The effect of ovarian activity is considered an important factor in reduced athletic performance. Trainers
F E AT U R E
and riders often complain that strong oestrus behaviour ‘distracts’ mares,
Ask your mare
making them more difficult to handle. Others attribute reduced performance to aggressive behaviour and the presence of pain (usually back pain or mild colic). These reports are so common that it is often taken as fact that mares in oestrus
You can tell a gelding, but you have to ask a mare. DR JENNIFER STEWART sheds a light on ‘mare-ishness’ and its possible causes.
B
ehavioural problems in mares – where to begin? ‘Mare-ishness’ is easily recognised as generally
awkward or recalcitrant behaviour.
perform below their potential. Often likened to premenstrual tension or premenstrual syndrome in primates, ‘mare-ish’ behaviour is not due to PMT or PMS. Menstruation is the shedding of
urination, with some mares showing aggressive behaviour. Behavioural problems related to the mare’s oestrous
the uterine lining. Beyond primates, only bats, the elephant shrew and the spiny mouse menstruate. Together, reproductive and social
Other common complaints include
cycle can cause problems with riding
behaviours in mares are regulated by
refusal to move forward and frequent
and handling.
a complex interaction of the nervous
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