Unpredictable Mare.. Help?! In season or something else?

[Jordi222]

Hi all,

I have a lovely 18 year old shire x cob mare, she is fearless and somewhat "bombproof". She has always been typically very lazy and won't ever put herself out to do too much work. She loves a good gallop on the beach with the other horses I go out with but is generally a typical plod otherwise.

Unfortunately lately she has become somewhat bullish with me on the ground (including rearing up whilst being led on lead rope) and is unpredictable to ride.. She is becoming somewhat strong in the mouth and always wants to "go!", I haven't been riding as much as I had been before due to colder weather and dark evenings after work - would this be accountable for this change in behaviour? She tries to go into canter from trotting whilst on the road and I am finding myself constantly trying to pull her back into a more controlled movement.

She is sound, teeth, back etc but it seems as though she is just over excited.

Should I try Magnesium or other calming supplements for a while? She is an ex broodmare so I wasn't sure if she was in season or if her hormones have been raging?!

She is also displaying very aggressive and dominant behaviour towards the gelding in the field next to hers, she charges at the fence with her ears back and bites him for no reason at all. The gelding is very submissive and she just appears to hate him!?

I'm sure I sound somewhat naive, but it just seems as though all of a sudden, her personality has taken a turn for the worst!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

 

[Esme2015]

Hi there, how long have you had her? It sounds like she could be coming into season. Having said that mine has been in season over this winter because of the mild weather!! If she has recently been a broodmare and her last foal was say year before last then her hormones are kicking in.. Reason I know this is because my mare had a Foal in 2014.

I know of a mare who exhibits very similar behaviour when coming into season and my normally calm, bombproof cob x mare changes into a sharp thoroughbred coming into her first season! She feels like she will explode and she is normally the most calm girl.

I've done SO much research on herbal versus non herbal supplements for hormonal mares, mainly due to us having a serious accident a few years ago.

At present, mine is on Hilton Herbs Easy Mare Gold as this has had far better reviews than Oestress etc and also has more active ingredients. I have a prescription for Regumate which your vet will need to prescribe if you do think it is her hormones but it is expensive and also inhibits their seasons. I am seeing how it goes at the moment but actually i think the Easy Mare may be working (I say this tentatively and touching wood!). You could also try pure Agnus Castus or Chaste Berries (buy online) which is the main ingredient in most supplements, this is meant to help their oestrus. Mag Ox has also been recommended to me but I have read mixed reviews on whether this is necessary or noT.

If you've not had her that long it could just be that she's pushing her boundaries or if it's mild where you are, spring grass?

Sorry for long post! Hope that helps

Ps, if you do give her a supplement, persevere, I've only seen results after a month.

 

[Gazen]

Both of my mares have had really horrible 'first' seasons and turned into total dragons. After a week or so it calmed down. Agnus Castus powder (Chaste berry) is good for some mares. I use it for about 6 weeks in the spring for the first few seasons and then in the late autumn for the last few.