Decoding moody mare syndrome: Retrospective study and tiered diagnostic framework
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: • None of the mares had behavioral or pain-related symptoms that were repeatably shown to be related to estrus confirmed by palpation and ultrasonography. • Mares presented for persistent or strong behavioral estrus were in the luteal phase at the time of presentation in 57% of cases. • Recurrent colic, non-specific pain, and symptoms related to urination was more common in geldings than in mares. • In mares with behavioral complaints, the temporal association between symptoms and estrus must be verified reliably and not inferred from behavior alone. Behavioral issues, such as persistent or strong estrus, non-specific pain, and performance challenges in mares are frequently attributed to the estrous cycle. The objectives of this study were to analyze retrospective data on mares presented for estrus-related behavioral complaints, and to propose a structured diagnostic framework for categorizing cases during work-up at different levels of care. A retrospective study was conducted using patient records of a total of 14993 mares. In this data set, behavioral problems, pain, or poor performance were not repeatably verified to be associated with estrus in any mare. Most mares (56.8%) presented with persistent or strong estrous behavior were in diestrus at the time of presentation, suggesting misinterpretation of equine behavior. Recurrent colic, non-specific pain, and symptoms related to urination were more common in geldings than in mares. Internal medicine issues were the most common diagnoses, and they were associated with a specific stage of the estrous cycle (diestrus). Aggressive behavior was significantly associated with orthopedic diagnoses. A tiered diagnostic framework was proposed to improve client compliance, diagnostic accuracy, and management strategies, as the association between the stage of the estrous cycle and various behavioral or pain-related symptoms in the mare may be overestimated by both owners and clinicians. In conclusion, the diagnostic approach should include repeated and thorough gynecological examinations with detailed record-keeping to verify the role of the estrous cycle in each clinical case, and internal medicine or orthopedic diagnostics should be pursued as indicated.
Author: A.M. Kareskoski
Institution: University of Helsinki
Language: English
Subfield: Equine
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,210
OpenAlex ID: W7135397191