Information on Alpha mares

[Kathy657]

We had an Alpha mare. If she was introduced to a new group she would keep herself to herself, wouldn't look for trouble. If they came close she would roar at them. After a few days they would be following her around the field. If she wanted to go for a drink, she would just look at them , then walk towards the trough & every time they'd all follow.
We bred 3 fillies out of her.

 

[honetpot]

My alpha mare is a Connemara brood mare, has had about nine foals, none with me, she is about 19 now. She hates being caught, not really interested in people and lives with her girlfriends where she is the quiet boss, even of the outwardly bossy younger mare. She has lived out with geldings where she has the most aggressive set of back legs I have ever seen, she will run back at speed kicking out both barrels.
One of my old mares that I had from three, was 'loved' by every equine, she had a quiet dignity, very sensible and caring, looked after weanlings and got what she wanted because they willingly shared food with her. When she and the alpha mare were out together on their own they lived totally in separate areas of the paddock, neither seeming to need the other, the quieter mare seemed to have decided if the alpha mare wanted to be boss she would be on her own.

 

[tristar]

hi sporthorsefrance, the alpha mare grandmother had one filly when in other ownership, then another filly with us, the gelding is the first foal of that filly.

the alpha grandmother was never aggressive to other horses, they just `knew something` about her, interestingly, I often experienced an elevated mood after riding the alpha mare, and have felt the same with the gelding grandson, and I value this experience greatly.

 

[sporthorsefrance]

hi sporthorsefrance, the alpha mare grandmother had one filly when in other ownership, then another filly with us, the gelding is the first foal of that filly.

the alpha grandmother was never aggressive to other horses, they just `knew something` about her, interestingly, I often experienced an elevated mood after riding the alpha mare, and have felt the same with the gelding grandson, and I value this experience greatly.

Thank you. How many years between the 2 fillies? The second filly - did she show no signs of alpha? That's my experience, second one doesn't. But first colt foal & first filly foal do. But if a first filly is born to a relatively young mare, in the wild she would be cast out by her mother to make a herd of her own.The grandmother of mine never showed more than firmness, but still ruled the herd. Her daughter who took over at 3 (mother was 15) showed more aggression but that has diminished each year, she's now 10 and matured. An interesting thing happened to the first filly foal of the daughter, we weaned her to the 4th foal of her grandmother, her uncle in fact. (Yes I know, bit complicated) but this astounded me. He was a big gentle giant & really looked after her, she adored him. When she went away to be broken, he went round the field & stable yard eating her droppings. Only hers. Definitely not a lack of vitamin thing - more of a 'I won't forget you'. So much we don't understand.
I also know exactly what you mean when you ride the alphas. It's a privilege & an honour.

 

[sporthorsefrance]

, she will run back at speed kicking out both barrels.

Glad someone else has seen that! I never knew horses could canter backwards and kick out at the same time, until they rang me from the stud to say that my young mare (who was there with her mother, both hopefully to be put in foal) was doing exactly that to the other mares. They had to be put in a field on their own & lo & behold only the young Alpha took. Hmmmnh!

 

[sporthorsefrance]

We had an Alpha mare. If she was introduced to a new group she would keep herself to herself, wouldn't look for trouble. If they came close she would roar at them. After a few days they would be following her around the field. If she wanted to go for a drink, she would just look at them , then walk towards the trough & every time they'd all follow.
We bred 3 fillies out of her.

And was the first filly foal the same?

 

[sam72431]

Have read this thread with interest I'm not sure I own a true alpha but as have only owned her a short time and unfortunately we only have individual turnout so I have no way of knowing how dominant she is for sure. She seems to be quite picky about certain horses she either likes them or she doesn't and seems to always want to be out in front on rides. My friends horse who is a fairly quiet chap she really doesn't like constantly pulls faces at him but when we went for a ride other day she seemed to be taking to him a bit more and when some horses she didn't know joined us she really didn't like one and didn't want it between her and my friends horse and I had to take her out in front to stop her kicking! She is out of a Moscow society mare I had a look on her dams breeding on the throrough bred pedigree database and although her dam and mares on dam side don't have stars all mares on her grandsire (Moscow society) do? She is a lovely little horse she can be affectionate when it suits her and does seem to like people to a point if she knows them I seem to be developing a fairly good bond with her so far and she will always come to me in the field but I'm not sure whether this is because she isn't in a herd setting or whether it's because she isn't a true alpha? Thanks

 

[tristar]

hi sporthorsefrance, the alpha grandmother had a filly foal at 3 yrs, not ours, then another at 9 yrs, this was the dam of the gelding, she was a very strong minded mare, difficult to say if she was real alpha as I bought her a companion pony mare and they had their own turnout.

I would say that the alpha grandmother and her grandson are very similar in type, compact with a short back, very powerful quarters, and both have a very straight profile to the head and both have a single hair whorl midway between the eyes.