Seasons - problems, but not mood or behaviour

[Teasel]

Has anyone got any suggestions for helping out a mare who seems to get very uncomfortable when she's in season?

My mare's an absolute sweetheart - and still is even when in season, but she seems to find ridden work very difficult when she's in season. Usually she's quite forward, off the leg, will go nice and round when schooling, and enjoys jumping.

When she's in season she's behind the leg, tries hard to please but you get the feeling it's all a lot of effort for her, and will refuse the first x-pole you put her at and occassionally trashes jumps (most unlike her)

. I end up giving her time off as I feel mean riding her, but as she usually enjoys her work and even at these times looks pleased when she sees me bringing her saddle over was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for making things more comfortable for her?

Would raspberry leaves help?

Thanks in anticipation

 

[emma_lg]

It may be worthwhile getting her checked by a vet in the first instance.
My first mare had painful seasons...she was checked and nothing was found out of the ordinary by the vet...and I put her on a herbal supplement Regulate which really helped her.
She was the same..loved being ridden...whinnied when you went towards her with her tack but then when in season as she got older would actually be lying down and reluctant so we got her checked and then put her on the herbal supplement.

 

[Bounty]

I suppose it depends how much her seasons are affecting your plans? I take it that by posting this it means she's cycling already?

You could try her on a herbal supplement (I've found NAF oestress quite good in the past, but I think the global herbs version is supposed to get really good results?), but I reckon by the time you saw any significant improvement you'd be another 3 cycles along and getting into the summer

Might be worth a try so that it is another thing eliminated...

A more drastic method would be to have the vet implant a marble - it tricks her into thinking she is pregnant so the cycling stops. I can't remember much about it off the top of my head, but may be worth reading up on.

 

[Teasel]

Sparrow and Bounty, many thanks for your thoughts!

I think I shall try her on one of the supplements, but will ring my vet for advice too.

I'm quite prepared to put my plans on hold if it is the best thing for Teasel - she's one of those horses who need their confidence building steadily and consistently, and the last thing I want to do is to take any backwards steps after we've come so far - and willing as she is I think putting her under pressure when she's sore is just not worth the risk. So plans on hold till this is sorted

Thank you both again

 

[Troggy]

Toffee suffers badly with her seasons, she even gets a bit colicky. To begin with we tried the usual mare supplements, then had the vet out and tried regumate, which mdae no difference. About 2 years ago now we had everything checked out, had her scanned and discovered that she had many more folicles than was normal on each ovary, so when she was in season it was much more painful. After this the vet pescribed 'bute for when she is in season and this works really well and is the only thing that really worked for her situation. Her hormone levels were also tested and came back fine.
I think it would be worth getting your vet to run some hormone tests and maybe scan her.
At the moment I also give her D&H Stroppy Mare as I believe it helps....wether it does or not I don't know!