Tell me about your NICE mares!

Hoof_Prints

Hoof_Prints

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Ok, so I might be looking at a mare to buy, I said I'd never ever buy another mare after having never known a nice one, they are all horrible and all my geldings/ friend's geldings are lovely :D but surely there are nice ones out there? ones that aren't stubborn, will jump and load nicely without protesting first... someone tell me that mares are nice please?
 
My horse of a lifetime was a mare. She had the best sense of self preservation and although she could act like a bit of loon she was always safe when it mattered.
 
Right...here we go!

The best and (and most difficult) horses that I know are all mares!

I have a heavenly mare, she is the best horse ever, she is clever, she looks after me, she is forward without being a nutter, she loads, she is older so quite limited in her work but enough for me, I'd have 10 more like her, and I bet she was stonking in her day.

My mare's dearest friend is als mare who is nearly as heavenly, if she senses you're a bit of a novice she can ask you a few questions such as "really, you want me to trot?" and will do a small fly buck if she's excited on a gallop but otherwise good.

I also own a temperamental diva of a mare, but we won't talk about her :)
 
My mare is lovely, very sweet to handle, bit of an issue in the field currently (see mares fighting thread) but is easy to do in all ways and as cuddly to me as you like. She is choosy about who she likes which I think is just fine, she has to trust you to like you, good rule to live by i think!
 
I have two mares who are absolute darlings and my old mare was a total sweetheart too. My gelding on the other hand is a total PITA about a lot of things - I do love him though.

So I say forget the stupid sexism crap and judge the horse as an individual.
 
Was never going to get a mare, but fell for one and had to have her. She does what I ask happily and likes to please, I think the most important thing with that is that I ask her and she doesn't argue, we have built up a good level of trust and she accepts me being in charge. She is the sweetest horse, loves cuddles, calls to me when she hears my voice, and generally makes everything better when I have had a bad day!
 
We have 4 mares and they are ALL without exception wonderful! I also have a gelding who is my special little soldier though so I am a fan of both mares and geldings. Have had a gelding who was a total nightmare so I really believe it's a case of 'horses for courses'. My Irish mare is the kindest, most generous and willing girl I have ever come across and my 3 little welsh mares are equally kind and easy to do. No hang ups, vices, issues at all. I think I am a lucky lucky girl indeed . Good luck with your purchase whatever you decide.
 
I have never been interested in mares but I fell in love with this filly and now I think geldings are terribly boring creatures.

Mine is a complete drama queen, has a great sense of humour and brave but is incredibly opinionated, quite stubborn at times and full of surprises. All sorts of suprises, some good, some quite idiotic. Last week she refused every jump. This week, she jumped every single one with absolute finesse and you could hear her working out her strides. So... I'm putting "do not jump at the end of every month" in my diary.

If you want dependable, don't get a mare but if you want to live a little... I'd highly recommend.
 
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I've always had geldings most of the time, am on my 3rd mare now and they've all been nice. Geldings I find very easy, but saying that I currently have 1 gelding and 1 mare in my field as we speak and the gelding is the grumpy one, the mare is lovely! I backed her a few months ago and although quirky, she's actually very willing and has never even questioned things like loading or jumping (never stopped at anything yet!).
 
Thanks for the replies, my first share pony was a mare (when I was about 8) she used to enjoy bucking me off, rearing and legging it. Horrid little dartmoor pony ! I then bought another mare who was an absolute horror, tried to kill me loading and just refuses to jump anything she just doesn't like, not at all scared, just decides if she fancies jumping or not! although she's very loyal and good in other ways (would never dream of trying to hurt you in any way, she just has very firm opinions). Everything is a long thought out process, what side of the trailer to go on, how to approach a stable correctly or she will have a tantrum.. my geldings just make the best of what you give them and do what you tell them! I can point my finger at a stable or let them walk towards the trailer and they walk in by themselves without hesitation. All my geldings have been very nice and willing, my friend's mares also seem to enjoy trying to kill their owners so it's a tough decision based on my experiences :D
 
Hoof_Prints said:
Thanks for the replies, my first share pony was a mare (when I was about 8) she used to enjoy bucking me off, rearing and legging it. Horrid little dartmoor pony ! I then bought another mare who was an absolute horror, tried to kill me loading and just refuses to jump anything she just doesn't like, not at all scared, just decides if she fancies jumping or not! although she's very loyal and good in other ways (would never dream of trying to hurt you in any way, she just has very firm opinions). Everything is a long thought out process, what side of the trailer to go on, how to approach a stable correctly or she will have a tantrum.. my geldings just make the best of what you give them and do what you tell them! I can point my finger at a stable or let them walk towards the trailer and they walk in by themselves without hesitation. All my geldings have been very nice and willing, my friend's mares also seem to enjoy trying to kill their owners so it's a tough decision based on my experiences :D
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Get a spanish mare! The most loyal creatures.
 
Current mare is an angel and a legend. I worship the ground she trots on. Devoted to me and to our gelding, she's a safe nutter, jumps anything, has no idea shes a wee chubby cob. Turns hoof to any mounted activity. Does cuddles but doesnt need them. Loves food but is quite polite, well mannered. Bullet proof in traffic, up for a gallop and usually stoppable. Has totally switched off now I'm pregnant and become quiet and mellow.

Previous mare owned 20 years, educated me and put me in my place when I was a teen but never kicked bit or hurt me, just reminded me who really was in charge. The most loving animal ever. No real aptitude for anything specific but took novice me to county shows jumping, hunting, dressage, hacked alone despite hating it, xc, after fashion. Looked after hubs learning to handle and ride. Passed quietly with vet a months ago dignity just in tact and finally pain free after 20 wonderful years.
 
All my best horses have been mares - I have, over the years, had nine (all home bred or bought a foals/3yo) who have made Grade A show jumping. They all load,hack out, clip shoe etc etc. no problem whatsoever. After active careers in sport several of them have bred me some super foals that we are now producing back into the sport. Along the line I had a gelding. Thick, nappy, pig ignorant g.t - never was I so pleased to get rid of that!! I guess it is horses for courses - my real favourites are chestnut mares with lots of flashy white - not everyone's choice!!
 
tallyho! said:
If you want dependable, don't get a mare but if you want to live a little... I'd highly recommend.
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Completely disagree. My back is seriously buggered (spinal cord included) and my chestnut mare has looked after me for years. She knows when I'm having an extra tough time and is very careful with me when I'm in pain (how she knows i don't now, but she always gets it right). My grey mare is also super dependable. She's fun but very safe and really tries to get things right. Such a great little horse and lovely to be around too.

It's down to the individual horse's temperament.
 
Faracat said:
Completely disagree. My back is seriously buggered (spinal cord included) and my chestnut mare has looked after me for years. She knows when I'm having an extra tough time and is very careful with me when I'm in pain (how she knows i don't now, but she always gets it right). My grey mare is also super dependable. She's fun but very safe and really tries to get things right. Such a great little horse and lovely to be around too.

It's down to the individual horse's temperament.
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Whoa there! I'm not saying my mare is dangerous :D
 
I used to have a TB x Welsh D and adored her - she's in my profile pic. I think I get a better bond with mares, but that may just be circumstantial as over the years it's mostly worked out that when I've had a horse to ride consistently it's been a mare, so when I've ridden a gelding I didn't have enough time to build a bond. I like to think mares and I have a common bond over PMS issues, probably just anthropomorphising though!
 
Hoof_Prints'Thanks for the replies, my first share pony was a mare (when I was about 8) she used to enjoy bucking me off, rearing and legging it. Horrid little dartmoor pony ! '

My first fall was from a dartmoor mare, I was 9, been riding for only a few months and dislocated my elbow so didn't ride again for another 6 months! However, she was an absolute sweetie if she knew you meant business.
 
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My first horse was a mare - she was feisty and would get excited if I let her go with company on a run (she preferred to go first) but she was perfect for me. She forgave my many riding errors as I learned (lots of lessons but it never really prepares you), was a real lady to handle (she disliked men so could play up for them - my ex particularly (she had good judgment too!)), loved cuddles, I couldn't even tell if she was in season and was the same to ride if ridden daily or once every few weeks (I kept her at my parents for a good while and rode her v occasionally). I adored her and would have happily cloned her and never looked at another horse again.

My current mare - lets just say it's a work in progress!!
 
I have 2. Mother and daughter.
Mum is now 24 and retired but is fabulous - not a nasty bone in her body, great fun in her youth and I adore her.
Her daughter...mmm... I adore her too but she can be an absolute madam.But on a good day she too is awesome!
 
lots of replies, thanks everyone. By the sound of it, they have a lot more spirit and personality. I am a risk taker and I like a change so I might try a mare and see how it goes (thinking of all the pink things I can buy...) I'm just worried I will end up with one like I already have that I can't take anywhere as I know she will just plant herself and say no if she isn't in the mood! I will have a look at her and think carefully, try and judge her personality the best I can by challenging her. I learnt to ride on mares so I do ride in the style of "asking" the horse, and my geldings get on very well, they seem to think " oh you are nice, I will comply" so hopefully I will get along well with her !
 
I rode two amazing mares at work :)

One called Poppy - She was a mare AND chestnut :O but she was the sweetest and most willing thing :) we did perfect walk to canter transitions and once you'd got her round, she was fab!! Not a single bad bone in her body :)

The other was a chucky cob called Daisy - She wasn't like a typical cob...you had to work to slow her down! But, so long as you didn't try to slow her by yanking at her, she was really good :D I never jumped her, but I saw her jump and she flew!
 
Well, I think you have to take into account that they are entires. Stallions are also just as lovely but they are still emotional just like mares.

Geldings are attractive as they have had the "edge" removed. It's not common practice to do this to mares and so it is a consideration to take seriously as the are driven by hormones.
 
Oh and my gelding will load, sometimes on a good day when there's a following wind, if it's not raining and we're not late for anything, and no one gets too firm with him etc etc

My mare loads if u chuck rope over her neck as she steps on the ramp and ask her to 'go on then'
She counts strides into fences andl learns courses too.
 
Well you may regret asking. My mare is amazing I couldn't ask for more in a horse. Brave, loyal, clever, loving, affectionate, keen to please, protective.

She is incredible out hacking. Nothing bothers her, she will lead any horse past anything and gets quite cross if the others spook.

She may be a bit anxious about some things but once you have her trust you have it forever.

It would take a lot to make me buy a gelding, so few are as amazing as mares.
 
My daughters pony is a mare.
I had horrid mares growing up and swore I'd never buy one again, but my daughter fell in love with this one when we were looking!
She is the sweetest most genuine thing ever. Try's her heart out for my daughter and they absolutely adore each other.
I also love her to bits and she's my little princess.
The only reason you ever know she's in season is a bit of stuff on her back legs other wise you would never know.
Sometimes she's a bit of a brat on the yard if you go on the yard and don't give her a scratch and a cuddle or leave her tied up and chat she kick the door or or scrap the floor but I think that's because we do spoil her but that's cow she's the best pony ever.
She's totally converted me to mares again!!
 
Mine is fab! I never wanted a mare but ended up with her and wouldn't change her for the world!
I've never fallen off her, whenever I've come close she has thrown me back on!
 
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