from the metabolic horse website as my mare wouldn't touvh the Oestress & she eats anything! Dodson & Horrell are very helpful with their advice.......

 

[Toast]

My mare wouldnt touch Oestress either! til i wacked a bit of sugar beet in her feed, that worked a treat

Heather x