Negativity and stereotyping horses - thoughts?

[equinerebel]

I’m really glad this is being discussed. Of course mares are more hormonal than geldings but that doesn’t give us the right to insult them. If I’m hormonal and someone called me stroppy or grumpy, I’d be insulted. Imagine human supplements being marketed with the same type of name.

I also can’t stand the casual threatening horses with violence, the meat man, and calling them “it”. It just shows a complete lack of respect and consideration to me.

Horses always have a reason behind their behaviour, it’s up to us to figure it out.

 

[Arzada]

I’m really glad this is being discussed. Of course mares are more hormonal than geldings but that doesn’t give us the right to insult them. If I’m hormonal and someone called me stroppy or grumpy, I’d be insulted. Imagine human supplements being marketed with the same type of name.

And often labelled with the female name of a different species eg cow, bitch

 

[humblepie]

Hate the calling a horse "it" particularly commentators on TV. Similarly dislike the names of various products. One that isn't stereotyping but I can't abide Buck Off by Naked Horse. A personal thing but hate people saying their horse is sassy. No probably just a bit fresh and overfeed for what the horse is doing.

I have only had one mare - chestnut ex racehorse so for many people that would mean nuts on all three counts. She was the sweetest most genuine little horse ever and jumped up to Foxhunter.

 

[Pinkvboots]

People have said awful things about my Arab's over the years

 

[[59851]]

I'm just musing on how we think and speak about our horses, after realising that a certain company have supplements for mares and geldings with hormonal behavioural issues, the geldings is called Perfect Gentleman and the mares Stroppy Mare...

The more I think about this the more I dislike it.
On rather a few levels.
Gender stereotyping, minimising female pain, ignoring an animals distress and labelling it misbehaviour.
I think it's more obvious because the geldings version is so positive and aspirational and the mares is so derogatory and negative.

I know most of us probably say less than complimentary things about our animals sometimes, I know I do
But I think sometimes it can be a self fulfilling prophesy, and the negative speech leads to our behaviours and handling lacking positivity and then in a little vicious circle, ending in complaining that the horse isn't happy and obedient and therefore deserves the rude things being said about it....

Sh*tland is another example, amusing possibly, but I'd much prefer to see people taking pride in educating small ponies to have manners, and rewarding good behaviour, rather than just accepting they're all little rotters.

Not quite sure where I end up on this, am I taking it too seriously, or is it potentially problematic?

TBH I think people are getting way too sensitive and easily offended by everything these days.

 

[fidleyspromise]

People have said awful things about my Arab's over the years

My best friend prefers geldings to mares but ahe looked after my 3 for a week and afterwards she admitted she felt wary of my Arab and distrusting of him. She does have a bias against Arabs but I'm pleased as she wants to overlook that, come and spend a day a week grooming him and get to know him.

 

[Bellaboo18]

TBH I think people are getting way too sensitive and easily offended by everything these days.

I don't think it's a case of being offended. The problem with comments like she/he is a typical mare/chestnut/connie etc is people are using it as an excuse for poor behaviour and therefore not listening to their horses when they're in pain. They have limited ways of telling us they're not happy.

 

[equinerebel]

TBH I think people are getting way too sensitive and easily offended by everything these days.

It's not that though. It's a symptom of a bigger problem with how a large amount of horse owners consider their horses.

"Stroppy" instead of hormonal and probably uncomfortable. "Naughty" instead of confused about what's being asked or in pain.

 

[Caol Ila]

This discussion has been happening for as long as I can remember...well, ever since we've had horses, the internet, and post-structuralist feminist theories of discourse.

Yes, mares get unfairly maligned because of their gender in a way that reflects gendered notions of human behaviour. You know the etymology of the word "hysteria," right? It comes from the Greek (I think) word for "uterus."

Mares are also entire, so affected by hormones in a way (most) geldings are not. That instinct to reproduce can be very strong and overwhelming. Also, going through multiple seasons every year is not what their bodies are actually designed to do. In the wild, she would go into season, maybe once, maybe a few times, get knocked up by a stallion, have no seasons for the next 11 months, then rinse and repeat the cycle.

I do think some individual mares struggle with seasons more than others. So do we. That all said, my gelding has more mood changes than my current mare. However, my old mare could have extremely challenging seasons at the start of the spring. She'd become unrideable for like five days, then go back to being sweet and compliant.

 

[daffy44]

I have a sneaky fondness for the negative stereotyping of mares, because I absolutely love mares, and for a long time it helped make them cheaper to buy

 

[Indy]

I hated the printed hoodies that everyone had for a while years ago. I saw someone riding with "caution My cobs a cu**" printed across her back Just horrible!

My mum would have took that off me and burnt it if she's have seen me in that.

 

[Landcruiser]

I just think there are bigger things to worry about. None of my mares have been stroppy but they are far more tricky than geldings. They take twice as much effort and the gelding rocks up, does his thing consistently and goes home. Meanwhile the mare has 3 months a year where she is stable and level and competitive.

There are always bigger things to worry about but language matters and it's easy to make changes if you are self aware. Subconscious bias perpetuates the belief that females are lesser. Anything we can do to combat this, we should do.
Can you imagine if the products were called "Clever mare" and "Dopey gelding?" I can't.
Language is so interesting. Even the word "hormonal" is used as a put-down for women and girls, so "Hormonal mare" which is essentially what the product is for, sounds slightly negative.

 

[Landcruiser]

TBH I think people are getting way too sensitive and easily offended by everything these days.

It's not "sensitive" or "offended." It's questioning the status quo and seeing a way to change it for the better at no loss whatsoever. What's not to like?

 

[JenJ]

If the Stroppy Mare supplement is to be given to Stroppy Mares, then you would assume the Perfect Gentleman supplement is to be given to Perfect Gentlemen. But if they were that perfect, why do they need a behavioural supplement...?

 

[humblepie]

I have a sneaky fondness for the negative stereotyping of mares, because I absolutely love mares, and for a long time it helped make them cheaper to buy

Yes - am sure if my chestnut ex racehorse mare had been a bay thoroughbred gelding would have been a lot more money!

 

[Cloball]

Hate the calling a horse "it" particularly commentators on TV. Similarly dislike the names of various products. One that isn't stereotyping but I can't abide Buck Off by Naked Horse. A personal thing but hate people saying their horse is sassy. No probably just a bit fresh and overfeed for what the horse is doing.

I have only had one mare - chestnut ex racehorse so for many people that would mean nuts on all three counts. She was the sweetest most genuine little horse ever and jumped up to Foxhunter.

I think my mare is sassy. She's not fresh or overfed but she gives me look when I fall over my own feet that's pure sass (I am obviously anthropomorphising)

I think a lot of people want their horses to fit to their agenda and things like having an off week with a bad season just doesn't fit in.