Strange behaviour in Mare

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indiepie

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We have recently bought a 8 year old brood mare who has had a foal a year ago and had been weaned in Autumn. For 8 weeks we did basic ground work and started ridden work. She was amazing. She has also been boxed to lessons which went well. Got on her as normal and after a few minutes she went mad and galloped for home (she was in the menage) and ran straight into the gate. Tried various things to no avail and re-mounted twice, she was very relaxed and showing no signs of aggrevation, both times ended with similar panics from the horse. Back, saddle and teeth all checked and are good. Vet has tested her hormone levels. All were fine except a slightly raised inhibin level. We had her scanned for ovarian tumours which showed she was clear but also showed that there were no developing folicles in the ovaries for the next season. Our only other thought now is to test for gastric ulcers as she is very nervous, box walks and bolts her food.

Any ideas?
We know her behaviour is not her. We are currently doing a bute trial to see if this settles her down.
She seems scared alot of the time, even in the field. She has access to water and unlimited hay and is only recieving a small amount of hard feed inorder for her to take the bute.
 
Can you find out about her background, if she was in racing the trainer might help.
I wonder if this is the reason she was put in foal.
I have ridden a horse which seemed perfectly normal at the canter, then suddenly would take off, almost as though there was a wire loose in the brain., not bolting, just suddenly going at full tilt, she pulled up as normal at the top of the gallops.
I assume you checked for bee stings or something sticking in to the numnah, is it cyclical/hormonal. No obvious pain, teeth OK, what about eyes, was there bright sunlight and dark areas?
I don't know,obviously, just trying to think out of the box.
I am concerned that she is normally so stressy, is she kept on her own. I would certainly feed as for gastric ulcers but mainly due to her normal behaviour.
I know it sound odd, but you could try riding in a fly mask or eyeshield [racing suppliers] also we used to have one nutter who had to be ridden in a nose net and on her own, but she was consistent.
TBH I would keep her outside 24/7 if possible with at least one quiet friend.
 
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Our horse is a Warmblood.
She has glaucoma in her left eye.

It all just seems odd. She can be fine for a week then the next a leaf drops and she panics. Very strange.

We are also a bit concerned that she hasn't been in season and her ovaries seem inactive after having a foal.

She has no lameness just seems edgy.....
 
Just to add. I think we need to look into the eye situation a bit more.
To put it into context with the ridden work the last time i got on her she had me off immediately by that i mean before my weight had even been put in the saddle. She will however let me lean over her back with my weight in the saddle.
 
I don't think it has anything to do with pain on her body, I think she is panicking and if she already has an eye issues then you may have a difficult road ahead, an expert investigation is needed,
I would not ride her unless she has settled down, as you could be puting yourself, herself, and others in danger. Sorry.
Re cycling , this could be a red herring, or could indicate some sort of breakdown in the physiology, this is not good news either, but I have not had any veterinary training, so I am just swishing ideas around.
 
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We are not riding her now and do not intend to untill she has settled down and we will then start again as if we are backing her. Having been the flying guinea pig i can assure you the next person riding her will be a dummy!

I just don't understqand 4 weeks of excellence followed by a complete mental break down with no symptoms.
I know something is bothering her we just cannot put our finger on it.
 
I think I'd re check physical stuff, have you considered gastric ulcers? Strangely how are her feet? I know I'm obsessed with hooves but if her feet could possibly be sore that could be a factor. Also I'd have a review of her diet and management and general happiness with her routine and mates.
 
She has not been normal if stressed all the time.
I am not a vet, but if for example, and I am not suggesting this is likely [ i am not a vet], she has a developing problem , then it has to surface at some time.
I would also remove shoes and leave her in a field with a friend.
 
We are currently bute testing her, day 1 yesterday.
Our initial thoughts are eye pain, hormones and ulcers.
After the Bute trial depending what it brings up we are going to feed her an additive for ulcers. According to the Vet she isn't feeling pain from the eye, according to our farrier her feet are fine but she is very reluctant to pick them up. We do not think she has been handled very much in her life. We are training her to pick her feet up and she is improving. She is good with the front and a little reluctant with the hinds.

A strange thing my wife noticed was when the farrier was shoeing one of our other horses she wasn't bothered by the noise but when she got the smoke and smelt it she panic'ed. She also gets stressed at the smell of canter coat shine. All probable red herrings as a nervous horse can react to the strangest of things. We do know that she isn't by nature a nervous horse.
 
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