Young mare is a hormonal diva!

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Louby

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I bought her as a 3 yr old last year, she was barely handled but sweet and once she trusted me we got on great and have come on leaps and bounds. Things seemed to change when 4 new horses joined the herd early this year, 3 geldings and a mare. I had never noticed her in season last year but this year shes a hormonal diva! The yard Im on is mixed turnout and Im wondering if she would be better with seperate mares and geldings??
She was backed in March and we have taken things slowly, just a bit of hacking and shes been wonderful until recently when all she wants to do is be with her mates, shes in season again and is thinking twice when I go to catch her, its stop start on the way from the field and shes calling from the stable. I really want to keep her in some sort of routine and have been bringing her to stay in either day or night as I worry shes going to turn into a complete nightmare if I dont, plus the grass isnt brill so she needs feeds and hay. Am I doing right?
My main concern is shes starting to give me the eeby jeebies for riding her. Not many ride where I am stabled and its been a struggle anyway but now Im getting cold feet at getting on as I fear a major strop as shes on top note and all she wants is to get back in the field with her new buddies! When I put her out she gallops like a looney neighing and they all run to her like shes the blooming QUeen of Sheba!!
Im not liking her very much at the moment :(
 
Mares can be so much easier kept in same sex groups, so can geldings, I think if you want to work them being somewhere that can provide suitable turn out can make life much easier for you as well as the mare, if you cannot have separate turn out for the mares then bringing in every day and having a strict routine should help but ideally get her out of there and into somewhere with just a mare group.
 
be positive said:
Mares can be so much easier kept in same sex groups, so can geldings, I think if you want to work them being somewhere that can provide suitable turn out can make life much easier for you as well as the mare, if you cannot have separate turn out for the mares then bringing in every day and having a strict routine should help but ideally get her out of there and into somewhere with just a mare group.
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Thank you so much for reading my essay!! Ive been thinking this too, plus I could really do with a bit of support too from others that ride. I think Ive been kidding myself really that I can cope but its getting harder now we are riding. Shes quite a special girl and I really want things to work out for us both. Thanks again x
 
Routine needs to be the same every day to be considered a routine is my first point - secondly, it depends on the mare and the geldings really, but ive found some mares don't bother with a particular gelding, but will go into full stance for others...so maybe there is one particular gelding thats getting her hot under the collar so to speak. But if its possible, i would try her in the all mare setting cause its less dangerous all round if there is one gelding who does do the whole "thing" (for example my friends gelding was very good with mares, but he took a real fancy to one and mounted her and did the full penetration etc - which could have hurt the mare but the mare could also have hurt the gelding)
 
equi said:
Routine needs to be the same every day to be considered a routine is my first point - secondly, it depends on the mare and the geldings really, but ive found some mares don't bother with a particular gelding, but will go into full stance for others...so maybe there is one particular gelding thats getting her hot under the collar so to speak. But if its possible, i would try her in the all mare setting cause its less dangerous all round if there is one gelding who does do the whole "thing" (for example my friends gelding was very good with mares, but he took a real fancy to one and mounted her and did the full penetration etc - which could have hurt the mare but the mare could also have hurt the gelding)
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Thank you for replying.
She is certainly flirting, I couldnt say with just one gelding, it seems just to be anyone? I seem to think she is now the top mare, theres only 3 anyway ha ha, the rest are geldings, but its wierd as the whole herd greeted her the other morning, cantering over to the gate. She was fine until the new ones came, they woudt leave her alone and now shes turned into a hormonal horror!.
The other morning she went in the field and stopped to eat something, I walked over and it was fresh green poo!!! She was eating it ike she had never been fed? Im wondering if thats a dominance thing too?
 
It can be yes, many stallions will do that. If shes assumed herself as the top horse she will make sure everyone else knows shes the bees knees - but displaying to new horses can also help establish who will be brave enough to come to her when shes openly inviting them and thus who she can boss about..if a real stallion or dominant horse was there shed get told fairly quickly and youd probably see her suddenly not in season anymore!
 
Its all very interesting, just wish it wasnt my horse! She definately thinks shes the bees knees, its actually a bit worrying as I dont like her like this and definately need to try and sort something out. Our yard doesnt do seperate turnout, its probably the only one in the area that doesnt but I wasnt too concerned as she had been absolutely fine, I dont think its doing my girl any good, she a sports horse and I want to do something with her and it isnt helping, especially my confidence, so looks like Im going to have to look elsewhere.
 
She is also young, and now settled, so is going to be testing you. You need to get firm with her, make her realize that while she thinks shes the bees knees, you are still master! Get your ground work in hand, get some help if you need to, but make her know that when you are about she needs to listen to you and you only. You won't fix things by moving her, it will be a bandaid until it happens again. So learn how to work her at this stage, and youll save both of you a life time of tit-for-tats

However that being said, if noone else is riding much or doing much it won't help your or her progress so another yard with more people on hand may help that side of things, but you need to get confident with her no matter where she is on the ground first.
 
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I think that having a young horse in the right environment is nothing like a bandaid in this type of situation the OP is not having any real issues but can see some developing as time goes on and I don't think it is as simple as doing more groundwork to fix it, she needs to bring her on, get her educated and having people around to hack with may make it easier all round, it is not just a case of getting tough this is a fairly big, green horse that could easily go wrong if pushed too far and so far has been no problem so why start something just to prove a point.
I might have a different approach with an older horse set in bad habits or a mini that can easily be pushed about but not with a big sporty mare that may be testing her boundaries a little because she is hormonal when removing her from the main issue, geldings in the field, could be an easy remedy with no need for a battle, get her on side, it is not about being the master but a partnership that takes two working together if it is going to work.
 
And i agree it may not be the best yard, and they wont progress much, but the principle still remains - they need to know how to deal with her no matter where she is. New yard, same thing happens, then what...keep moving to confuse the horse?

No need to get personal Be, you may know my forum life but you know nothing of my actual life/animals i deal with that i don't post about so don't presume you do.
 
I've only had a close relationship with one mare we owned with two geldings. Can you sit it out until she's no longer in season and see what happens? Our girl was as reliable as our geldings until she was 4 and started having proper seasons, but she was still very reliable when not in season. However, you do need to be at a yard with like minded people and so maybe start putting feelers out, but also realise she is essentially a teenager with masses of hormones whizzing about her and she'll love you for consistency and a routine. :) Good luck.
 
Mixed groups aren't the problem per say, as the two adult mares I've had have both been fantastic in season, despite living with geldings. One was a real flirt but still a poppet to ride, and I've honestly never even noticed my current mare have her 'time of the month'.

However, like everything with horses, it's all about the individual. If her current turnout isn't working for you, then it's definitely worth exploring your options. It may be that she's no different in a mares only group, but if there are other issues at your yard anyway, I definitely think it's worth trying something new and seeing how it goes.
 
Thanks so much for your replies. Up to now shes been basically very good to handle, she got a bit giddy going to the field tonight but check her and shes fine. However once I let her go, shes like a mad woman, squealing as she gallops off to 'her' herd. Ive noticed this week her thinking twice when I go to catch her, walks away but stops and lets me get her. I gave her a quick lunge tonight, mainly to give her something to think about as she had been thriving off the bit of work we've been doing. At first she was distracted, looking over to the field and neighing. I was firm but kind and after a bit of head tossing!! Diva! she settled fine. Im trying to keep her in a routine, although she most definately hates me for it lol. I could be totally wrong but feel as most of the horses are now out for the Summer, and wont really do anything, its just not the right environment for a young horse that I want to do something with. She doesnt want to come in, she wants to stay with them and I suppose I cant blame her!
They have been on Summer turnout now 3 weeks and shes been like this since them going out for Summer, although Ive noticed shes definately in season at the mo.
I suppose I can only try looking elsewhere, it wont happen overnight as theres waiting lists on other yards but I cant carry on as we are.
Thanks again for your replies
 
Mine was a horror, verging on dangerous at times. Got her ovaries scanned and as they were fine, the only answer was Regumate. Now she's a delight (usually) and we have a normal happy life. It's jolly expensive but it's actually cheaper than all the potions and supplements I was feeding previously. Oh and you have to wear marigolds when handling it. But it's worked a treat.
 
Im hoping shes having a spring hormonal blip atm but obviously will look into it further if she gets any worse. Glad to hear that your mare is much better Notimetoride.
This morning she didnt think quite as much about me catching her, was stop start to the field gate, not helped by horses calling to her as we walked to the gate. She was settled when I left her so will just keep the routine up and hopefully we will get through this.
Ive never had a mare that really shows its seasons, is it a week they are in season for? and then in another 3 weeks? Be good to see whether it is hormonal and not her just trying it on!
 
Last year P’s seasons were noticeable and regular as clockwork, but not too bad, but this year she’s like a raging stallion when she’s near a gelding. I am going to get her checked for out in case it’s an ovarian tumour.

I keep her with my other mare and they are fine together, but if she moves to a field next to a gelding, she becomes a squirty screaming nightmare who paces the fence line.
 
Louby said:
Im hoping shes having a spring hormonal blip atm but obviously will look into it further if she gets any worse. Glad to hear that your mare is much better Notimetoride.
This morning she didnt think quite as much about me catching her, was stop start to the field gate, not helped by horses calling to her as we walked to the gate. She was settled when I left her so will just keep the routine up and hopefully we will get through this.
Ive never had a mare that really shows its seasons, is it a week they are in season for? and then in another 3 weeks? Be good to see whether it is hormonal and not her just trying it on!
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No they aren't in season a whole week, usually just a few days, and it's a 21 day cycle approx. I kept a diary of mine to work out if it was bad behaviour or hormones and found she was difficult every three weeks. Hence the ovary scan and regumate. I had tried every hormone supplement available and spent a fortune and absolutely nothing worked. Nothing. But she's sweetness and light (most of the time) on regumate. It's worth every penny.
 
Notimetoride said:
No they aren't in season a whole week, usually just a few days, and it's a 21 day cycle approx. I kept a diary of mine to work out if it was bad behaviour or hormones and found she was difficult every three weeks. Hence the ovary scan and regumate. I had tried every hormone supplement available and spent a fortune and absolutely nothing worked. Nothing. But she's sweetness and light (most of the time) on regumate. It's worth every penny.
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Thank you. Shes been away for a few days whilst we were on hols so she may be a bit unsettled but we picked up a chilled horse, popped her in the school whilst we put the lorry away and the others were screaming for her, she then turned into a neurotic mess :( She is on day 3 now so will keep a note of it. I havent noticed her as bad as she is at the moment but I do think shes top mare, the herd ran over the other morning to great her and she flounces around like shes IT. Why oh why did I buy a mare lol.
 
I have a very hormonal young mare who is currently at the vets having her ovaries scanned for tumours. If they are ok, she will be having an injection (course of 2, 3 months apart) to stop her coming into season. Worth a chat to your vet.
 
teddypops said:
I have a very hormonal young mare who is currently at the vets having her ovaries scanned for tumours. If they are ok, she will be having an injection (course of 2, 3 months apart) to stop her coming into season. Worth a chat to your vet.
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Thank you, I definately will. 2 injections to hopefully have my sweet horse back sounds great!! Out of interest do you know the approx cost please?
 
teddypops said:
I have a very hormonal young mare who is currently at the vets having her ovaries scanned for tumours. If they are ok, she will be having an injection (course of 2, 3 months apart) to stop her coming into season. Worth a chat to your vet.
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I asked my vet about these injections. I thought they weren't licensed for UK use. What is the cost ? It's got to be far easier than handling regumate.
 
Notimetoride said:
I asked my vet about these injections. I thought they weren't licensed for UK use. What is the cost ? It's got to be far easier than handling regumate.
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They aren’t, they are licensed for pigs (I think), but some vets are doing it with horses and I know of people who have had success with it.
 
I didn’t ask the cost, too many other things going on! Am collecting mare tomorrow, so I will find out then. They are not yet licenced for horses in the UK, only for pigs but my vet has had some success in horses, so I’m happy to take his advice on it.
 
teddypops said:
I didn’t ask the cost, too many other things going on! Am collecting mare tomorrow, so I will find out then. They are not yet licenced for horses in the UK, only for pigs but my vet has had some success in horses, so I’m happy to take his advice on it.
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The porcine regumate works fine so I can imagine this injection working too. Let me know more when you collect your mare tomorrow.
 
shes very young and healthy, spring hits some horses between the eyes! between the rich grass and the coming into season she has lot to deal with at the mo, big changes.

as you said when you lunged her, eventually she settled, i would work with her as often as possible, do everything you can think of to spend time with her, form a habit of work not just riding,she will enjoy that, look on it as an investment in her future, if you feel not confident about getting on try doing lots of prep before so you can gauge her mood and settle her mind on what she is doing.

as the year goes on and the grass gets less like rocket fuel and her seasons become less intense you may find she will settle a lot, so don` t let the panic set in.
 
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