Hormone issues in mares
Cyclical changes in reproductive hormone levels can cause altered mood and behaviour in horses as well as humans.
Mares come into season every 21 days throughout the spring and summer, they typically show mild changes in behaviour including: increased frequency of urination, ‘winking’ of the vulva, raising the tail and flirting with other horses.
Hormone symptoms
The severity of these symptoms can be very variable, in some mares their season will pass unnoticed by their owners, and in others the mare may become so moody she is unrideable. In these severe cases mares may show aggressive behaviour towards people and other horses, become difficult to groom, buck when ridden, become distracted and unresponsive under saddle; ultimately causing poor performance whenever in season. This can become very inconvenient to owners, especially those with a busy competition schedule over the spring and summer.
Treatment for hormone issues
Changes in management – hormonal behaviour can be more pronounced during the transitional phase between winter and spring, this often settles down after the first few cycles of the year. Young mares can also be prone to suffering from more pronounced symptoms during their first few cycles, it may be an idea to give her a bit of time off to mature before trying any of the other treatment options. Keeping moody mares in a separate field from geldings can often help. Herbal supplements – there are many options available on the market, although the response to these can be variable, some people have found them to be helpful.
Regumate – a synthetic progesterone liquid given every day in the feed. It is like being on ‘the pill’, it prevents the mare from coming into season. It is very effective at suppressing hormonal behaviours so can be used as a test to determine whether a mare’s behaviour is in fact due to hormones. It can also be used as a longer term treatment but it is expensive.
Normal cycling will resume 5-7 days after stopping treatment. It is important to wear gloves when administering Regumate as it can be absorbed through your skin and effect your own cycle.
If you would like any additional information please call us on 01577 841010.
