A mare’s hormones naturally fluctuate throughout her estrous cycle, influencing behavior, attitude, and performance. During heat, some mares might show mood changes, distraction, or sensitivity, while others remain unaffected. Understanding these hormonal patterns—and when the behaviors extend beyond normal—is important for supporting your mare’s overall health. In this Ask TheHorse Live excerpt Carleigh Fedorka, PhD, of Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, describes normal mare behavior and how to determine when your mare’s behavior might be cause for concern.

This is an excerpt from our Ask TheHorse Live podcast, "Mare Reproductive Problems." Listen to the full recording here.