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  Discussion on Herbal Estrus Suppresents
Author Message
Member:
Lpojeta

Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 4:38 pm:

I have recently begun using a combination of Chaste tree and Valerian to help my mare through her cycles with excellent results. My question is this: In order for the herbs to be affective does she need to be on them all the time or just as she approaches/is in saeson? I don't mind using the chaste tree daily but she is normally a very quiet horse (especially in summer) and I am worried that once spring comes up she will be too quiet due to the valerian (she is used in hunter/jumper competition). Also I have heard that chammomile produces a similar, but less dramatic, effect to that of valerian, would switching to this be a viable option? Thankyou!
-Lee Ann
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 9:37 pm:

These herbs have do not have any confirmed (or even observed and reported in the scientific or medical literature) capability for suppressing estrus in horses Lee Ann. If you have been using these through the winter, mares do not normally cycle in the winter so the seasons may solely be responsible for you not seeing heat in your mare. I have seen folks use both valerian and cammomile calming agents and neither seem to give consistant results.
DrO
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2005 - 10:18 pm:

Lee Ann,
Valerian is illegal to compete on in rated competition, just to let you know.
Alicia
Member:
Lpojeta

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 3:10 pm:

Thankyou for your reply Dr. O. I know that chaste tree does not supress estrus per se, but it has been used as a reproductive support herb in both animals and humans. It (supposedly) helps to smooth the hormonal spikes that can occur during estrus and therefore help to lessen associated behaviors. My mare has cycled through every winter I have had her and (prior to my purchase of her) foaled in january and february, so I do not believe the improvement I am seeing reflects the season. I did know about valerian being illegal (thank you though, alicia!)for competition and we are not currently showing (too cold!) I will try switching over to the chammomile before we begin to show in the spring. As for the chaste tree, although it is not a true suppressent of estrus I do highly reccomend it for helping with estrus related lack of focus/crampiness!
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2005 - 4:27 pm:

Hi all
I am curious that if AHSA bans valerian someone out there thinks it works as a calmative, unless there is some other reason they would prohibit it in competition. Just a thought, Debbie
New Member:
Wishbone

Posted on Saturday, Aug 13, 2005 - 9:33 pm:

dr.o i read your article on suppression of estrus in mares. very good. i have a mare and don't mind that she acts like one! when she started to cycle this spring, she was very regular, q 21 days. this made it easy to plan activities, showing ect. now she seems to be a bit irregular. her last two cycles occurred about 14-18 days apart. very clear signs of estrus, so there is no doubt. the only consistent "problem" when she is in season is that her back seems to bother her more. occaisionally, she is just difficult but this is unusual and only lasts a day. this time though she did "squat and squirt" while she was being ridden. these things do affect the training schedule ect.

any idea why the length of the cycle would change at the end of july/beginning of august? i know you aren't one to support herbal remedies but i have a 17yr. old daughter taking care of this horse and i don't want her exposed to regumate. i think exposure would be inevitable given usual feeding practices and the nature of barns. i don't like depo in people so i'm not keen on that for the mare. even if it is anecdotal, has anyone observed any other effective means of estrus regulation (not necessarily suppression)?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2005 - 5:56 pm:

The reason is because variation is normal. The 21 days is an average and mares vary quite a bit as individuals. Your experiences are not unusual for a healthy mare. For more on this and some of the natural factors that effect cycle length and regularity see Equine Reproduction » Horse Breeding & Artifical Insemination » Breeding Patterns in Mares and Stallions.

It is not that I don't support hormonal remedies, I don't support the use of remedies of uncertain efficacy and toxicity. Herbs do not exert actions through magic, if you find an herbal remedy that actually will control the cycles it will be doing it through the actions of drugs and hormone-like-drugs that occur in the herb. However herbs will have unknown concentrations and dozens of contaminating hormone/drugs present that may be even more dangerous than the known problems with the Regumate.
DrO
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