The horse lives in Orange County and is connected to two previous cases. The post Third Florida Horse Tests Positive for CEM appeared first on The Horse.

Mid week Show Jumping LeaguePoints accumulated each week with the best 4 weeks plus final counting towards league placingsCompetitors must compete at 4 out of the first 5 weeks (in the same class) plu...

Its the changes in behaviour of a mare in season that gives them a bad name and for some people makes them undesirable to own or ride, but its important to remember that a moody mare is merely exhibiting natural behaviours. Shes not behaving badly or wilfully its almost beyond her control. So rather than referring to them as bad behaviours, changing the terminology we use to undesirable behaviour is better.Essentially, its the different hormones that cause a change in behaviour of a mare in season, as she switches from progesterone being the dominant hormone to oestrogen being dominant. Breaking down the common moody mare behaviours we see into two categories is useful:1 Mare-specific behaviourThese are behaviours that are only really displayed by a mare in season, such as:WinkingSquirtingRaising her tailSquealingFrequent urinationRepetitive vocalisation2 Non mare-specific behaviourThis is any aggressive type of behaviour earning the tag moody mare, such as biting, kicking, bucking and grumpiness, as well as difficulty tacking up, lack of concentration, poor performance and stereotypical behaviours such as weaving.While a mare in season may show these behaviours, these are classed as non mare-specific as they could be displayed by any horse that has other underlying conditions and could be pain related.Sometimes there is a genuine physical abnormality that explains the behaviour of a moody mare and if you are concerned you should seek your vets advice.Moody mares: undesirable behaviourUndesirable behaviour by a mare in season can cause significant problems for owners, having an impact on your safety and the safety of other horses. Sometimes a moody mare can even cause damage to herself.How this behaviour is dealt with can have further implications. For example, you may find that during her season it disrupts the usual yard routine as you find yourself trying to avoid contact with other horse owners or vice versa.It can also end up with a moody mare being turned out on their own to avoid any possible injury to other horses or to themselves exacerbating the problem further. A drop in performance when competing can be common too a mare in season who is showing undesirable behaviour is unlikely to be able to perform to the best of her ability.Having a better understanding of the behaviour of wild horses will help us improve our knowledge and handling of domesticated mares as Jenni Nellist, clinical animal behaviourist, explains.When a mare isnt in season, she will usually reject any sexual approach from the stallion. This is done mostly by walking away and often they are happy to mutually groom with him. Once she starts to come in to season, shell feel more conflicted not quite ready for courtship but shes attracting more attention from the stallion and her behaviour reflects this.On the one hand, she may welcome his approach but then very quickly change her mind and can quite forcefully reject his advances, continues Jenny. Feeling irritable is typical of mares approaching the most receptive time of her cycle because they are conflicted between seeking and avoiding that courtship.Why its an owners job to be considerateIts during this phase that we need to think about what we expect a mare in season to tolerate from us and why during her oestrus cycle she may display a change in behaviour. For example, we brush her on a daily basis. Being irritable and not wanting to be touched is one of the behaviours commonly seen, yet we still expect her to let us brush her and deem her a moody mare.We also ride a mare in season and compete in the company of both familiar and unfamiliar horses, and there are times during her cycle when she will find this difficult. When you stop to think about how she may be feeling, you cant help but think were looking for trouble.Mostly this behaviour is natural, if somewhat frustrating for the owner and also more importantly, for the horse, when at times her lifestyle makes her seasons feel more challenging to her. She isnt just being a moody mare!Hormonally-driven moody behaviourMany horseowners have a love orhate mentality when itcomes to femaleequines. Im firmly in the love camp.Ive owned three mares and feel mybest partnerships have been withthem compared to geldings.With an estimated 300,000 mares inthe UK* and 93%** of mares in generalshowing undesirable behaviour whenin season, its easy to see why owninga moody mare can prove to be challenging tosay the least.Normal life for a mare in the wild is very different compared to our domesticated mares, but they have one thing in common: the biological intention is for her to become a parent.Most of us wont breed from our mare, so this means she doesnt get that natural outlet for her hormonally-driven reproductive behaviour, and this is why frustration and changes in behaviour are likely every 21 days, leading to a mare in season.Understanding the oestrus cycleMares continue to become in season even if you dont intend to breed a foal from themA mare reaches sexual maturity at 18 months old and will continue to cycle throughout her lifetime.As spring arrives and daylight hours increase, mares will start their oestrus cycle again and have regular cycles throughout the summer months.During the winter, when a mare isnt normally in season, they are said to be in anoestrus.The normal oestrus cycle lasts for 21/22 days and during this time she will have four to seven days when she is most receptive to a stallion for breeding, with ovulation usually occurring on about day five of the cycle.If the egg is not fertilised, the mare will move into the dioestrus phase, which lasts for between 13 and 17 days. This is when the hormone progesterone is dominant and then her cycle starts again and you have a mare in season.How to meet a moody mares needsAs with any horse, its important that allof their needs are met and this is especially true of a mare in season. The followingrepresents the fivedomains model of animal welfare byProfessor David Mellor:Correct nutrition fibre-based and for a mares individual requirements.Environment a suitable place to live in, with places to shelter, dry places to rest and space to move about.Prevention and or treatment of injury or disease if youre not sure, chat to your vet about any concerns you have for your moody mare.Natural behaviour this is the ability to fulfil natural behavioural drives. These include having good foraging opportunities, being able to move freely and choose whether to play or rest. Competent handling and training that supports and teaches, and doesnt hurt, frighten or confuse, is also important, as is good equine company other horses that the mare gets on with.Mental domain life wants to be mainly good and then she can deal with the stuff thats not so good. We need to think that welfare is a state thats experienced by mares. What is correct for an individual mare over the first four domains does depend on her natural adaptations as a horse and individual characteristics, and her own life experiences.Be sympathetic to how a moody mare is feeling theres a lot going on in her bodyHow to meet a moody mares needsHow all of these needs are met affectswhether your mare is having a goodexperience or a bad one. Each of the firstfour domains generate your horses dailylife experiences. When those experiencesare mostly positive and the negative onescan be controlled and are short-lived, lifecan be said to be good.Your maresexperience over these four domains feedsinto the fifth one: the mental domain thatforms her welfare state.How to help a mare in seasonYou can meet your mares needs, and learn to adapt to how shes feeling and accept that some mares are just more sensitive due to their genetic inheritance.Clinical animal behaviourist Jenni Nellist suggest the following eight things to think about when your mare is in season:Groups of two to four horses work well, especially where space is limited.Some moody mares are happier turned out with geldings rather than other mares.In a big herd, you need enough land for the horses to form splinter groups. This might be a series of fields where you have around three acres per horse and the gates are left open so they are able to roam.Stables force horses to stand in close proximity. When they cant see one another, they become stressed by isolation, so when they can see each other its best that they like their neighbour. Switch things around if you can in order to find a compatible horse for your mare to live next door to.Consider her nutrition. Horses are selective grazers, and at their healthiest when they have access to multiple different forages. The right selection will support the gut and hormone regulation for optimal gut/brain function, easing the effects of other stressors. Supplementation and access to forage that suits her needs is likely to make for a less moody mare.Find out where she likes to be touched. Most like a good wither scratch, but if shes feeling really touchy that might not be acceptable. Read her mood and stop if she tells you.Find out what grooming tools she likes and only use those when the mare is in season.Use licks or a haynet to distract her when you need to do essential hands-on activities like grooming.Why more sympathy builds a stronger partnershipI adjusted my mare Wishs training schedule when I noticed that a dip in her performance coincided with her being in season. Wish is 17 now and I have owned her since she was three.The first summer I owned Wish, our training and competing was going well, but every so often she wasnt quite so willing.My trainer at the time suggested that I keep a diary of her behaviour as he thought it could be her seasons causing this. She wasnt being a moody mare, just lethargic and a bit tight in her back. By keeping a diary it soon became obvious that it coincided with when she was in season.Once I knew this, I adjusted Wishs training so those few days when she wasnt quite herself were either rest days or hacking days. I would try and avoid competing too, as there was a clear drop in her dressage scores.As she has got older this behaviour has disappeared, but I feel that being more sympathetic to how she was feeling and giving her a few easy days has very much helped to build a really strong partnership.As a woman myself, I kind of understand how she is feeling!Images: copyright ShutterstockReferences: *British Equestrian Trade Associations National EquestrianSurvey 2019**1.Mills, D and Nankervis, K. 1999. Equine Behaviour:Principles & Practice. Blackwell Science Ltd. (p144)2.Waring, G.H. 1983. Horse Behaviour: The behavioural traitsand adaptations of domestic and wild horses, includingponies. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, New JerseyRelated contentWould your moody mare benefit from a feed supplement?How to stop a horse bitingCan you read your horses body language?How to tell if a horse is happyHow to take care of a horse so that theyre happy and healthyThe post Why your in-season mare isnt being moody appeared first on Your Horse.

As we reach the summer months, it means the hottest days of the year are upon us. It is important to be particularly mindful of your horse's health on these days. If you struggle in the heat, chances are your horse is also struggling. Taking extra precautions on hotter days can help keep your horse happy and healthy.Hydration:It is especially important during the summer months to keep your horse hydrated, ensuring they have access to fresh, clean water 24/7. Adding electrolytes to their water or hard feed can help to rehydrate them. We advise speaking to your nutritionist or vet before introducing electrolytes into your horse's diet. If you choose to add electrolytes to your horse's water, offer an alternative source of clean, fresh water that does not have electrolytes in; just in case your horse does not drink the water with them in.Shade:It is important that during the summer your horse has access to shade in the field or you may choose to stable your horse during the peak heat of the day. This means the horse is out of direct sunlight and shaded areas often provide coolness, a welcome respite from the heat.Turnout:You may want to avoid turnout during the hottest part of the day, especially if your field has no shade. Overnight the temperatures tend to be cooler, it also means you do not need to worry about harmful UV rays.Exercise:You may want to avoid exercising your horse during the hottest part of the day, choosing a time when it is cooler, whether this is early morning or late evening. It might be better to do a shorter session, reducing the chance of your horse overheating. Whilst, it is important not to overtrain, you do need to acclimatise your horse to the heat. If you do not get your horse used to training, they will not cope well with the heat if/when they go to a competition.After-exercise care is important, especially in the heat of the summer. You want to make sure you cool your horse down correctly and effectively, walking them off until their breathing is back to normal. Once un-tacked, you may want to put cold water continuously over them, this could take up to 15 minutes.Your exercise and post-exercise leg care routine may need altering for hotter months. If you use boots, choose breathable ones that allow for adequate airflow to prevent tendons & ligaments from overheating. Post-exercise you may wish to use Cold Water Boots or Ice Boots to cool the important tendons and ligaments and help improve recovery times.Selecting thecorrect rug:If you are rugging during the hotter weather, it is important to choose the correct rug. You want to make sure that a light colour rug is used, preferably white. White materials reflect some of the heat and sunlight, whilst darker colours are known to absorb radiant heat. It is also known, if you dampen a white sheet and put it on your horse, it helps to keep them cool.Let us know your top tips on beating the heat.

Learn about 14 factors that can affect your stallion's fertility.The post What Makes Some Stallion Semen Subpar? appeared first on The Horse.

Starting in 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show - a key event in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series - will feature a new venue, a new date, and a new CEO, enhancing the experience for riders, spectators, and the global equestrian community. Scheduled for 26 February - 1 March 2026, Helsinki will now be the concluding event of the Western European League, meaning it will follow the...

We're all guilty of it, the quick flick over with a brush before tacking up. However, sometimes there's nothing more therapeutic for horse AND rider than to spend some quality time grooming your horse. We've listed a few benefits as to why it's important to slow down and give your horse a pamper session this weekend.Relationship BuildingMost horses love being groomed. Engaging with your horse without asking him to work helps to maintain a healthy, balanced bond between you and your horse - this is your opportunity to give back and to allow your horse to relax and enjoy your company.Overall WellbeingA good grooming session helps to increase blood flow to the surface of the skin, helps to distribute natural oils in the coat to encourage shine, and also helps to massage and improve muscle tone. No amount of coat sheen will beat a well-groomed horse, grooming brings out the natural shine from within ... and if you're lucky, a few dapples too!It also allows you to be hands-on with your horse, checking for any abnormalities and addressing any minor issues before they become a problem.Grooming Can be More Than Just BrushingIntroducing carrot stretches to your grooming routine will help with your horse's flexibility and suppleness. This is also a great way to improve your warm-up and cool-down regimen and to increase your horse's longevity. Tone those arms up! You may be giving back to your horse with these sessions but he's saving you money on that gym membership! A proper grooming session helps to burn calories and tone those arms up, so you have your horse to thank for winning that arm wrestle!Explore our range of grooming products herefrom just 0.50.Upgrade Your Wellness Routine with Our Range of Magnetic or Infrared ProductsMagnet and infrared horse products can help to maintain the overall wellbeing of horses of all ages and can be included in your horse's wellness or warm-up/ cool-down routine. When incorporated into a horse's regimen our range of products can be easily applied and removed before or after exercise/ grooming/ quality time with your horse. Our range is designed to target specific areas that your horse may benefit from.Magnetic Horse RugTake our Magni-Teque Magnetic Horse Rug with Neck Cover, for example. You may want to have a thorough grooming/ pamper session with your horse, promoting circulation and relaxation.Once you have finished grooming, put the magnet rug on. The effects of the magnets sewn into the rug in key muscle group areas may extend the longevity of the increased circulation and relaxation effects you created from your grooming session and can help to warm your horse before exercise.It's your choice whether you tack up and head out after this, but your horse will thank you for the pamper session. If you do choose to ride, pop the rug back on after you have cooled your horse down under saddle and untacked him (make sure he is dry) to ensure he cools down slowly.The following benefits have been reported from our customers: maintained circulation, reduced muscle tension, aids recovery of muscle fatigue, tissue oxygen supply, helps to maintain overall wellbeing.Magni-Teque Magnetic Horse Rug with Neck - 168Infrared Horse RugAs well as our Magni-Teque Magnetic Horse Rug we also offer the Nano-Tec Infrared Horse Rug which is ideal for pre warm-up to help improve stamina and post-exercise for cool down.Infrared rugs can help to reduce lactic acid build-up caused by fatigue, which decreases recovery time.If you've had your pamper time, gone for a schooling session or a nice hack and returned to the stable simply put the infrared rug on your horse once you have untacked and the moisture-wicking, breathable lining will act as an anti-chill barrier.The nano nylon filments contain minerals that are fused within the fabric fibres. The minerals reflect heat and energy lost from the horse back into the body in the form of infrared heat radiation. The infrared heat opens blood vessels deep in the muscle tissue, increasing circulation which in turn helps to ease muscle tension and fortifies the body's own ability to reduce swelling.Your thorough grooming session and optional exercise paired with either Magni-Teque or Infrared horse products will help to make your horse feel his best and maintain overall wellbeing.The only problem is you might have to explain to your partner/parents where you've been for those extra few hours this weekend, but let's face it... they can probably already guess!Take it easy this self-care Sunday,From team PE.Nano-Tec Infrared Horse Rug - 168