Mare INSANE during cycle..

Hey guys,
So I have a 4 year old OTTB mare that I got in November. So far she has been doing very well of her training, except when she is cycling. It is progressively getting worse. Yesterday, the farrier came out to do her feet (she is cycling now). She was ok the first 2 feet (although she didn't stay still a few times). By the 3rd foot she was getting pretty antsy. And by the 4th she completely lost her mind. She started rearing, kicking, bucking. We put the stud chain under her lip, hoping that would have the calming effect it usually does. Well, it didn't do anything. Then we used a twitch, that didn't work either. The farrier had me take her out of the cross ties and just hold her. About 2 mins after that (with the twitch on) she went ballistic. She reared up in the air, jumped off all 4 feet and bucked in the air. She charged the farriers truck, she almost ran over myself and the farrier. I had never seen ANYTHING like it. Thank god we had a vet there at this time, he had to sedate her.
After the farrier got the final shoe on I had a conversation with the vet. He told me that some mares are just crazy when they are cycling. I've always had geldings so I've never dealt with this before. He told me there were a few things I could do to help. He said there was Regu-mate, a bit pricey and harmful to myself, but it works well. Then he told me about marbling, and also about weekly progesterone shots. The one thing he suggested the most were progesterone implants. He said they last for 60-90 days (more like 60) and that they had to be replaced when they wear off. They are fairly inexpensive, and don't take very long to implant.
I was wondering if any of you have had these problems, and what you have done about it. I have her scheduled to receive these implants on Monday, and I was also going to order some stuff from Smartpak that hopefully will help her out. I hated seeing her like that yesterday, it was heartbreaking. She is such a brilliant horse and now everyone in our barn thinks she is crazy. Please help!

I would fully suggest getting a trainer to help you with this mare's behaviour. Cycling mare, stallion, abused gelding or not, I would not put up with that behaviour and she has to realise this, before you or others get seriously hurt.

Secondly, get her on a magnesium supplement ASAP. It takes a while to kick in, but it will calm her down.

Never seen this before either, I know when mine are cycling, but it just means they are a little more oppinionated and reactive. I would try the magnesium. I wonder if she has some reproductive issue?

BlueSpark and Daffy,
Yes! I was wondering the same thing. I have heard that some OTTB mares have been dosed with steroids and anti inflammatory drugs that it could lead to reproductive issues. Maybe an ovarian tumor?
The problem with getting a trainer is that I am the main trainer in this state. I train with Boyd Martin in SC during the months of Jan-March, then I'm off to FL to start the show season. I have ridden hundreds of horses, trained dozens of them, and I have still never seen one this nuts when she is in heat.
I think I am going to go forward with these progesterone implants, put her on Mare Harmony and Smart Calm from Smartpak, and hope for the best. If none of that seems to work I am going to have the vet check for reproductive problems. If its that I will have it taken care of.
Thank you both for your input, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Do your research on the injections and marbling, speak to your vet, and ask another vet for an opinion as these are, IMO, big steps to be taking, but I don't know the full pros and cons of them. I do know when I was searching for a horse, I passed on a mare with marbling, for other reasons, however she was still for sale 12 months later due to the marbling. I don't know the pros and cons, but I'm assuming there are some.

I would seriously go to ground work and crack on with this... the behaviour should not be acceptable, OTTB, hormones etc. Magnesium helped with my TBx(never raced) who used to ovulate everywhere, anytime, anyplace, and she would buck for England with a saddle on due to tenderness.

I also used Dodson&Horrel Stroppy mare.

Wishing you the best of luck, and I hope this mare changes for the better for your safety and her sake.

Duffy

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems with a moody mare. I went to ride Kitty on Thursday and she was particularly crazy (she's cycling). She reared and bucked and backed out of the arena at the beginning of the ride. Needless to say she got a pretty decent work out that day and by the end of the ride she didn't show any signs of resistance. I rode her again the next day and she was much better.

One thing I have noticed is that she will only be testy at the beginning but once I correct her behavior she won't try it again.
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I use Mare Magic - it DOES help my mare - a friend of mine uses it for one of her VERY marish girls and she swears by it! Might want to check it out and see if you think it may work for your mare. Good luck!

My mare does get moody during her cycles, but not to that extent. I was recommended to use Mare Magic. Mare Magic - Horse Calming Supplements from SmartPak Equine It should also be available at your local feed or Tractor Supply store.

Her heat cycle is beginning to peak at this time of year and it will begin to settle down about June. She is just very hormonal and greatly desires to be bred. Usually the most difficult time when she's in standing heat lasts a day and by the following day she'll be back to normal. I've known mares like this and it may be best to just leave her alone when she's like this as everything seems to stimulate them.

My mare can go competely bonkers when she is cycling. She did a complete melt down at our last big show (September 2011) and had to be tied to the trailer. I had to sit there with her and watch everyone else competing, it was very frustrating and depressing. I posted here on the forum about it as well.

I've heard pros and cons with the marble. They can sometimes sluff it out and then you have to have it put back in. I think, and I did not do any research, but that it just opens them up to possible uterine infection.

I have a friend who is doing the shots and they seem to work with her mare, the same vet recommended that I put my mare on Regu-mate. It worked like a champ. And since I am beyond the age of having my own offspring, I'm not overly concerned about handling the product. I did where gloves to dose and administer it.

I only plan on giving it to her for any really big shows, that she is even close to her heat cycle during the event. Otherwise we will just deal with her behavior at the smaller shows, schooling her in proper show etiquette. Ha! Ha! Ha! I may have to have a couple of Mikes Hard Limes before my classes.

Since I don't plan on breeding my mare. Her bloodlines are okay, but nothing that desparately needs to be added or replaced to the gene pool, I had looked into having her spayed. Here in CA it's about $2000.