Hi Em -Yes this is a nuisance isn't it. Most mares are out of sorts when they are cycling. My warmblood is impossible to ride when she is cycling and Pie gets extremely stroppy and cranky with the other horses and me. I believe there is some hormone treatment that you can give them - someone else may give you the details for it if not check with your vet. She is obviously desperate to get pregnant if she is cycling so frequently and the vet again maybe able to help you with this. Sorry that I can't give you any worthwhile advice - hopefully someone else may do better. I can only sympathise with you. Good luck with it!

Hi, In the uni's Q&A someone had problems when their mare was in heat, this persons mare went into heat from spring and all the way thru fall. This isn't exactly your experience with your mare but you both seem to have mares with irregular heat cycles. Correct me if I am wrong but I thought that mares only went into heat once, maybe twice a year. Unless maybe there is a stallion present? I guess that would make a difference, I am not really sure. If you go to the Q&A tab on the uni and scroll all the way down to Oct.8.08 you should find the question. Monty suggested that this mare should possible see a vet since such a irregular heat cycle is very unnatural. Not sure if I helped but it may be something to think about. Good luck with her.

Hi Em,
I looked up that Q&A and it is very true.
I have a 3-yr old filly who has the same problem. She seems to be constantly in season, from early spring to late fall.
Her vet put her on Calm Mare and it helped a bit, but very little.
I called the Vet College in PEI, Canada and spoke with the head of the department and he wanted me to bring her to have ultra-sound to see if perhaps she has some cysts on her ovaries.
I cannot afford that, it is very expensive, especially if surgeory is needed. It is also aggressive surgeory because in some cases they have to remove the ovaries and uterus.
My husband and I discussed this and decided to look around for a second opinion, they too made the same decision.
You cannot even touch STAR"S flanks when she in heat.
I feel very sorry for them, poor things.
My vet told me that if I were to have her bred, PERHAPS, this would change but after reading your experience I'm not sure that would help.
Star still refuses even the cursingle, never mind the saddle.
My heart goes out to you,
Ronda

Em
We had a mare that would go into heat the minute she was loaded on the trailer for a show. My stallion would go nuts and be a real handful at the shows. I am thinking that there maybe something that is stimulating your horse into heat. Is she with other animals with her? If so that maybe the reason for the quick cycles. Some mares are also more moody than others, so the calmer you can keep your mare the easier it is to handle them.

Ronda has tried Calm Mare supplement without too much success, but I would suggest that you try Quiessence supplement for a month or two and see if that doesn't improve her outlook. I have had good success using it on horses that were a little too hot in the show arena and it just takes the edge off of their nervousness with out compromising their performance.

Hope this helps
Cheers

Hi Dennis,
Where can I buy that product for Star? Do you know if it is available in Canada?
How much do I use and how often?
I need all the help I can get.
Thanks so much,
Ronda

Ronda
Valley Vet sells it online and I would imagine that there are distributers in Canada as well do a Google search and see what comes up

Cheers

Thanks so much, Dennis.
Have a great day,
Ronda

Normally, the entire estrous cycle from ovulation to ovulation takes approximately 21 days during the light period of the year. Most (but not all!) mares stop ovulating altogether during winter, but they can get stuck - or unstuck - in a period for all sorts of reasons.
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You can also try Vitex agnus-castus (Monk's Pepper, Chasteberries. It has a soothing effect on the sex drive in both humans and horses. (The name "Monk's pepper" has a reason!) The hormonelike substances of the herb affects (decrease)the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.
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The trick is to get the mare to eat it - they seem to suspect foul play when it is adminstered, so maybe you need to add some bananas or molasses, or whatever she fancies, to mask the taste.
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I don't know how to get hold of it in other countries, but you can try health-stores, or Dodson & Horrell (UK company) sells it. I'm also sure it is part of any "Calm mare"-like product.
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