Mare in constant heat

Skylight_minis · Jan 21, 2010

I bought a mare last year she was "said" to have been exposed to a stallion dont know for sure either way as i didnt see it. Anyways... I've noticed that every time she gets close to my stallion she shows signs of being in heat. My stallion is kept separate from the mares so she hasnt been bred since i got her. Its really odd cuz she shows out for my sr. stallion but wants nothing to do with my jr stallion she shows him a dirty look and doesnt show heat. very odd... I was planning to bred her to my jr. stallion this spring if she proved to be open but now i'm thinking i should try her with the sr one first because i KNOW he's 100% fertile so if she doesnt take then i know the problem is her. I read an article that says that these mares that show all the time may still follow the same 21 day cycle as a regular mare so may not be anything wrong with her breeding wise. I know she has had foals in the past i found one of them on the internet and i was told that she had a foal in 2008. She's 16 years old in march.

Has anyone had any experience in getting a foal from a mare like that??

fastrack · Jan 21, 2010

We had a Standardbred mare that would show to a stallion even when she was pregnant. You have to be careful with those type mares. This mare would actually accept a stallion and end up loosing the foal she already had in her. We ended up breeding her once and then turning her out in the pasture and never brought her back in, even when she showed back to the stallion. she foaled every year after we started doing that.

White Socks Miniature · Jan 21, 2010

It could be perfectly normal for your mare to do this, and would take the advise of the above poster. That being said, You should probably get her ultrasounded... and ask your vet to pay special attention to her ovaries. I have seen a few mares who have done this and had ovarian tumors (granulosa cell tumors) that were hormone secreting causing them to be in constant heat. (nymphomania) If a mare has a granulosa cell tumor they are unable to become pregnant. Unless of course you had the ovary removed, in which case it is usually months/a year before they can become pregnant and in a mini it is a bit more of a risky surgery...

Best of luck though and will keep my fingers crossed for a good outcome!

StarRidgeAcres · Jan 22, 2010

White Socks Miniature said:
It could be perfectly normal for your mare to do this, and would take the advise of the above poster. That being said, You should probably get her ultrasounded... and ask your vet to pay special attention to her ovaries. I have seen a few mares who have done this and had ovarian tumors (granulosa cell tumors) that were hormone secreting causing them to be in constant heat. (nymphomania) If a mare has a granulosa cell tumor they are unable to become pregnant. Unless of course you had the ovary removed, in which case it is usually months/a year before they can become pregnant and in a mini it is a bit more of a risky surgery...Best of luck though and will keep my fingers crossed for a good outcome!

Agree with this advice (getting her ultrasounded) 100%. This is where you need to start and go from there based on what you find/don't find with the US.

Best of luck to you and your mare.

TomEHawk · Jan 22, 2010

I agree as well, get the mare an ultrasound that way you are 100% either way. We had a mare once that would show heat the whole time she was bred, all the way till she had the foal. But I have mares that are the complete opposite. They should be in heat, have been ultrasound to be in heat and ovulating, but still shows no heat signs. Both of this style of mares is really a pain for breeders.

Skylight_minis · Jan 24, 2010

Thanks we dont have anyone around that does external ultra sounds. I've heard that an internal one can cause a mini to abbort. I think i'll wait till the last 2 possible months if theres no sign of a foal i'll get her an internal ultra sound to find out.

I have a few of those pesky no showers. Only way to see is to actually put them in with the stallion. They show no signs being teased through the fence. Its is a pain just more work and more record keepin. Sugar is one of those but i dont mind the extra work cuz she has the best foals. I think her daughters are followin in her foot steps along that path i seen Tika in heat once and she's now 3. Glory is a 3 year old out of Lady, Glory has no problem flirting from the other side of the fence lol.

Candice · Jan 24, 2010

Angel, I know I'm a long drive from you but if need be you can bring her here. I have a wonderful vet that does internal ultasounds. The internals are done rectally so the risk is minimal. I do agree with the above posts. I wish you well with her.