[MissCita]

Alright Cita is in heat again and it's been BAD this year. The thing is last year I could barely even tell she was in heat but this year, there's no question about it. I'm wondering if it could have somehting to do with where she is. Last year when she was in heat Cita was at a barn with all mares except one big clunky gelding. This year we have 3 stud colts in the barn, two VERY VERY studdy geldings (as far as Cita's concerned they're the real deal,) and two studs out in another barn. Her first heat this year was just monstrous, she tried her hardest to do everything you didn't want her to do and when you rode her she'd bolt into corners, buck, be all touchy and just a real bag. We kept the sessions short and sweet until she came out of it. The other day she dumped me off because she was being such a cow. She wanted to run, that was it. I wanted to work on our dressage and she ended up dropping her shoulder and bolting right out from underneathe me! It was one of those dumb falls, but I was really not expecting this. Needless to say I was not a happy mommy. Her bad behavoir during this "time" is starting to get on my nerves because it's getting worse and worse. She's discipled appropreately for anything bad she does if it's something she's knows not to do (like I'm not getting mad at her for being grumpy or touchy.) Just to make sure it doesn't continue when it's over. The best part is she's an alpha mare, I haven't seen it rear it's head in a long time but now she's really starting to challenge me again. I was putting her food in her stall and she was in the far corner, I took a step towards her and she cow kicked at me, she got a swat for that one. But like I said earlier, last year you could barely even tell!

Is there anything I can do about this? Do any of those herbs actually help? What about ReguMate would that do anything for her either? I'm really getting fed up with all this attitude! I mean sure, she's a mare but this is getting ridiculous. I've always been a mare person and I've never met one who can be such a little monster when she wants to be.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

ReguMate DOES work, but it's expensive and you shouldn't handle it. Many boarding barns simply WON'T handle it, or charge extra to.

Some horses respond really well to herbs. Mare Magic (made of raspberry leaf) is said to relax the uterus during the mare's cycle to make her more comfortable. At roughly $15/month, why not try it?

Remember that herbal products DO test, so check with your breed association on what's legal before you show.

There's also marbeling, which several members suggest, though it's meant to work for two months or less.

[lips]

Originally Posted by MyBelgianAzzy

ReguMate DOES work, but it's expensive and you shouldn't handle it. Many boarding barns simply WON'T handle it, or charge extra to.

Some horses respond really well to herbs. Mare Magic (made of raspberry leaf) is said to relax the uterus during the mare's cycle to make her more comfortable. At roughly $15/month, why not try it?

Remember that herbal products DO test, so check with your breed association on what's legal before you show.

There's also marbeling, which several members suggest, though it's meant to work for two months or less.

I used to use Regumate alot during show season with my mares. I'd just give it to them a couple of days before and all during the show, it worked like a charm. But I agree, it is costly. Good to know about that Mare Magic though, I've always wondered if that product worked well. There are also the shots that you can get. Depo Provera, once every 3 months. It prevents them from coming into season. Not too pricey either.