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  Discussion on Will spaying remove all marish behavior?
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Member:
heidim

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 6:42 am:

I have a wonderful 5-year-old QH mare that I'm finishing. It has always been my plan to spay her if I like her. Last week, I horse camped with her on Tuesday. She was not in heat and behaved great. On Saturday, I took her out again in the same circumstances. She was in heat and pulled some low rearing for the first time and was generally more cranky. She was also acting very lovey-dovey with a brand new gelding in our pasture before we left for horse camping, and he was unusually attached to her although he never attempted to mount her. I'm thinking now is the time to spay her. My question is this: will ALL her marish behavior go away? I understand she has a personality underneath all those hormones and that that won't go away. However, I read your article about mares in heat and you point out that mares are generally more standoffish and protective. Will that behavior go away, too? For example, maybe it's just my imagination, but the mares I've owned have been a bit reluctant about having their back feet picked up and I've always attributed this to their being mares. Yes, yes, I know training is everything, but frankly, my geldings give me a hind foot without a care and even my best mares have always held out just a bit. If I'm going to invest in spaying this girl, I want to know she's going to turn into a "true" gelding and that the guys in the pasture will from here on out treat her like one of their own.
Member:
heidim

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 7:47 am:

Just to clarify, I had planned on spaying this mare for the simple reason that I find any and all marish behavior annoying. I just want a nice custom-trained even-tempered trail horse. I'm also hoping that spaying will take the guesswork out of which behavior is hormone-related and which is personality-related. A little history: I came to own this mare after buying a "well broke" teenage trail mule that ended up being so herd bound I was afraid to resell her for fear she'd hurt potential buyers. The previous owner of the QH mare, a dealer I know and trust and who I've purchased from in the past, really liked this mare. She'd been trained to ride and drive by the Amish, and just needed to be finished. He wanted to see her go to someone who would complete her training properly rather than take her to auction and risk having her end up in the hands of a heavy-handed trainer/reseller. The dealer is an experienced rider (obviously) and so thought he might be able to turn the mule around. The QH mare was originally purchased as a yearling by total beginners, and I can tell she was well cared for and yet also see signs that she'd learned some intimidation techniques. Despite this, she is a real people pleaser and our daily, one-step-at-a-time training sessions have gone well. She is smart and athletic and handles discipline well. She is a well bred mare, but frankly there are enough horses in the world today and enough other well bred mares remaining to ensure the survival of the species. I've already done the breeding thing once in my life and that was enough for me.
Member:
zarr

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 11:54 am:

Have been around two mares that were fixed because of problems when they came into heat.Both came thru it fine it completly changed on e the other not so much.The one it didn't help came from a very abusive background but it did help the other so much that she went on to show career. I have two mares that have no trouble ever for which I am eternally greatful! Cindy
Member:
wgillmor

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 12:19 pm:

I don't know if there has been any research on this, hopefully DrO will.

We did spay my daughter's mare in the hope her behavior would improve. It did improve over the next year or so, but, of course, the inference of causation is dubious.

Wiley
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 3:30 pm:

Hello Heidi,
The way to differentiate hormonal vs non-hormonal behavior is to realize the mare will behave much as she does during the winter anestrus when her ovaries become inactive.
DrO
Member:
heidim

Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 4:19 pm:

Hmmm...that's pretty good then. I ride very little during our icy Minnesota winters, but she handles well on those days. Thanks, Dr. O.
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