How to tell if a Mare is in Heat?

[lunanightwolf]

What am I looking for to tell if my mare is in heat and how many times a year do they come in heat? My mare has this thing if she doesn't want to ride she'll pretend to be in heat and we won't ride long because she acts like it hurts her when i kick her. I think she is in heat because she'll turn her head toward my feet when were standing still and she pees and holds her tail up alot while we ride.

[Equineprincess]

Usually mares go inton heat from early spring to late fall. To tell if your mare is in heat she usually will pee a lot, "wink", act moody, raise her tail, and be very vocal. Also they may turn their hindquarters toward some gieldings, even other mares while out in the field than pee.

[rodeomom70]

We discovered this summer that when my daughter's horse went into heat she became "sore" on her back in her kidney area. The way we found this is we were washing her for Showmanship for 4H and you would have thought her back was out. I couldn't figure it out and thought maybe the mare threw her back out somehow. When I saw my equine vet recently she said that some mares become extrememly sore when they are in heat especially in the kidney area on their back. When we were on our way traveling to this show my other daughter's horse, gelding, threw this mare into heat. My vet said that when they hurt like that they will probably act up in all kinds of ways which may explain some of your problems. She suggested to us that when we start show season that we give our mare shots to stop her coming into heat since it makes her so uncomfortable. Don't know that I will do that, but it was suggested. So maybe your horse is in discomfort due to being in heat. It's a thought.

[lunanightwolf]

Originally Posted by rodeomom70

We discovered this summer that when my daughter's horse went into heat she became "sore" on her back in her kidney area. The way we found this is we were washing her for Showmanship for 4H and you would have thought her back was out. I couldn't figure it out and thought maybe the mare threw her back out somehow. When I saw my equine vet recently she said that some mares become extrememly sore when they are in heat especially in the kidney area on their back. When we were on our way traveling to this show my other daughter's horse, gelding, threw this mare into heat. My vet said that when they hurt like that they will probably act up in all kinds of ways which may explain some of your problems. She suggested to us that when we start show season that we give our mare shots to stop her coming into heat since it makes her so uncomfortable. Don't know that I will do that, but it was suggested. So maybe your horse is in discomfort due to being in heat. It's a thought.

weird...the funny thing is... my mare is no where near a gelding or a stallion to make her do this. And she'll ride just fine. Actually she's at her best when she's in heat. I mean she stood stilll the whole time i was putting the saddle on and off of her

[Mits]

Mares come in every 16-21 days each month,some mares will really be showing when around other horses and some don't.They will start coming "IN" febuary thru october,down here in the south. Horses that are paints or greys--inside of their back legs are very dirty//stained looking.Not all but some get this way.Alots of cutters/barrel racers are having their mares implanted with what the vets call "Marbles" the mares think they are pregant and they quit coming cycling.From what I have been told a very quick and simple process and it last 6-12 months before they have to be changed out.The vet puts 3-6 of these marble looking things in them and I have been told that it does work real well.

[mart]

Heavens,,, mine cycle year round !! Even if a horse is not around others she will still come in heat !!

[rhndwytt]

I got a mare that had a colt in april and they just took the colt off her 3 weeks ago that's when i got her now she has no other horses around and she is so laid back i just don't know when she falls in heat and i'm wanting to breed her what should i look for she's the first mare i ever owned .

[mart]

Mares are sometimes strange creatures !! Some will have a foaling heat immediately after birth, then not come in again till the foal is weaned !! Some cycle during the time the foal is nursing !! Best thing is to just watch your mare for the obvious signs like lifting the tail and vaginal winking !! Some will walk the fence and look for another horse !! If anyone you know has another mare that you can put in with her they will act as if it is a stallion many times and back up to it, lift the tail and will sometimes attempt to mount the mare !!