Why do mares wink

Members Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Log in Register. Search titles only. Search Advanced search…. New posts. Search forums. If this doesn't work and you still have significant problems with the mare being too irritable to work around safely, or of little use for riding when in season, there are other options. Spaying removing the ovaries will eliminate sexual behavior, but isn't done too often because it involves surgery and obviously is fairly expensive.

Many people turn to giving their mares the drug Regumate. This is a progesterone that mimics the hormonal profile of a pregnancy so the mare doesn't show in season. It eliminates problems with excessive sexual behavior that interfere with work, but doesn't do a thing for irritability or touchiness, and may actually make that worse.

Elevated progesterone mimics the hormonal profile during human PMS, too, and if you've ever been pregnant, you know you don't exactly always feel positive and energized then either.

Regumate can cause temporary infertility, which will last for a while even after you stop administering it, so bear that in mind if you want to breed the mare. Mares coming off Regumate frequently have cycling abnormalities for many months.

That can make them even worse than they were before they started the drug. Another drawback is that care must be taken not to get it on your own skin, where it can be absorbed and cause cycling problems in women, or infertility in both men and women. If you really need something to control your mare's seasons, a better first choice is often Chastetree Berry. Try a half-ounce to one ounce per day of the ground berries from a bulk herbal supplier like HerbalCom, www.

This botanical is usually very successful in regulating cycles and toning down both behavior problems and irritability. Other mare supplements use different herbs, including many calming ingredients. These options are definitely worth trying. A spanking-new foal may not be quite the picture you envisioned.

However, it's important to recognize what's normal and what's not. Learn in this article what to expect in the days ahead and at the time of birth. Whether or not to have a mare as a roping or performance horse is a controversial topic. Learn more from this expert rodeo vet on the ins and outs of owning mares. Although your mare isn't cycling now, the care you give her today will ready her for conception in the months to come.

The foaling process is uneventful for most mares, requiring little, if any, intervention. However, it's always important to be prepared, and to know what to watch for before, during and after birth. Commonsense advice to help you decide if you should breed your mare. Whether feeding, handling or sorting pasture mates, be sure to 'think like a horse'! Here's a look at some horse-friendly management schemes, courtesy of equine behavior experts.

A mare who has never been pregnant usually has a very small udder, which is barely visible except for the two teats. However, there are a variety of conditions that can cause the udder to swell or even to discharge fluid. Eventer Tik Maynard suggests a multi-faceted approach to fly control and explains how teaching a horse to focus can help her work through the discomfort that flies present.

Horse Breeds. Horse Health Care. Alternative Therapies. Horse Deworming. Senior Horse Care. Seasonal Care. Posted on Thursday, January 05, - am:. Posted on Friday, January 06, - pm:. Posted on Saturday, January 07, - am:. Equine A. Equipment Supplies. For your Veterinary Ultrasounding Needs. Hamilton Research Inc - Home of the Equitainer. When a domesticated mare foals, she nurses the foal for at least four to six months before it is weaned, though mares in the wild may allow a foal to nurse for up to a year.

The estrous cycle, also known as "season" or "heat" of a mare occurs roughly every 19—22 days and occurs from early spring into autumn. Will Regumate calm my mare? Regumate is the most widely used drug in controlling mare behavior.

Regumate is a progesterone. It may help even out the disposition of mares just generally out of sorts, touchy and difficult to work with throughout the cycle because of wide hormone swings or hormonal imbalances.

How do you know when a mare is in heat? Typical signs that the mare is in season include holding the tail elevated, "winking" opening and closing the lips of the vulva and variable amounts of squatting and squirting of urine and mucus. A mare's level of activity usually slows down a bit, and she often seems preoccupied. Can you ride a broodmare? How Long Can I Ride? Many people consider it safe to ride a mare during the first six to eight months of pregnancy, but it's wise to taper off after that.

Guzinksi usually stops riding her mares two to three months before foaling. The foal does most of its growing in the last trimester. What is teasing a mare? Mare Teasing.