Help new mares

[beverley29]

I have just purchased a couple of mare ponies formy kids after they have been nagging me for years! & I have got fed up with taking them to theriding school every day which is not close to our house! These two ponies have been fab until yesterday!!! Wehave owned them for 4 weeks now but yesterday we were taking one to the local PC tretathalon when she went barmy in the box, even thoough she has been in this box 4x before on her own, in theend she wouldn't settle after stopping thecar twice so turned back after finding her on the floor the 2nd time! Then tonight we went upto ride them & the usual slowdoppins haveturned into hyper dancing ponies that have become very strong! Thesmaller one actually bolted with myson& he had a very nasty fall.....we have noticed a few things, they have not been drinking for the past 2 days & we have been feeding them Safe & sound, as they have both had laminitus in the past, is it the food or could they be in season???? If they are how do I tell & how often& how long does it last, Is it wise not to tkae them to shows when they are in season???


Help please

[Guest]

Erh I would have thought that they would have come into season shortly after you got them but you can tell by pulling the tale back and I think their lady bits will look a bit pinker and I 'm sure they lift their tale up more but seeing as my mare isn't to marish I'm not to hot on the subject others will advise you better.
I don't know about the change in character other than the honeymoon period may be over and they are finding their feet and testing you out as owners.
How much have you been feeding them?

[nutkin]

I would cut back the safe and sound alltogether.Chances are they are getting enough goodness from grass or hay. It sounds as though they are getting far more energy than they need. Cut the feed out for a week or so and you should notice a difference.If however they drop weight you will need to reintroduce it gradually starting with no more than a handful each until you find the happy medium where they maintain weight without the excess energy.
Mares in season can become totally different to how they are normally but as you say both are acting this way I think its more likely feed related.