Deep dive
MOODY MARES
Mares tend to get a rap for bad behavior when their heat cycle comes along, but options exist for evening out their moods.
BY HOPE ELLIS-ASHBURN
By the time I arrived at the showgrounds with my mare, Sally, I had left nothing to chance. I was confident that we would put in solid performances on our hunter rounds. What happened next surprised me; her erratic behavior during our warm-up rattled my show nerves to the core.
So I did what any responsible horse owner would do. I had her examined for pain and checked the fit of her tack. Nothing. It would not be until much later that I was able to determine that her estrous cycle was the cause of the problem.
Although mares are known for their heart and have proven that they can compete at the highest levels of any sport, social media posts abound reflecting the sometimesimpossible behavior of this often-maligned gender. Lew Strickland, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACT, uses his specialty in theriogenology and years of experience with the University of Tennessee’s Extension Service and College of Veterinary Medicine to provide insight into the sometimes-frustrating experiences of mare ownership.