Mares

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severnmiles

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Do eventers really dislike them that much? Speaking to the mother of a certain well known event rider earlier and she said you halve your market (if trying to sell) by having a mare, she said event riders really won't touch them.

What with regumate being legal to use and breeding potential if injured I'd have thought they'd have risen in popularity. Of the few mares competing at the higher levels (there are only ever 2 - 4 at any one 4*) they seem to hold there own, Headley Brit (winning two 4*'s in about 6 months), Wexford Lady (olympic selection), Fachoudette (very good record and european team member). I think it was Matt Ryan who was quoted about changing his mind regarding mares a few weeks back.

So, why are they so unpopular.
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I know the HHO mares seem to do very well, Sarnita for example.
 
They definitiley seem to be popular with show jumpers these days though! It almost seems they outnumber geldings in some classes at the top level. I do think a good mare can be more careful so maybe thats the reason for the appeal.
 
I just changed over from geldings only, to a mare, am noticing a big difference. But I wouldn't now be choosy.

Its not easy to dominate a mare, you have to be tactful and time is of the essence and maybe some top eventers who produce for the bucks, haven't got time for that.
 
having only had geldings, i got my first mare about 6 weeks ago, and such a difference in how to ride them!

I think there is a huge skill in getting off a gelding and adapting to a mare straight away?
 
Well i think in professional circles there is now a bigger tendancy for mares, i have always had and ridden both sexes, i dont think there is any difference in either, and come to think of it the worst two horses i ever rode were geldings, one bolted terribly and the other napped and reared and bucked! I think mares are just more moody with other horses really, no different to ride. I think it is in peoples minds!!
 
hmmm i must say my geldings are so much easier to ride but i do enjoy riding my mare so much - there is a definate art at getting them to think they are doing what they want but actually they are doing what you want them to !!!
 
i think AleeDee has hit the nail on the head - you have to be more tactful with a mare, and generally take more time, and professionals don't always have time for that, with 12 other horses to ride!
my best ever eventer was a rather difficult mare, and one day when i was agonising to a friend (former top eventer) about having never got the best out of her, and that i should have let her go to a top rider, he replied seriously that she'd never have gotten anywhere in a top yard - the additional pressure would have totally blown her mind, and they wouldn't have happily spent the hours she needed every day.
xc i'd rather be on a mare than a gelding. i think they have more conscience, especially at skinnies and corners if the rider gets it wrong (been there, had mares get me out of jail big-time!) but they're harder to train to bravery, more suspicious initially of water, ditches etc, and if they have a whoopsie they take longer to get their confidence back, whereas a lot of geldings just brush it off.
just mho anyway.
 
See I never notice much of a difference either, maybe a touch more attitude. Well this was a pro, it was with regards to Rhi, she said she'd have bitten my hand off if she had been a gelding but because she produces and sells on she couldn't take a mare on because she'd be that much harder to sell! I have resigned myself to thinking nobody wants her so she's staying! Which tbh is probably for the best.
 
I have recently been converted to geldings!

Have ridden mares since I was a teenager and have always enjoyed their personality (thought geldings were rather dull).

Bought my first gelding last year and he is wonderful! Never answers back, ever so polite and willing. Having said that, he isn't very clever (doesn't seem to think about things the same way) and isn't terribly brave compared to my mares.

Based on my sample (about 5 or 6 mares and 1 gelding) I think I could probably be converted!
 
Well, that's cheered me up no end S, now that I've just bought Spring!
Hopefully, the fact that so far, she seems unflappable and moves like a dream; her grand dam was a 4* with Caroline and her dam is starting BE next year (late starter which wasn't her fault) and her grand sire was one of the top eventer producing sires will go in her favour. I'll live in hope!
 
i think a lot of people have hit the nail on the head-dont get me wrong im not an experienced rider rding many horses at all....but you have to be more tactful with a mare and possibly more patient and almost trick them into thinking that theya re doing that they want to-certainly the impression i got from my flatwork instructor as well
 
Everyone needs to remember that mares are like Stallions - they still have all their hormones etc !! I think people forget that as you dont need to be to carefull with them (like stallions)
 
Sorry Pat
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Well the fact Rhi's 3/4 and half brothers have taken Reserve and Supreme at Pavo and a 4* rider has said her other two brothers (again by dam) could both go 4* and one is Int at 7y.o doesn't help
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Which one is Spring? Any pics?
 
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Everyone needs to remember that mares are like Stallions - they still have all their hormones etc !! I think people forget that as you dont need to be to carefull with them (like stallions)

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Ok so anyone know a surgeon who does equine sex changes? The price would be helpful too
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Everyone needs to remember that mares are like Stallions - they still have all their hormones etc !! I think people forget that as you dont need to be to carefull with them (like stallions)

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Ok so anyone know a surgeon who does equine sex changes? The price would be helpful too
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I know that might be your only way to go !!

when advertising just dont put mare or gelding !!!! I cant beleive you cant sell her with all the others doing so well ?? x
 
Mares seem to be a bit cheaper from places that sell eventer types (I bought a chestnut mare from Gorsebridge sales a couple of years ago - VERY cheap!).

Slow geldings are cheap from racehorse sales (the only reason I bought one).
 
I've always had geldings and been really anti-mares. On looking for a new eventer I found a horse who ticked all the right boxes, apart from her sex. I still bought her and 4 months on haven't looked back. She's been fantastic, and we're getting more and more of a partnership going.

I have no regrets and would have another mare tomorrow. Yep she needs her calmer, and possibly some hormone supplement next season but I can deal with that.

I think it's down to the individual horse at the end of the day. But at least this way she can have babies if something does put her out of action for a long period of time.

Having been so against mares, I'm now really proud to own one..
 
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I think a lot of it is a self-perpetuating myth. I remember Mark Todd saying that he had nothing against them, but he rarely had them as they were so much harder to sell when the time came.

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Did you find Deco more difficult?
 
Our grey mare is a gem, and v brave and careful (good combination). We can also have many hours of fun choosing suitable potential husbands for her.
Not so sure about the other TB mare (but maybe just off her a bit because she nearly killed me a fortnight ago). She can be v brave and grown up, then revert to a backwards baby stage.
My sister in law in England had a chestnut mare a few years back who was v talented (placed WH in Dublin) but sharp and she wanted a pro to take her for schooling and possibly sell her. She couldn't even get anyone to take her on, because she wa sa chestnut mare.

Fiona
 
Mary King was quoted as never having a mare, then she started breeding from one that was injured. Now she has her homebred mares. They are entires so can be more sensitive, but I would always have a mare over a gelding.
 
Well having only had 2 advanced horses I don't have much to compare! But she was certainly easier than F when it came to temperament at competitions, he would canter on the spot in dressage tests regardless of what we were supposed to be doing sometimes! Hormonally I never had a problem with her seasons - I never even knew when she was in season tbh! I do remember once a friend noticed she was, (shows how well I groom their back legs) and as I was warming her up for the dressage she was really off the leg and going beautifully, and I mentioned to my friend all we needed was a stallion to go past and we'd be sorted! Lo and behold we get down to the arena and a stallion is just finishing hs test! Well he was making a right song and dance at her as he came out, and Deco just arched her neck and floated past him in the most brilliant extended trot paying me no attention whatsoever! Once he'd gone though she was absolutely focussed.
 
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