mareish mares - have you got one/would you get one?

I have had three very good mares, none of them were troublesome in the hormonal department. I would say they all had sensitive sides, which did not mean they were difficult. They just wanted to be treated in a certain way - ie not bullied. I would certainly have another mare.

My friend has a mare that was used as a brood mare, she could be hormonal, and she used regumate for a while. Now she has settled down, but I think because of that experience she would not have another mare out of choice. She says Geldings are just easier.
 
I have two mares. One is not hormonal but has a very excitable personality, and can be hard to manage,but she consistantly like this, its just her character.

The other is very hormonal some days she is like a labrador and other days she is a pain in the .....

For example yesterday she went up and tried to strike out at me with her front legs but the day before i had an 11 yr old girl grooming her and slobbering all over her.

I dont find it difficult to manage, and she's never mareish to ride, she just can be in the stable. If a solid routine is set in place and not broken she is far less likely to have a temper tantrum with me.

If she's the right horse to ride for you i wouldnt let her being mareish put you off. It is definitely manageable and doesnt affect things too much.

Hope that helps!!
 
I've got two mares - who would want a gelding :confused: ;) :D

Horse is can be stroppy madam who always wants her own way and will fight until she caves in, she won't let anyone else even lean over her and when she's in season then wear extra body armour :D BUT she's amazing and when she turns her energy towards working then she is a total star :) We're a team, I know which buttons to push and so does she :rolleyes: Apparantly we're far too similar lol :D
I keep her on Equine America Magnitude which stops the worst of her behaviour - she no longer just reacts. She has never been agressive on the ground - my mum who can hardly walk leads her out without a problem, even if something spooks her she just stands. She's never kicked or bitten even when she's in season and is more sensitive.

Pony is much easier going but then she doesn't get ridden and it only worked in hand. She does sometimes have the off tantrum but its normally because Ive done something stupid :o

The old adage - tell a gelding, discuss with a stallion and ask a mare really is true :D
 
I had a mare and she was excellent, never even knew when she was in season and her manners were impeccable.

However, there is a mare on the yard who is VERY mareish and seeing the problems her owners have with her and how dominant she can be in the field etc it has kind of put me off having another mare just incase.

I personally would not buy a mareish mare, but that's just my opinion :)
 
I have a mare who is extremely mareish....and it can be a trial at times.
She's incredibly sensitive and hates being saddled up, although she's had all the saddle checks and physio etc; she can also be tricky to groom..there are some days when brushing her belly, thighs etc is impossible.
For the past three years she's had a marble and it helps a bit...but we usually end up using regumate by the end of the show season; especially if there are breeding mares on the yard. She is also difficult if she's turned out next to geldings, and has hurt herself kicking out at fencing etc while 'flirting'.
My saddler, who has bent over backwards to get her English saddle to fit, thinks we're nuts to have kept her, and there are certain instructors who we otherwise get on well with who agree.
However, the upside is that her strong will makes her incredibly tough. She had a serious respiratory infection as a 6yo which our vet said a lot of horses would not have recovered from, and when she does do stupid things and injure herself, she gets over it very quickly.
She's also got incredible stamina and endurance...some of our shows can involve very long days, and she's as good at 7pm as she was at 7am.
Plus when she likes something, she's a quick learner and tries so hard...she took my novice husband to the top five in amateur trail.

Sorry, this is a bit of a ramble. She's now going to be put in foal... other breeders reckon that although she's not a young mare, this might settle her hormones down a bit.
We have bought a youngster and getting a gelding was a must.... I love my mare to bits but couldn't cope with two of them!
 
I've got 4 mares and a gelding donkey they all get on really well but all liked to be treated in different ways one of them always has to come in first, one has to have her rug taken off outside her stable otherwise she tries to kill you and the other 2 are so laid back you would think they are geldings! the poor old donkey just stands back until its his turn anything for a quiet life!
 
I have a mare that I have only ever known in foal or foal at foot during the in season season (spring/summer).

Not sure if I am looking forward to the Spring... I hope she is not too bad!
 
My friends daughter has a 14.2hh schoolmistress who can be very moody, nips, dominant etc on the ground when coming in season but has been invaluable at bringing on a 13 yr olds riding. The partnership has never been out of the prizes in SJ and dressage, she was bought on a tight budget passed a thorough vetting and probably wouldnt be everybodies cup of tea. We respect her space when hormonal and dont treat her any different she is worth her weight in gold!!
 
Our girl is completely un-mareish - she'll have a prance and a squeal when she hacks past a local stallion, but other than that nothing. It's great not having to worry about seasons and/or mood swings with her but that wouldn't put me off buying another. I do love mares though, I find them much more loyal than geldings - you can get a better bond with them IMO.

It's personal preference I think. I know people who wouldn't even look at a mare just in case it was moody but IME there are more 'normal' mares out there than there are narky ones. If you find a horse that you really like I think often you can work round any little issues. :)
 
I've had both mares and geldings and for me I always have prefered mares. True my mare can be a bit sensitive, doesnt like her girth being done up, being clipped, turns her bottom to horses she doesn't 'like' especially when in season. Hates the horse next door and throws her head about if she even glances at her ! But her good points , she is a real trier, very affectionate and kind with humans and has spirit. I guess each horse is different however and they all have their little issues but I for one love mares and would have another any day of the week.
On a pratical side we do feed her moody mare and keep her in her own field to prevent any 'accidents' with other horses and we are mindful when out to wear a red ribbon, I couldn't wish for a better horse and she is a pleasure to ride.
 
I've got a marey mare, and I adore her. She can be a complete pain, but has so much character, she makes up for it (most of the time!) She is stubborn and incredibly opinionated, but will try really hard for you once she has "got" something. She also learns incredibly quickly. She does kick walls, can be rude on the floor, and pulls some foul faces, but most of it is all bark, and she is at the stage where she wouldn't actually do anything towards me, but I wouldn't 100% trust her all the time!!!
 
Mine is a mardy moody mare - Ive had her for 10 years - since she was 4 and I was 13 - so we have grown up together through difficult hormonal years!!

She is best kept in a strict routine, with lots of turnout - but coming in at night. Her behaviour detoriates the less work she does. SO she is best kept fit, her mind busy and in a by-the-clock routine.

She has grown less tolerant of other horses as she has got older - she dislikes 80% of them, and I would say 90% of geldings. However if she finds one she likes - she LOVES them with all her heart. She turns her bum to anything she doesnt like and kicks, has an awful squeal and will defend her stable from the innocent horse next door with all her energy.

She is never aggressive towards humans, although can be difficult and opinionated. Like she HAS to be infront on rides, when lead in, going in a box etc. Always has to be first and will not give up until she gets her way. There is no changing this, trust me!

She has incredible stamina and will literally keep going all day, and night and the next day. She will be knackered and STILL insist that she MUST be in the lead.
If you can get her to focus her energy into her work she is amazing, but it can be a challenge!!
I love her to bits, she is just like me!
 
I am suffering more of this hormal rubbish from my mare now she is in foal than I ever did before... So non-marish, she wouldn't bat an eyelid when she rode out with stallions, we couldn't tell when her seasons were and so on. She lives with a gelding too.

I'm looking forward to the foal being born and her "normal" ways returning... Having said that, she really isn't bad at all, a bit of tail swishing and face pulling that is all, rather than full on I'm going to kill you stuff...
 
KatB said:
I've got a marey mare, and I adore her. She can be a complete pain, but has so much character, she makes up for it (most of the time!) She is stubborn and incredibly opinionated, but will try really hard for you once she has "got" something. She also learns incredibly quickly. She does kick walls, can be rude on the floor, and pulls some foul faces, but most of it is all bark, and she is at the stage where she wouldn't actually do anything towards me, but I wouldn't 100% trust her all the time!!!
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KatB, I think you have just described my mare! Some of the faces she pulls are oscar winning!
 
I would not buy a gelding unless it was to sell on. I have owned both and found mares to be soo much brighter. I am moody, snappy, uncomfortable and sensitive every MONTH why shouldn't I allow my horse some space a couple times a YEAR???

Beau mollycoddles me when I'm nervous at shows and knows not to push it when I have PMT, they are all much more astute and in tune with me than any gelding I've owned. The amount Beau looks after me and fixes my jumping mistakes, a little space when she's in season is the least I can do to thank her and no inconvennience compared to the effort and consideration she gives me on a daily basis. She dislikes physical contact more than usual and is more prone to pull faces but nothing too bad.

Ice is sharp all the time due to her trauma as a baby but she doesn't kick or bite anymore so long as she is handled respectfully, she is more of a handful in season but it is still all new to her, she is no more aggressive and will settle with age I think.

Lottie has never shown any mareish tendancies in our 16 years together. But then she does think she's my mom!
 
I have a marey mare. Has the most random seasons, when ever she wants basicly. She is surrounded by geldings...

Hate having her girth done up, belly touch but she likes being scratch on her belly!.

She is the most fun, affectionate to me, works hard & will give you everything, but is incredably opionated at the same time. Would have a mare over a gelding anytime!
 
My mare would probably be considered a mareish mare, although I don't really notice it anymore! She can't sniff noses with another horse without squealing and lashing out with a foreleg, you can't make her go too near to other horses when riding and handling because she will almost certainly kick and she's an absolute hussy when she's in season. But, she's a cracking horse for what I want to do (hacking and lessons), is fun, friendly and very sweet natured with people. Everyone is always amazed by how polite she is and how nice to handle, and my RI and farrier have both stopping believing in the nutty Arab stereotype since they met her! I definitely would not rule out a mareish mare, since mine came to live with us when I was 11 and is still here 10 years later, teaching my novice mother how to ride :)
 
All the mares I've ever owned have been mareish to a degree. I think it depends on the rider. I just haven't got the patience tbh to deal with it. Wish I did though as loads of people seem to get fantastic bonds with them.
 
silverstar said:
Ive had one mare and she wasnt mareish at all but Im not sure Id want a mareish one especially one that squirts.
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It depends on how mareish they are.

I had a mareish cowbag but I loved her. The worst she would do was pull faces, bite the air when you did up rugs, girth etc, sometimes threaten to kick out when you put on back boots. But she was an angel to ride, sometimes stubborn in the jumping department. But when she decided she would willingly oblige she really did give me her all and we had a huge bond. I would not have changed her for the world and some of the little marey things she did just made me laugh.

You had to be confident with her mareish tendencies on the ground, anyone who was nervous and she could take the pee. The squirting isn't that bad :)
 
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good advice umbongo. My sisters mare is a right little hussy and I thought of her when she said she can squirt.

Im surprised by how many people like mares. If Im honest Id prefer a gelding but if the horse suits me and we get on then I'll have a mare.
 
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