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  Discussion on Concern about TB's Heat
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Member:
Jgordo03

Posted on Monday, Dec 18, 2006 - 4:03 pm:

I have ready read the article about Breeding Patterns in Mares and Stallions and a couple others that don't seem to give me answers to a problem I have with my mare. She is a 5 year old maiden mare. This winter she has continued to cycle with some extreme symptoms. Her skin around her eyes becomes darker like women when she becomes pregnant. And for a lack of a better phrase she seems to have symptoms of PMS, cranky, doesn’t want me to groom her, refuses to stand for the Farrier if he comes during that time, etc., etc. Is this a known problem with some horses? Is there something I can give her to make her more comfortable, something I should have my vet test her for. I never plan to breed her, and if it would save her some misery I would consider sterilization for her. Thanks everyone.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006 - 6:05 am:

Welcome back Judith,
Really the first question is how certain are you that this is associated with estrus (heat)? If it is the behavior alone you are using to judge this with, it may be a mistaken notion as few mares continue to cycle in the winter. As to the skin this is too is a bit hard to figure since the horses skin is largely colored with hair and the skin visible is heavily pigmented unless the horse's skin is white in this area. Can you explain a bit more what you mean by darkening and what other cues you are using to judge estrus?
DrO
Member:
Jgordo03

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006 - 11:23 am:

Thank you Dr O for taking me back!! The skin around her eyes is what I know as a pregnancy mask, women get this sometimes. I would say in the case of my mare the hair darkens around her eyes and then goes away when my horses cycle ends. The reason I believe she is cycling is the short bursts of urine she expels when she get's excited, I see this behavior at feeding time, but my husband says he see’s her doing this during the day. I can’t put her in a stall because she will go nuts, she’s highly nervous she does not want to be brushed or have much to do with me. But the biggest give away is that the proud cut gelding down the road jumps his fence and I find him standing at my eclectic fence in the morning, and she is being let’s say very suggestive to him. The symptoms are not quite as bad now more like anestrus behavior, but the month isn’t over with yet. Is there such a thing as hard heat that affects some horses and not others? I can hardly tell when my QH mare comes into heat. I can tell she is just miserable during the estrus heat cycle. Should I have the vet check her for and I know my spelling is wrong Indimetreious, or some other reproductive disease or problem? Thanks again, and I'm glad to be back!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006 - 5:58 am:

The urine squirting behavior during excitement many not be extrus Judith. It is a fairly common excitement behavior for Arab mares but can be seen in other exciteable breeds. Often it is displayed on going out and when contacting a unfamiliar horse often with the tail held high and a bit of prancing.

I think you are right, next time she begins a patter of this have your veterinarian check your mare for estrus. There are some behavioral problems associated with certain tumors of the mares ovaries and you can read more about them at, Diseases of Horses » Reproductive Diseases » Trouble Settling Mares & Stallion Infertility » Granulosa Cell Tumors in Mares.
DrO
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