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….. Read full article in Eques Winter 2015 Issue