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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
  
| Posting for a friend (doesnt have a bhw account) - Long sorry
Anyway a friend of mine has been patterning a 5 year old mare... she had 30 days to break her out as a 4 year old and then ridden off and on throughout the winter. This spring she was put out for another 30 days to be started on patterns. Shes been doing really well so far this summer. Clocking 3 seconds off just loping.
Anyway, yesterday we went to a show together and she was AWFUL!!! When my friend went to put boots on her (was near her girth area) and she started biting at her. She rubbed around on her and couldnt find anything and eventually she booted her up fine. First class she did okay... not spectactuar but not bad by any means. Next class she was horrible. Rearing, bucking once in the arena and just putting in little to no effort. She did her pattern but it was difficult. This got worse and worse as the day went. She was warming up okay but kinda slugglish and seemed to be stiffer to the left. No lameness no back soreness etc from what we could find.
When I went to get my gelding, I pushed on her stomach to move her over and she kicked at me, natually I got after her and she gaping mouth tried to bit me multiple times. I finally called my friend over to help me get my horse away... she pinned ears at my friend and also tried biting her. Got after her and she seemed better.
She eventually just scratched the remaining classes because the fight wasnt worth it anymore.
A few symptoms... biting at my friends feed when she tried to use leg pressure... constant ear pinning... biting at us... rearing in the arena.. bucking... tail swishing.
She IS in heat....she acts as if shes pattern sour but really doesnt get patterned but that doesnt mean anything. So my next inclination is ulcers or maybe sore ovaries or something. However shes never been naughty like this... while in heat.
Talked to the vet, shes stating it could be either... but we have no idea where to start. I know some of you have experienced this... so any advice on what to try first. Sounds like with both it could be a process of elimination so which do you start with?
Sorry for being so long, I appreciate any advice. Also should add this mare is naturally kinda witchy but NOTHING like yesterdays behavior.
Edited by stayceem 2014-08-11 7:22 PM
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| An ultrasound to check the mare is pretty reasonable cost wise. My 5 year old I just started hauling to overnight races this summer gets really cranky being stalled. I too will press on his cinch area or belly and I will get the pinned back ears, tail swishing, and occasionally will act like he wants to kick (but hasn't acted on it.) This isn't of his nature at all, especially since he only does it when being hauled and/or stalled. Typically he is a big kitten. I started him on Ulcercure OTC a few weeks ago and I think it's reasonably priced and seems to work well. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| WrapN3MN - 2014-08-11 7:39 PM
An ultrasound to check the mare is pretty reasonable cost wise. My 5 year old I just started hauling to overnight races this summer gets really cranky being stalled. I too will press on his cinch area or belly and I will get the pinned back ears, tail swishing, and occasionally will act like he wants to kick (but hasn't acted on it.) This isn't of his nature at all, especially since he only does it when being hauled and/or stalled. Typically he is a big kitten. I started him on Ulcercure OTC a few weeks ago and I think it's reasonably priced and seems to work well.
The ultrasound will help determine ulcers? I thought you had to get them scoped? Sorry not overly familiar with ulcers. We've both done some research. The vet told her to get her scoped for $350 from Anoka or the U or start her on regumate (sp).
I think the ulcer thing may be a good start because its quicker to determine whether or not thats the source vs regumate will have to be a month or so before they'll even have an idea if thats the right path...
Should also add that she rode her today and she was still crabby and (BLANK) but not quite as bad... So whatever it is, still seems to be bothering her. Still nipping at her feet and hating leg pressure. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Dont be scared away by my lengthy post  |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | For $115 I think it was- I went to the vet and had my mare ultrasounded. She ended up having a cyst on her right ovary. She received a shot of HGH I believe to make it dissolve and I received a sample (2 weeks worth of regumate) to see if it helped her behavior. The first show wasn't a good determinate being as it was only 6 days after the vet visit. She seemed a bit spookier and jumpy. The zebra flavored barrels were scary and it was her first time to see them so I decided not to run her in the class. At practice on Sunday (show was friday), she still resisted turning to the left but I also was letting a friend ride her and she may not have cued her the same as I did. We definitely need more practice as her pain issue may have caused a bad habit response. She seems like a much happier horse though.
History- bowing off of left turn barrel. You could put your hand 1' from the bit and pull with both hands and she would still bow off. First barrel would be beautiful to the right. Didn't matter if you were turning barrels, poles, quads or stakes- our left turns sucked. Teeth done in march- ruled that out. Acted like a grouchy grouchy mare when in heat. Always hated being cinched up. Had to do it slowly and take a while. Previously a bucker (mostly just after turning a barrel). Sorry I can't give a more positive review as I just don't know how everything will turn out next. Our next stop is chiro to maybe fix something caused by compensating for pain on the right. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| Go to walmart and buy Aloe Vera Juice. Feed 30 ccs morning and night. You should be seeing a difference in a couple of days if it's ulcers. Aloe Vera juice will not cure them but will help sooth the stomach. If you know of anyone with a laser have them treat the ovary points. There are also points you can ck for ulcers. One is up by the withers, another is where the cinch goes. There are others but these two are the ones I use most. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | I had a mare in high school that acted similar to this, she ended up having a huge cyst on one of her ovaries. The vet diagnosed it by palpation though, not ultrasound. Cheap and easy, he put on a long pair of gloves and checked her out.
I can't remember what the treatment was though, I'm sorry. I remember he suggested Regumate at some point but my mom didn't want me to be around it for fear that it would mess up my hormones (if I accidentally absorbed it through my skin). Sorry I'm not much help, good luck to your friend!! |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | It could easily be ovaries or ulcers. Horses tend to show the ulcer symptoms more when hauling/training/pressure. I'd start with a good ulcer preventative and go from there. Process of elimination. I just started mine on a supplement for anxiety/ulcers/focus and I must say I've seen a different horse since he's been on this supplement. I will be keeping him on it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I agree could eaily be either one. If a vet is handy, convenient and not expensive they can ultra sound to check her ovaries. If that is a pain I would start by ordering some Ulcercure OTC and give that a try. Not super expensive and you could see a positive change in as little as a week. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | Treat for one at a time to rule each thing out.
I would treat for Ulcers first and see if that helps. If it doesn't then keep her on Ulcer preventative and add some mare magic or rasberry leaves to her feed. If you treat for both at the same time you will not be able to rule out what helped.
Also when she goes out, you may see an immediate change in attitude, it that occurs then it is most likely an issue revolving around her cycle.
Does she have a caslick in? This may help or cure the issue as well.
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| A quick visit from the vet to do a palpation will tell if she has any retained follicles causing pain issues. I have had to spay two different mares with chronic pain issues due to retained follicles that nothing else would control.
And never once did we do an ultra sound.
It may be a one time occurrence. A palpation would be the first step and much less expensive than an ultrasound or scope for ulcers.
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Boot Detective
Posts: 1900
| Bluerose, you need to have your horse checked for kissing spine (bones are rubbing bones in lower back). If they buck after turning, that is a huge symptom of KS. Now for the poster, the mare sounds so green, some or all of this may be just her lack of experience at a show but she also sounds like an ill mare. She very well may have ulcers and/or female issues too. I would start by giving her UlcerGard and aloe vera juice and see if she changes. You should see a change within 2-3 wks. Something else I like to try if I suspect ulcers is to give them 20-30cc of liquid Maalox (for humans, cherry flavored) a few hours before you run. Just syringe it into their mouth. The Maalox also coats the stomach and reduces acid. Yes there is a pressure point to check for soreness and I recommend that too. Mash around on them about 2-3" right behind the point of their elbow, where your girth goes. I recently had a mare scoped that had severe ulcers and she was very sore at that pressure point. She was also pinning ears when being cinched. After 30 days of UlcerGard, no soreness and no ear pinning. |
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Forget to say that most chronic ovary issues tend to star around age 5 for some reason. Sounds like this mare is prime candidate. Owner needs to get with a good vet to determine what ever the cause is. After my experiences, I would START with palpation. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Thanks all for the great information.
We definetely plan on addressing both but obviously want to do one at a time to figure out what is the cause vs treating both and not knowing which one worked.
Would do you all use for ulcers - something that maybe doesnt need prescription? Its so spendy to get scoped and also treat and then if shes gatta deal with ovaries too. She is not afraid to spend the money but its just a lot right now. Ive heard ulcerguard and ulcercure... would those be the two recommendations? If so, where do you buy
Edited to add she will likely need a powder, not paste as her mare isnt really all that easy to worm.
Edited by stayceem 2014-08-12 4:13 PM
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The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | You can use THE. They have a specific formula for just for Ulcers. I have a liquid that I use as well at home.. I can send the info on it when I get home.
The mare I have I have on THE and the liquid, just to make sure I am getting them under control. |
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