| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name
 | Date | Lines | 
|---|
| 1045.1 | HORMONE CHANGES/IMBALANCE | ASABET::NICKERSON |  | Wed Sep 06 1989 16:39 | 10 | 
|  |     Just a thought...her nature may change because she is starting to
    cycle?  Has she showed normal heat cycles before?  Some youngsters
    have a vry difficult time dealing with the hormone changes...they
    become very frustrated and don't know what to do with themselves.
    
    You may want to contact a place like Cornel or Tufts and ask their
    opinion.
    
    Good luck
    
 | 
| 1045.2 | Thanks | LILAC::SMITHJ |  | Wed Sep 06 1989 16:50 | 9 | 
|  |     Thanks.  The thought had occurred to me that it might have something
    to do with heat cycles, but I guess I was thinking that if it did,
    I'd see more of a difference in her behavior when she was in heat
    versus  not in heat, and her behavior seems pretty consistently
    crabby.  
    
    The suggestion about Tufts/Cornell is great.
    
    Thanks again.
 | 
| 1045.3 | other considerations... | DNEAST::BUTTERMAN_HO |  | Thu Sep 07 1989 08:41 | 31 | 
|  |     
    2 Votes for consideration to heat cycles and hormone changes... I
    had a filly that actually went through a couple of TERRIBLE bouts
    of colic when she ovulated (now I can relate to that!) and it showed
    itself initially as worry/aprehension/figity-ness/to downright
    crabby/grouchy!!  Then she'd worry herself right into a stomach 
    ache - lie down and pretend that she was going to die (I was sure).
    
    Then we figured out (after lots of tests - even taking urine samples 
    to make sure she didn't have kidney stones, etc) that this seemed
    to be happening every 18-20 days, and after she'd been in heat......
    
    She grew out of it - and now is just a typical grouchy mare when shes
    in heat...  but a sweetheart the rest of the time.
    
    One of my other mares really changes personality when she is in foal.
    Interestingly - when it's a colt she actually acts a little studdy -
    talks in a low nicker - develops a crest over her neck - and I have
    to watch that she doesn't try and nip once in a while (this is horse
    who you couldn't PAY to bite someone).  When it's a filly she is sweet,
    quiet, happy and laid back...  Hormone levels really DO effect their
    behaviors!
    
    And... as a last consideration ...  maybe your mare just doesn't
    want to be bothered when she's eating?   I know that as herd animals
    mature they naturally become more protective of the things that
    are important... if she was out in the pasture eating w/other horses
    she would be protecting her meals...  just a thought.
    
    Sorry to ramble - hope maybe this helps - holly
    
 | 
| 1045.4 |  | DYO780::AXTELL | Dragon Lady | Thu Sep 07 1989 11:35 | 6 | 
|  |     Three votes for hormones.
    
    Swampfox used to be so sweet and innocent.  Then one day she
    discovered boy horses and hasn't been the same since.
    
    
 | 
| 1045.5 | Change in routine, maybe? | NOBOZO::GOODNOW |  | Thu Sep 07 1989 12:55 | 11 | 
|  |     
    Another thing you might consider is whether or not the horse has had
    any recent changes to her schedule -  is she getting fed earlier or
    later in the day, turned out at different times, exercised more or
    less...  A lot of horses need to have a routine and get upset when
    their routine changes.  I've seen this happen more than once.
    
    Just an idea -
    
    Amy
    
 | 
| 1045.7 | Hormones and Teeth! | PTOMV4::PETH | My kids are horses | Mon Sep 11 1989 11:47 | 8 | 
|  |     How does it feel to be the mother of a teenager! I have had 2
    fillys go thru a stage at about 2 1/2 to 3 yrs where their personalitys
    changes. Another thing that happens at this stage is they start
    shedding baby teeth. Teething pain can make them crabby especially
    when trying to eat with a sore mouth. A checkup from the dentist
    could be helpful in ruling this out as the source of your problem.
    Sandy
    
 | 
| 1045.8 | Dentist | MAMIE::ZAHND |  | Fri Sep 15 1989 13:19 | 5 | 
|  |     I could also be a Dentist problem. Sometimes a tooth is bothering
    them and they can get very grouchy.
    Ruth
    
    
 |