Maximising your mare’s comfort, focus and potential
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- 22 Feb 2023
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Mares can be so rewarding, but also challenging, especially when you need them to perform. But why are mares so tricky and how can we help them?
First and foremost, we must always remember our mares are ‘entire’, just like a stallion, they will always come with those hormonal challenges. For example, these hormones are the very thing that allow mares to assert their dominance in the wild. Although their physical strength is not as great as a stallion, an older alpha mare will take the position in her herd to lead different operations whether that be feeding or moving the herd.
Owning mares can be challenging, but with the lows come the highs
Having a partnership with a mare can come with highs and lows, but at the end of the day, we must work with our equines, rather than against them. Mares can be clever, and determined, and like in the wild can be a natural leader; your mare will tackle anything that is put in her way. However, as we are coming into spring, a mare's hormonal behaviour can pose a particularly challenging time for both of you. It can be a testing time with the changing from the anoestrus season over the winter to the natural breeding season in the spring and summer months.
The two challenges
For mares, there are two challenges, staying focused, and staying comfortable. Their ovaries sit just behind and down from the saddle, and signs of discomfort are often associated with that area. For example, the mare who swishes her tail, or is sensitive to grooming her quarters may be uncomfortable, impacting her ability to engage her quarters and bend correctly. Seasonal discomfort can undoubtedly contribute to her behaviour changes but is not the only factor. Behaviour changes can also be due to hormonal swings, and range from signs of preparation for breeding, such as flirting, excessive urination and distraction from work; to dioestrus signs where she would naturally reject the stallion with aggressive, dominant behaviour. Therefore, improving her comfort and balanced behaviour can make a huge difference in her performance throughout her seasons.
Unfortunately, mares’ seasons match almost perfectly with the traditional competition season for many, as the usual hormonal pattern follows from March to October, which is stimulated by the longer daylight hours. Using a sympathetic, but proactive response is the best way forward and there are several ways you can support her.
Management
- Maintain a similar stable herd, as regular changes to your mare's usual stable mates, can alter her status and therefore her behaviour.
- Feed a low-concentrate, high-fibre diet- avoid starchy cereals, as they can increase the likelihood of unwanted behaviours.
- Maintain a healthy body condition score (BCS), as excess weight can extend the breeding seasons and horses with high BCS can be more dominant.
Feeding NAF Oestress
NAF Five Star Oestress provides a unique synergistic blend, for all aspects of the mare’s seasons, not just her outward behaviour. Monk’s Pepper, also known as ‘Chasteberry’, is included for calm focus, but on its own doesn’t get to the root of the comfort issues. Therefore, natural antioxidants, magnesium, and targeted herbs, such as Crampbark, are also included, for inclusive support of comfort alongside nutrition for focus to perform to her best throughout the season.
With good management and targeted nutrition, we can work with our mares to stay focused and comfortable, allowing their natural strengths to win through! Feed NAF Five Star Oestress for attitude, comfort, performance, every mare, and every season.
Read more: The effect Magnesium has when calming horse's
Kate Hore RNutr (Animal) R.Anim.Technol (Cert). Head Nutritionist at NAF
