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Re: [RC] Mares Tying Up - Jim & Drin Becker


Two issues here... One, do people ride spayed mares in endurance? Yes, occasionally. The procedure is not all that common. If all goes well, no surgical complications, etc., then there is no reason why she shouldn't do endurance, and do it just as well as she does now.

Question two--do you really WANT to spay her??  And there are two parts to
this as well...  One, there is some risk involved, and you lose the
opportunity to breed her in the future.  For many mares, I wouldn't be all
that concerned about the latter, but Ruffy IS a pretty nice mare...  As
for the risk--it is not TOO high, in the hands of a veterinarian who does
many mare spays, but I've seen some doozies, with mares that have been
sent out to be spayed to become jump mares for breeding facilities.  It
isn't as simple as gelding a colt or spaying your pet dog or cat.

The second part of the second question is, will you really gain anything
by this?  I've seen some spayed jump mares who simply stay in a sort of
quasi-heat ALL the time, since there is no hormonal activity to suppress
heat.  We LOVE these mares at jump facilities, because we don't have to
put them on any hormones--they just tease the stallions and let them
mount.  Granted, more mares will be "out" of heat from being spayed than
will do this, but enough of them do this that I don't necessarily
recommend it as merely a way to keep them from showing heat as riding
horses.  Additionally, is this really Ruffy's problem?  I know you've been
through the whole selenium testing route, etc., and have ruled that out.
But I also remember that there was another horse standing right next to
Ruffy being treated at the same ride, with exactly the same problem, and
that both of you rode out conservatively and are experienced riders.  And
the other one was a gelding--sure wasn't HIS ovaries causing the problem!
The fact that this occurred to TWO horses in pretty much the same
circumstances at the same ride, and the fact that you have ridden Ruffy
for two years and 500+ miles, even garnering a couple of Top Tens and a
BC, I'm not sure that the conclusion to spay her is warranted.  I'd keep
looking for the needle in the haystack--you've ruled out selenium, but
what about calcium, magnesium, carb issues, something at the specific
ride, etc.?  I'm simply not convinced that mares tie up "just because they
are mares" and particularly not when it is only one incident.  Just some
food for thought...

Heidi

And this Heidi is exactly why I posted to get some "food for thought " :-) You bring up some really good points and my vet thinks I may be jumping the gun here as well as so far it was a one time deal but I never want to go through that scenario again (knock on wood) I had Dr. Foss run all the tests he could and we went over everything we could think of as you know and we still are not coming up with a cause . She was low in calcium and Dr. Foss thought that maybe give her a flake of alfalfa for a few days before her ride may solve the problem . Its just such a kick in the gut to get a 3 day Overall Best of Condition one month and then the next be standing under a tree watching many many bags of IV fluids being put into your horse ! So I guess maybe take a step back and finish a few rides next spring and see how it goes before making a decision that can't be undone . Thanks for your input and the compliment to Ruff :-)
Drin Becker
Mtn Region




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Replies
Re: [RC] Mares Tying Up, Jim & Drin Becker
Re: [RC] Mares Tying Up, heidi