Mare Popularity.

Daisychain

Daisychain

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When watching the eventing at the weekend, i couldnt help but notice all the mares competing! Do you think the stigma attached to them will follow through to horses used for other disciplines? personally i couldnt give a hoot whatever the sex!
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I get on really well with mares... In some ways I am worried about starting to ride Troy in three years time as I am so used to a mare's attitude. But watching some recent competitions I have noticed that there is an increased number of mares these days...
 
I dont think they'll get so popular in the high levels show jumping TBH. Mainly because stallions are worth so much?

I dont really like mares. I guess it depends on your personality as to which sex you prefer! I adore my geldings. I have had a mare (and have 1 now), both of which were lovely. The one I rode was a sweetheart who would try her heart out for me and so damn intelligent. I'd never turn down a good mare but by choice Id usually go for a gelding - If Im having a bad day, Id rather not have my horse having a "grumpy day" too!
 
Mares have been used in top level SJ for quite a while. Ratina Z, Dollar Girl, PortoFino to name a few. I think you only have to look at Shutterfly and think I want a mare
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i lurve mares!!! personally if they have a good temprement and are NOT stroppy they are great and i get on with them better...and i am lucky i have only had fabulous mares!!! i can understand people being put off if they have a horrid mare!
 
I am a mare person, i had one gelding and we just never gelled, saying that I do miss him.
However if a good gelding came along I wouldn't turn him down
 
Ive got to say Archie (Even tho hes only 6) is far easier to handle and do than Blossy is.

She can be seriously hormonal, and VERY strong willed when she wants to be. Archie dosent really do anything naughty when you are handling him, and he stands for hours in the lorry like a saint. Whereas Bloss will bang in the lorry, drag you down the hill from her field bucking and squealing and she HATES having cuddles! Whereas Archie could stand being cuddled and fussed over all day if he had to
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Bloss does have a good attitude to work tho, she gets on with it and never puts up a fight - whereas Archie can be an argumentative little sod when he wants to be
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But then thats probably just his age aswell!!
 
I'll tell you after tonight! - I'm taking my mare to Myerscough for an unaffliated dressage competition and I hope she will be calm and try hard for me - not a spooky, daft madam!
 
Well, I've had both, and both were different...

My old boy was soppy to handle and also a doddle. he would be cuddled and felt we really bonded. He was however a nappy bugger to ride out alone and if he didn't like something he wouldn't go passed it for love or money.

Current mare is opposite - very trainable and rideable, and doesn't spook or get silly when out. She is however not fussed about cuddles at all which is a shame however she's not got a bad bone in her. she is more cheeky and food orientated that the gelding. She's much more talented too - but that may not be down to sex but attitude.?
 
Hannah is an argumentative and strong willed mare, but then I suppose I allowed her to get away with a lot when I was riding her. I am so determined to get it right with her when she comes back into work because she is very capable and can do half pass, travers, pirouttes with her eyes closed when she feels like it!!!

Grace is the total opposite... she will do absolutely everything she can to please me. She tries so hard and gets really upset if you shout at her (for example in the stable when she has stood on my foot). I have never known a mare like her... I think once you have a mare that will walk to the end of the world for you, you cannot get anything better!!! Once they have decided to work for you, they are with you all the way and so dedicated (when they are fixed
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I have 2 mares - both very talented. Spider is the most lovely horse I have ever had, loves cuddles is lovely to ride doesnta rgue or anything, never has stropy days but is very dominent in the field.

Cruz is the same but as she is only 4 does have days when she will try it on but nothing major, she is also very dominent in the field and wont think twice about kicking a horse when it comes near her which im hoping she will grow out of! She does get an almighty smack when she does it in hand though!
 
I love my mare to bits. She is the most affectionate and loving horse I have ever met. She is so loyal but has a real stubborn streak. She really challenges me, in a good way, when being ridden and has taught me so much.

I think if you have the time to bond with a mare then they are better than geldings.
I would love to see more mares competing at top level, they tend to get bad press. But for every bad mare there is also a bad gelding.
 
There are a fair few mares SJ - William Funnell has Amber Du Montois, Tim Stockdale has a fair few - his good grey is a mare? Also is Michael Whitakers good horse not a mare - Portofino?
 
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Mares have been used in top level SJ for quite a while. Ratina Z, Dollar Girl, PortoFino to name a few. I think you only have to look at Shutterfly and think I want a mare
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Exactly! Also mares are as valuable as stallions beause they can be bred from.

I love my mare, i always had geldings in the past, but have definitly been converted to mares with my experience of the last two ive had.
 
I have a mare and she is one of the best horses I have known! She has a fabulous attitude to work and always tries 110%, even when she really isn't too sure what it is you're asking for. She is very intelligent, very quick to learn (which isn't always an advantage) and is incredibly cuddly and affectionate.

I can't understand why more people don't rate them!? Especially as they do often (if they're a good mare) offer an insurance of becomming a broodmare if they have to be retired from work temporarily/prematurely.
 
I now the proud owner of an excellent mare. When looking for a horse I was open minded as to which sex i had. I think mares are either absolute sweetness and cuddly, or the complete opposite. Whereas geldings are more constant. Luckily mine is very cuddly and fairly chilled out about life, but the best bit is she is so willing, keen to please and quick to learn. I'm worried that I won't do her justice as she learns so quickly!
 
i would always have a mare. maybe its a girl on girl thing....i dont know! but i think we both understand each others little niggles!

and there are, and have been, plenty of mares at the top of the show jumping world - look at Corrada, Wiston Bridget, Gladdys S, etc. Lots and lots! i stick to my saying:

a bad mare is worse than a bad gelding, but a good mare is better than a good gelding!
 
I've had 2 mares and didnt get on with either of them! After being dumped into the bottom of fences, tanked off with and kicked and bitten by both i'd say i prefer geldings!
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Like marmite i guess!
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ALthough there are a few good ones at the top of the pyramid, most of the mares, particualrly like Headley Britannia and a few others they all seem to be a handful - never quite a straight forward ride!
 
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Shutterfly is a gelding!

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Exactly!!! He's enough to put you off them for life with all his special needs. Did you read the article in H&H that Meredith wrote, you would have to have to be a complete saint to put up with him. But on the otherhand he is probably going win her a Gold
 
Well, I can add an update ....my mare is a total STAR...she took in the sights and atmosphere of Myerscough and really tried in my test. We scored 68.18% and came second! It has taken me 3 years to understand her and earn her trust but she tries her best to do what I ask and is so intelligent (it took me 2 minutes to teach her to canter off an inside leg aid yesterday to get a nice transition for the canter at A - she did it brilliantly tonight!)
 
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Well, I can add an update ....my mare is a total STAR...she took in the sights and atmosphere of Myerscough and really tried in my test. We scored 68.18% and came second! It has taken me 3 years to understand her and earn her trust but she tries her best to do what I ask and is so intelligent (it took me 2 minutes to teach her to canter off an inside leg aid yesterday to get a nice transition for the canter at A - she did it brilliantly tonight!)

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Oh well done! That's a great score.
 
I think that there are a lot more mares still competing as with the use of embryo transfer they can still 'breed' a foal but not have to have 12-18 months off from competition. It used to be the case with mares that they'd prove they had ability and talent but not necessarily go to the top as then they'd be put in foal. Now they can continue competing while still passing on their genes.
I don't really have a preference for mares or geldings as I get on well with both but I do have very different relationships with my mares than my gelding. Definitely believe the saying you can tell a gelding, ask a stallion but you must discuss it with a mare
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