If your mare acts out of sorts in the spring or fall, there’s a good chance it’s baked into her female chromosomes.

Mares are seasonal breeders — that is, their reproductive hormones are under seasonal control based on the length of daylight. During the long days of the summer, they follow predictable heat cycles, whereas the short days of winter stop their reproductive cycling.

But as days gradually get longer in the spring and shorter during the fall, ovarian activity is up and down. As a result, your normally reliable mare may be out of sorts on any given day — standing still and ignoring your commands, urinating frequently or just acting cranky.

Contact your veterinarian if your mare could use some help. Hormonal treatments are available to even out the erratic behavior driven by seasonal transitions.