Controlling Reproductive Behavior in Performance Mares

This must be broached delicately so it is reversible and doesn’t impart any detrimental effects on fertility.
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Imagine this scenario: You are lucky enough to have the horse of your dreams. She’s an athletic and beautiful mare, but there’s one problem–she’s notorious for displaying "marish" behavior, and it’s starting to get in the way of training and competition. What can be done? According to one researcher, there are several options to consider to dial down her undesirable reproductive behavior.

"Reversible suppression of sexual behavior in mares used for sporting purposes is frequently demanded to control undesirable behavior traits, particularly in mares that will be used for breeding in the future," explained Dominik Burger, Dr.med.vet, head of the Research and Reproduction Unit from the Swiss National Stud, in Avenches, Switzerland, at the 12th Congress of The World Equine Veterinary Association, held Nov. 2-6, 2011, in Hyderabad, India.

Burger noted this task must be broached delicately so that it is reversible and does not impart any lasting detrimental effects on fertility.

According to Burger, there are several options to help control untoward behavior in athletic mares. For example, veterinarians can administer either intramuscular exogenous progesterone or oral synthetic progestin (e.g., altrenogest) to maintain sufficient levels of circulating progesterone to prevent estrus and related behavior. However, not all equestrian federations allow this treatment

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Written by:

Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she’s worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.

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