There can be few owners of mares that are not aware of how their animal’s disposition and its hormone secretions are closely linked.  It is also reasonably well know that horses with digestive problems can also suffer changes in temperament.  So is there a link between these two conditions?

When a mare comes into season she releases various hormones (oestrogens) into the bloodstream to regulate egg development and release, and to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.  During this period the mare’s behaviour can change.   She may become irritable or sluggish and easily tired; her appetite may become erratic and she can become extremely sensitive to touch.  She may also exhibit nappiness, and restricted movement during work.  Many of these behavioural changes are also clearly seen when digestive balance is upset.

Healthy digestion requires a fine balance of the bacterial population in the intestine, which is crucial to the successful breakdown and absorption of food constituents.  If this balance is upset, through changes in pH or diet, the bacterial population suffers resulting in indigestion.  Symptoms of this poor digestion range from diarrhoea or looseness in severe instances to milder stress related behaviour, such as nappiness, inconsistency and irritability.  All these symptoms can all be quickly reversed by rebalancing the microbial population.

A PREbiotic digestive stabiliser selectively feeds the beneficial bacteria in the intestine restoring the population naturally and re-establishing the correct acidity and digestive health.  Tests in many varied conditions show how establishing the optimum bacterial balance in the gut can have a significant impact on improving behavioural problems.

Changes in the acid balance of the gut can be caused by many factors.  There are direct links between blood supply (which carries the hormones released by a mare in season) and digestion, with one of the key digestive juices, bile, carrying waste materials from the blood, plus the products of cholesterol metabolism.

Perhaps then, ‘Moody Mare’ syndrome can in fact be linked to indigestion.  Next time your mare is in season consider whether the hormone release is ultimately upsetting the digestive balance and creating associated behavioural problems.  If it is, then consider restoring the balance with a PREbiotic digestive stabiliser.  Simply added to the daily feed for a week or so before the mare comes into season,  PREbiotics will ensure the beneficial bacteria population in the gut is at optimum levels, helping to minimise the effects of any changes in blood chemistry on the digestion.