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> 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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