Junie

Sweet Junie was dealt an unfortunate hand when it came to her mare parts — those with ovaries can probably relate, though Junie’s ‘time of the month’ was most of the time, most of the month.

We started Junie on Regumate immediately after her arrival at SAFE, but sought out what might be the cause of her antsy, uncomfortable behavior. And lo and behold, a blood test revealed to us that Junie had both elevated testosterone and Anti-muglerean hormone levels, values indicative of a granulosa cell tumor. GCTs are one of the most common tumors affecting the ovaries in equines, and can be the cause of the behaviors Junie had been displaying.

After consulting with our vets, they recommended an ovariectomy, or, in layman’s terms, a spay. So off to the clinic June went, where she was a very good patient, despite the no food orders required pre-surgery.

Settling in at the Clinic

The surgery was a success, and the culprit was revealed: a fist-sized left ovary with a tumor present. Her right ovary was of normal size and composition, and the difference between the two was jarring. We’d be rubbing our hair out too with pathology like that, girl!

Junie spent a few extra days in the clinic following some post-surgery discomfort, and as always, we are so thankful to our vets at Rainland for the excellent care they take of our horses.

We have since brought Junie home, where she has been resting and recuperating, and doing a very good job at both. We have to imagine that she must be feeling better, as we have not witnessed any of the pre-surgery behaviors. As she continues to heal we are looking forward to ushering her into this new, discomfort-free phase of her life.

Starting on groundwork

Meet Junie, our newest arrival. Junie is a chestnut mare in her early teens, with a kind eye and a gentle disposition. So why does Junie need SAFE?

Junie has some hormonal challenges that have contributed to making her a more difficult placement. When her original owner moved out of state, Junie was left with a trainer who was asked to help get her legged up and resold. However, while gentle on the ground, under saddle Junie was displaying some behaviors consistent with hormone-related discomfort, making her more of a project than originally intended. In January, another individual stepped in to care for Junie, and found the same to be true. Even when not saddled, Junie’s ‘mare time’ leaves her deeply uncomfortable in her skin. 

Through word of mouth, Junie’s current caretaker became connected with us. After discussing Junie’s case, we determined that placement for this mare would not be easy, and as she could no longer stay where she was, the best and safest option was for her to come to us.

At SAFE, Junie is settling in well. We have started her on Regumate to see if that can’t help with her seasonal discomforts. As we get to know her more and begin working with her, we will assess what kind of future will best suit Junie.