The Moody Mare - Tips to Handle Her During Your Training
There is a distinct divide in the horse community - you are either a mare person or a gelding person.
I myself am a self-confessed mare lover. Although I am currently working with geldings, I owe it all to my very first horse, an Arab mare.
I wouldn’t say that our relationship was smooth. Natty had the best RBF (resting bitch face) I have ever seen on ANYONE, human included. But like most mares, when you approach her with respect, ask rather than tell, and break through those walls, she could give you the softest looks and contact.
Although she has been gone for almost 3 years, I still vividly recall those moody days of season - those days when it might have been safer to be in a warzone than working with her - and after many conversations with fellow mare owners, I started thinking about how we can really work through these moody days.
It’s all going to come down to a combination of mental, emotional and physical management.
That “ticking clock” issue
A mare in the reproductive phase of estrous has 2 things on her mind - breeding and surviving. And the urge to reproduce can even override their desire to eat.
Even worse is their first cycle of the season. Typically, estrous averages about 6 days, but has been known to last much longer in the first cycle of the season, prolonged due to the fact that they have not yet ovulated. This can be particularly hard on horse and owner during this time, as it seems nothing you do will ever be easy again.
So their focus and attention isn’t yours, and it is going to be harder to get that attention. However, this is where our Training Trainability Course works really well - gain attention and focus, gain consent to work, and refocus on that leadership.
A total pain in the…ovaries?
There are quite a lot of issues for the mare's reproductive cycle that can significantly influence behaviour, aggression and pain.
The simple process of estrous (the receptive period) can cause changes to gait, meaning a horse with some underlying skeletal or muscular injuries may be more likely to display and feel this pain.
The fascia (connective tissue) can wrap or attach to areas of the ovary, tubes or uterus, meaning the period of estrous and subsequent ovulation can become quite painful. It is really hard to have this identified without the help of an osteopathic veterinarian.
Ovulation tends to occur about 1-2 days prior to the end of the estrous cycle. For up to 3 days prior to ovulation, the mare can experience significant discomfort as the follicle on the ovary expands (think about or talk to women who have experienced really bad menstural periods and you may get some insight into what the mare is feeling).
Aggression and extreme moodiness during estrous will depend on whether pain is evident (uterine or other, doesn't matter), but also if we are pushing their mental capacity at the time. Reproducing is an extremely strong instinct that can even overcome the desire to eat, so it isn't any surprise that when we ask a mare in estrous to work that they can lose the plot a bit.
So, what to do with that Moody Mare you need to train?
The key thing is to first get to know your mare - understand her cycle, her behaviour, her movement. Identify if there are underlying behavioural or physical pains outside of her season which are exacerbated when she is in season. This will point you into the right direction to move forward.
Next, when you are getting serious RBF attitude, consider the following:
🦄Are you pushing her to work on something new, uncomfortable (such as intense work) or difficult? Perhaps take it back to simple exercises and work she enjoys.
🦄Are you constantly correcting her or trying to prevent estrous behaviours? Perhaps consider only doing this firmly when she is under saddle and gently redirect her attention to you when doing groundwork (and work on bringing her focus to you when she is out of estrous). This will take a lot of patience and a lot of "yes's" (Training Trainability, folk -this is what it’s all about!)
🦄 If she is really uncomfortable (if there is lameness or pain increasing around estrous), gentle groundwork and a lot of spoiling may be a better approach over intense groundwork - resulting in a mare that is less resentful and therefore more willing to listen, learn and work with you next time.
Of course, sometimes a break can be just as good as a work out, so if you are feeling quite frustrated with her behaviour, turn her out (on a positive note), and let her be a mare for a week - and hopefully you can both come together again in unity. And if at any stage you are uncertain, always consult with your equine health care professional.
