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  Discussion on Painful Cycles?
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 9:14 am:

First Lisa, how do you know the mare is in heat when she is grouchy?
DrO
New Member:
Lisap

Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:10 am:

Well I can't be positive that she is in heat. This time the trainer didn't notice much of the "typical" heat behavior such as squatting, winking, urinating. The last time she had a grouchy episode (around May 10th) she did exhibit the "typical" behavior to the gelding next door. The only thing I can go on is there seems to be somewhat of a pattern. The grouchy behvior only lasts one to three days. I have gone through a lot of other ideas such as just not liking her job anymore, tack fit, my driving, etc. But after her couple days of grouchyness she goes back to being wonderful, cooperative, willing to work, moving forward, bending (and turning)in both directions, etc. I am waiting to hear from my trainer how she does today, and I am scheduled to have a lesson tomorrow, so we will see if she is sticking to the pattern.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 6:46 am:

That is the first chore is to establish whether there is a real correlation between her estrus cycles and the problem. The surest way is to have the mare examined by a vet during 2 of her grouchy periods. By establishing this it will give you options for control of the cycles. For more on heat detection see, Equine Reproduction » Horse Breeding & Artifical Insemination » Heat Detection, Ovulation Prediction, and Timing Insemination. For more on how estrus may effect training and what can be done see, Training Horses » Behavioral Problems » Suppressing Heat and Estral Behavior in Mares.
DrO
New Member:
Lisap

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 12:02 pm:

Thanks, my next step is to call my vet after I noted her behavior for this grouchy period. The trainer DrOve her yesterday and she is back to her old willing self again.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 2, 2005 - 9:20 am:

I would also get a calender and start marking days as WI for willing or GR for grouchy, it will help you greatly in seeing a pattern.
DrO
Member:
Cmatexas

Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 - 10:21 am:

Dr. O,
I moved the discussion to here. Hope this is the right place. We have had the mare almost 3 years. She was our first horse. She is 14, and we are her third owners. She had one colt in 2000. She is a very flashy, beautiful paint, and was spoiled by the 2 girls that owned her before. We added to the problem at first, and eventually realized she is not a big dog, and had to send her back to the trainer to correct the bad habits. That being said, when she comes into heat, she exhibits all the physical signs - peeing, squatting, winking. She keeps the base of her tail "up" and "fluffy". Starting last spring, she also has a green (not yellow) discharge, seems to run a fever, is listless, and has green discharge from her eyes. It started out just every few cycles, but eventually became every cycle. The vet tried rounds of antibiotics, and did blood work, but could find nothing. He did not culture her, just said she has bad cycles. (We have switched vets in the last 3 weeks for other problems). We had a warm winter, and she only missed a few cycles.

When she is in heat, her behavior is also more difficult. Her old bad habits come back for a few days - tail swishing and pinning ears when asked to move out or slow down, a little barn sour, refusal to go in the arena, pawing at the ground when tied. She's just not very fun to ride.

After one "green" cycle this spring, we started her on the vinegar. When I asked the vet (the old vet), he said he didn't think it could help, but didn't think it would hurt. We have not seen the green discharge anymore, but her behavior is not better (not that I thought it would be, but one can hope) :-):-):-) The only thing I noticed is that this last weekend, she was VERY bad at a sorting clinic, refusing to go in the arena. By Sunday, she was standing with her legs stretched out behind her, almost like she had colic, but with no other symptoms. She came into season on Monday, and I noticed when we saddled her yesterday, she was standing that way again.

I cannot find any soreness above her kidneys, but cannot say for sure I hit the right spot.

The new vet is coming out on Friday to give annual shots. He is the one that recommended the copper to stop the cycling. We have not tried it because I have another young mare and don't want to do any damage. Should I ask to have her cultured? I keep thinking a cyst on an ovary, but the last vet looked at me like I was an idiot. The shots are out of our budget. Is there anything else I should tell him or ask him?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 7:50 am:

Michele you need to cut and paste this in a new discussion rather than in the middle of Lisa's discussion. Back up one link to the article and look at the bottom of the list of discussions and you will see the new discussion button. Thanks for helping to keep the boards organized.
DrO
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