Regumate for Behavioral Issues

zomer · 05-11-2006, 06:20 AM

I need some advice badly. My mare, a seven year old WBX, has been in training for three months with a trainer at my barn. she was a mess when she started and the trainer was pretty tough on her. Come to find out, she had a huge ulcer in her mouth. Got that taken care of and she became a much nicer horse, but still very "marish". She is very uptight under saddle, always power walking, head straight up in the air for an hour until she settles down a little, ears at full attention, never missing anything. She also can be a bit witchy, decides she doesn't want to canter so throws her head down. (i came off with this little trick once) Decides she doesn't want to go in a direction and does everything she can to avoid moving forward.
My opinion is that the trainer was too heavy handed with her. She is back in my care 100% as the trainer will never get on her again unless "she is treated chemically with something like Regumate". This is because after a week of being Ms. Perfect, she pulled her little head throwing, mini rearing thing out of nowhere. The trainer has deemed her "unsafe".
She was on Regumate before I bought her for the show season, according to previous owners, and truth be told, I honestly cannot picture her in a show ring in her present state. She's just too agitated all the time. i rode her for 90 minutes yesterday, just walking and doing circles and patterns to relax her and get her used to me, not the trainer. She finally started to drop her head into a slightly normal hunter position towards the end but the tempo of her walk (faster than most trots) never subsided and I could just feel that she never relaxed. At this point, I dont' even plan on trotting her until I can get some degree of calm from her at the walk, and I don't know how long that will be. I am seriously thinking of putting her on the Regumate if it will make her feel better and my life easier! Can anyone share their stories? On the ground, she is 1000% better than she was (she was a nightmare) but she still is a diva. I think she is a sweet sweet girl, I just don't know exactly how to get through to her. What do you all think?
Here's a pic of Jane in her full fly gear just for fun. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions on how to help her!

Blistering Winds · 05-11-2006, 06:33 AM

You can try it. If it works, then it is a hormonal issue.

But I cannot say for sure if it will.

If it does work, tells me a few things...

She may be very sore around her kidney area ....a few mares are like that, 24/7 during cycling months. Then are fine on non-cycling months.

She could be overproducing hormones

Cysts???

A few things to check into. because while Regumate may work, it may also be masking an even bigger problem.

zomer · 05-11-2006, 06:39 AM

Thanks BW, I haven't had her reproductive organs/levels checked yet. Should i do that before I try the Regumate? Of if the Regumate works, then look further into the problem? Funds are a slight issue here so I don't want to do pointless blood work/exams. Thanks!

Blistering Winds · 05-11-2006, 06:46 AM

Regumate is very expensive. So weigh your pros and cons and costs of both.

JBandRio · 05-11-2006, 07:00 AM

It may be ulcers as well. Have you considered having a chiropractor check her out? Are you SURE your saddle fits? There are so many things that can be wrong that can be fixed relatively easily without horomone-altering drugs.

morgangirl · 05-11-2006, 08:51 AM

The vet at the barn where we board recommended B-12 supplement to quiet down a horse. These horses are geldings though and it is not a hormonal issue just a "hot" issue. It doesn't seem like it could be a mare issue because of the time frame and symptoms unless I am reading the post wrong. How's her teeth? Maybe try a different bit. Maybe she is just anticipating the pain and can't relax because of the mouth ulcer gave her pain before.

TravelingGirl · 05-11-2006, 09:07 AM

Then of course there's feed. Is she working enough to warrant feed (if she gets any). My horse was a nut after just 1 week on sweet feed. Put him back on pellets, he's back to himself.

JBandRio · 05-11-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgangirl

The vet at the barn where we board recommended B-12 supplement to quiet down a horse.

Are you sure you don't mean B-1 (thiamine)?

B-12 is often given as a shot to stimulate appetite.

B-1, when deficient, can cause nervous and hi-strung symptoms. Supplementing with B1 alleviates that problem.

Btw, there is evidence that high carb diets can cause a B1 deficiency, which would go a long way towards explaining why many racehorses are often very "hot".

morgangirl · 05-11-2006, 09:54 AM

JB you may be right. It was the owner of the horses that told me this so she may have told me the wrong thing and it actually is B-1 not B-12.

ches · 05-11-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelingGirl

Then of course there's feed. Is she working enough to warrant feed (if she gets any). My horse was a nut after just 1 week on sweet feed. Put him back on pellets, he's back to himself.

I'm inclined to agree with TravelingGirl. If she's trying to buck when you ask for a canter, perhaps she's just frisky. Have you tried lunging her before riding her to get the "nonsense" out of her? I don't think she'll calm down just walking. She may get even more aggitated because she wants to do more!

05-11-2006, 06:20 AM	#1
zomer Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE Wisconsin, USA Posts: 918 Images: 90	Regumate for Behavioral Issues I need some advice badly. My mare, a seven year old WBX, has been in training for three months with a trainer at my barn. she was a mess when she started and the trainer was pretty tough on her. Come to find out, she had a huge ulcer in her mouth. Got that taken care of and she became a much nicer horse, but still very "marish". She is very uptight under saddle, always power walking, head straight up in the air for an hour until she settles down a little, ears at full attention, never missing anything. She also can be a bit witchy, decides she doesn't want to canter so throws her head down. (i came off with this little trick once) Decides she doesn't want to go in a direction and does everything she can to avoid moving forward. My opinion is that the trainer was too heavy handed with her. She is back in my care 100% as the trainer will never get on her again unless "she is treated chemically with something like Regumate". This is because after a week of being Ms. Perfect, she pulled her little head throwing, mini rearing thing out of nowhere. The trainer has deemed her "unsafe". She was on Regumate before I bought her for the show season, according to previous owners, and truth be told, I honestly cannot picture her in a show ring in her present state. She's just too agitated all the time. i rode her for 90 minutes yesterday, just walking and doing circles and patterns to relax her and get her used to me, not the trainer. She finally started to drop her head into a slightly normal hunter position towards the end but the tempo of her walk (faster than most trots) never subsided and I could just feel that she never relaxed. At this point, I dont' even plan on trotting her until I can get some degree of calm from her at the walk, and I don't know how long that will be. I am seriously thinking of putting her on the Regumate if it will make her feel better and my life easier! Can anyone share their stories? On the ground, she is 1000% better than she was (she was a nightmare) but she still is a diva. I think she is a sweet sweet girl, I just don't know exactly how to get through to her. What do you all think? Here's a pic of Jane in her full fly gear just for fun. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions on how to help her!

05-11-2006, 06:33 AM	#2
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,850 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 16	You can try it. If it works, then it is a hormonal issue. But I cannot say for sure if it will. If it does work, tells me a few things... She may be very sore around her kidney area ....a few mares are like that, 24/7 during cycling months. Then are fine on non-cycling months. She could be overproducing hormones Cysts??? A few things to check into. because while Regumate may work, it may also be masking an even bigger problem. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

05-11-2006, 06:46 AM	#4
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,850 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 16	Regumate is very expensive. So weigh your pros and cons and costs of both. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

05-11-2006, 07:00 AM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 22,344 Images: 138 Blog Entries: 12	It may be ulcers as well. Have you considered having a chiropractor check her out? Are you SURE your saddle fits? There are so many things that can be wrong that can be fixed relatively easily without horomone-altering drugs. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

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05-11-2006, 06:39 AM	#3
zomer Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE Wisconsin, USA Posts: 918 Images: 90	Thanks BW, I haven't had her reproductive organs/levels checked yet. Should i do that before I try the Regumate? Of if the Regumate works, then look further into the problem? Funds are a slight issue here so I don't want to do pointless blood work/exams. Thanks!

05-11-2006, 08:51 AM	#6
morgangirl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,174 Images: 35	The vet at the barn where we board recommended B-12 supplement to quiet down a horse. These horses are geldings though and it is not a hormonal issue just a "hot" issue. It doesn't seem like it could be a mare issue because of the time frame and symptoms unless I am reading the post wrong. How's her teeth? Maybe try a different bit. Maybe she is just anticipating the pain and can't relax because of the mouth ulcer gave her pain before.

05-11-2006, 09:07 AM	#7
TravelingGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 2,204 Images: 240	Then of course there's feed. Is she working enough to warrant feed (if she gets any). My horse was a nut after just 1 week on sweet feed. Put him back on pellets, he's back to himself.

05-11-2006, 09:54 AM	#9
morgangirl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,174 Images: 35	JB you may be right. It was the owner of the horses that told me this so she may have told me the wrong thing and it actually is B-1 not B-12.