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Discussion on Mare in constant heat despite depo-gelding nuts
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Member:
Bethyg2
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 3:48 pm:
I was wondering how weird this was, and if there is anything I can do about it short of selling this mare. I had a quarter horse gelding, a mini gelding, and a mini yearling stallion before purchasing this mare. For some reason I didn't consider my miniature yearling stallion a problem (dumb) when I elected to buy a 13 yr old quarter horse mare for my daughter. The mare was so sweet, a little arthritic, has an injured leg, but is bombproof for kids on the trail. After getting to our barn several things happened. My gelding started going nuts (challenging the fence, being vocal, running the fence line frantically when I rode the mare out, breaking down his door to get out with her and actually mounting her.) This totally freaked me out. Then, the mare started "winking," (vet explained this one to me) spraying and all manner of rude behavior. The farrier came and this normally bombproof mare freaked out in the cross ties and fell and struggled for 5 minutes. I called the vet, who administered depoprovera. A three month supply was astronomical, but I can't have that kind of behavior w/ kids around (me either). The nutso behavior has pretty much stopped.But I don't trust this horse anymore! To me, she is now the unpredictable one. She is white, and I can see she is still bleeding 3 weeks post- shot! Vet says give it more time, and I will, but has anyone else had this bleeding post- depoprovera shot? Plus, why is my gelding all hot and bothered? Is this normal? He has always been aggressive w/ other horses but this is ridiculous. I didn't think a gelding could mount, and well, "do it." Do it he did! What a shock. I didn't know he could, uh, get like that....Vet says doubtful that he is a stallion (chryptorchid). Should I give it more time, or will this just be a continual problem?
-Signed, Stupid and Should've bought a gelding, Florida (Beth)
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 4:03 pm:
I have a 14.1 gelding that is very happily "married" to my 15.2 TWH mare. When she's in season, he is more than happy to oblige her...all the way. I'm not sure how "normal" this is with other geldings...mine is a ladies man for sure and he has had all equipment removed--years ago. Good luck as you sort this out!
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 4:41 pm:
I've seen many geldings get "frisky" with mares when the mare was in season. I was shocked a couple years ago to find my 16 HH TB gelding "attached" to a poor old (35+)pony mare who was too old & small to stand up for herself (needless to say, we removed my horse from the pasture so he wouldn't bug the poor old gal). Just last month, when I moved my mare to a new barn, she went into heat 1 week later and DrOve the geldings in the next pasture absolutely nuts (2 of the 3 geldings are in their mid 20s and normally VERY quiet). Fortunately, a fenceline kept them apart because I'm quite sure my mare would not have tolerated unwanted advances.
So, it's not unusual for everyone to get a bit excited, although it does seem that your mare's behavior was a bit extreme...but I've only ever owned one mare so take it for what it's worth.
Good luck.
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Member:
Ryle
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 5:23 pm:
Beth,
All of the geldings in our herd will get excited and act very studly when a mare goes into heat, especially if it is "their mare". Several of them will even "oblige the mare" if she will stand for it.
Cindy D.
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 5:59 pm:
We had an old gelding who was in love with our appy mare. She returned the affection and when "her time" came around, he'd do the manly thing and mount her but never consummated the relationship. He'd try and she'd stand there patiently while he hopped on and off. Finally she'd get bored and walk off. The old boy could still get all hot and bothered at 30 years old and the mare seemed to be in continual heat at 23 years old.
My other appy gelding "did the deed" with a friend's mare when they were tied next to each other on a trail ride. She was in heat and he took advantage of the situation. Pretty funny.
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Member:
Sross
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 6:34 pm:
My gelding has been known to oblige the ladies on occasion, but only if the mare is a total hussy, seducing my poor innocent boy (it's usually those experienced older mares). As a general rule, he's not one for harrassing the ladies. His best friend is a young mare, and I've never seen the two of them get "friendly". (She's in love with the draft mule.)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 9:52 pm:
We talk about this in the article on castration, for more see Care for Horses » Particular Situations & Procedures » Castration in Horses. As you have seen Beth things are settling down a bit as the horses become use to this new dynamic but as you can see from the post above, there will always be a bit of tension. For more on Depo and other alternatives see, » Training Horses » Behavioral Problems » Suppressing Heat and Estral Behavior in Mares.
DrO
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Member:
Bethyg2
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Posted on Monday, Aug 23, 2004 - 1:42 pm:
Thanks, all, for the info, I had no idea that this mare would cause such a disruption. But it is good to know that my gelding is being normal, and that there is no need to suspect he wasn't fully gelded. Live and learn! If this is normal for geldings, I can't imagine handling a stallion on a daily basis.
-Beth G
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004 - 10:25 am:
Stallions aren't so bad; at least you know what to expect! Ours get used to the routine and know when they are breeding and when they are working, etc. In some ways it might actually be easier than with a studdy gelding. You just know you can never really relax if there are other horses around. I think with a gelding you relax then get caught by surprise.
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