"Fussy, Witchy Girl, there you go again!”… Moody mares can be a challenge.  This behaviour is fairly common in mares starting in the spring and extending through autumn when they are experiencing their estrous cycles. 

• By Amy Snow and Nancy Zidonis

• Authors of Equine Acupressure: A Working Manual

Because we have taken horses out of their natural environment, there is a tendency for mares to be irregular in their cycling or to have a more difficult time during their cycles.

In a wild mare, the estrous cycle responds to the longer day light hours of spring, summer, and late summer.  Her feed in the wild is very different than in captivity.  Her level of exercise is greatly changed from the miles of countryside she can cover each day in her own habitat.  When a mare is in a stable or barn, her emotional stability is affected because her social interactions are greatly modified.  We separate a mare from her foal sometime between the fourth and eighth month after birth, this does not occur in natural herd behavior.  These and many other differences between a mare’s life in the wild and in captivity can cause her body to become irregular or exhibit “witchy” behavior even when the cycle appears to be normal.

Acupressure, the ancient eastern healing art, is very effective in helping mares and their owners cope with cycling issues.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cycling disorders are seen as a disharmony between Blood and Chi (i.e., life force energy).  The Acupressure Treatment for Irregular Estrous Cycles accompanying this article can help balance the body so that the natural harmonious flow of Blood and Chi are restored.   The acupressure points selected for this treatment influence the endocrine system and thus affect the mare’s hormonal balance.

In a recent research study, 35 mares were treated for estrous imbalances.  Only two acupoints were used, Bladder – 26 (Bl 26) and Bai Hui.  Each horse received an average of only 2.4 treatments and the results were that 77% (27 mares) showed significant improvement.  (Schoen, Allen M., Veterinary Acupuncture: Ancient Art to Modern Medicine, Mosby, 1994)

If your mare is in a moody state telling the world “leave me alone, I hurt” or is actually experiencing difficulty with her cycling, the Irregular Estrous Cycles Treatment can make everyone’s life more comfortable.  You will not have to wait for the winter months to enjoy your mare again.

They own Tallgrass Publishers, which offers Meridian Charts for horses, dogs, and cats, plus Introducing Equine Acupressure, a 50-minute training video.

They also provide training courses worldwide.

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