Tell me about your NICE mares!

Ok, you lot might have talked me in to it now. It's all your fault if she's horrible! :) I'm having a look what she's like tomorrow and I'll go from there. Feel free to ignore the thread title and tell me about your horrible mares to talk me out of it haha !
 
I am a mare person. First pony was a saint of a mare. Second pony chestnut mare was amazing - did everything from dressage, jumping to gymkhana, RDA and handy pony. She was 14.3 and won the riding club cup for the horse with the most points in a year at the age of 23. I had a gelding in the middle (who was lovely - but a bit nice but dim). Current mare is 24 - had her for 12 years and she is a reincarnation of my chestnut mare. Such fun and enthusiastic about everything. Loves to jump, hack, go in the box (loads herself). Hasn't really slowed down yet. We say she is a mare on a mission when we go anywhere. She rides like driving a rolls royce and can keep up with the fastest TB ex racehorse and arab on the yard despite being half shire. In fact she just loves life. They have all been interesting characters and I would preferentially look at a mare if I get another horse.
 
Haha, mine is the same:)
Wouldn't be without my mare, who broke couple.of days ago:( she is exceptionally charismatic, and has plenty of spark when she wants yet my 7 yr old can canter her and my 4 yr old can lead her and hose her legs etc... She seems to know when a child is riding/handling her yet has no issues acting the **** with me lol.
Mine learns dressage tests, even if I don't ride them in full!
 
Every time I've bought a horse I've gone looking for a gelding and bought a mare. All without exception have, with training, been impeccably well behaved. I have had three very special mares with lovely sweet temperaments particularly and many others that were super at their jobs.
 
Mine is the sweetest natured on the ground, just lovely to deal with. She adores jumping and although flatwork isn't really her thing she will try her heart out. Even if she has a tantrum it's a very controllable rocking horse with her hooves just a few inches off the ground. And she's only done it twice in 3 years. When she hasn't been ridden for a month I can get straight on her and ride in walk and trot. Wouldn't try canter the first few times after coming back into work because she's very forward going (and it wouldn't be good for her), but when we do start cantering she's fine too.

And the other day I was tacking up another mare I didn't know, went behind her and slipped over. I fell with my face about 6 inches from her back legs. She looked a bit surprised but I didn't get my head kicked in!
 
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I have a great mare. Very friendly and tries her heart out for me. Quick to learn too. Her only downfall is she lacks confidence and can be silly or spooky because of it. I love her to bits.
 
I've only ever had mares and they've all been amazing, bar one I had on loan who was a grumpy bag! But I also know plenty of geldings who a grumpy bags too!

I find mares sensitive, loyal and intelligent - even when in season, at worst I've had one that used to be given two or three days off as she used to get sore and let you know.. But as a woman myself I understood period pain lol

My current horse I bred myself and I prayed she would be a colt so I wouldn't keep her! When she came out a black filly I was smitten and in love! She is awesome... Very clever (I call her an evil genius) but by god does she try her heart out for you. She can be opinionated and quirky but I blame that more on her being a welsh D than a mare! :-)
 
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Ok I don't get this mares geldings decide , I had a share shetland gelding between 2 and 6 he was lovely , had a section b mare who was a cow when we had here twenty years later I've found someone that knew her in her old home and she was horrid there because the owners were equally as horrid , she turned out to be the sweetest if not opinionated little pony . If you were hanging off before a fall shed stand stock still u til u scrambled on or dropped off and she would guard you whilst you lay on the ground. I then had Welsh x highland mare , a napped with my sister but with me could have been a pony of a lifetime but my sister refused to let me do much with her , she's out on loan after 12 years with us . 12.2 HH and could and would jump a metre if you asked , toddlers could handle her (wish we had her for my little ones but her sweet itch was unbearable at home with the river ) we also had an exmoor mare , the worst she would do was bolt if chased but she was rescued twice so u derstand able . Then what I thought was my horse of a lifetime a 15 HH traditional cob with the brains of a tb and stamina of an Arab was a mare she was ace , never nasty just horny and squirts but never squealy . Easy to catch even in season never needed a head collar and would walk her half mile up the lane with her walking beside me no head collar or rope just her spread on my shoulder , if I ran she trotted beside me . Then had a coloured lw mare after , she was a school mistress after previous cob had shaken my confidence . Not Marist. More bratty like if her tea wasn't in the stable when she cam in shed stamp her hoof but never knew her in season as she didn't change . Next horse was a little dhp mare never Marish . Next was a ish gelding 18.3 HH and full on , would strop stamp his feet m swing his quarters at you I. The stable. Kick when being plaited up etc etc . Then had a Welsh x Hafflinger gelding absolute dream to ride , would jump the. On , perfect on hunt rides etc . But a PIGGGGGGG to handle , I ended up having to catch him with food tack him up in the field and ride him up the lane to the stable or directly from the field , he hated cuddles , fuss etc ended up breaking my lurchers jaw in a rage one day . Had three colts who were cuddly projects so I don't hate boys . Mum has two sherries one is out on permenent lla and is pig , the other is the sweetest little pony in the entire world he lives cuddles , actively seeks my 5 year old daughter out and nuzzles her , he bite my ass all the way round lead rein hacks , but I'm tiny and can hop on him and he canters around and if he was 12hh I'd hunt him . My girl is a mare and so cuddly to me . She's a pain to catch but always has been and I had her at a year old . Easiest hirse in the world to break in , tries her absolute heart out at anything . Loves my children , is a clown , lies down on the beach when you're riding but doesn't roll , pulls smiley type faces when u need a nice pic of her , is good for a couple of other liveries to handle , tries to kill the girl who's pony is in our field (kinda don't blame her ) doesn't suffer fools lightly and makes strong opinions of people and horses straight away . She has a small circle of horses she likes and kicks the others ;) I love her she seems to love me back.
 
This old lady has been an absolute saint all her life! She's 24 now, a proper old fashioned HIS mare. She's mostly TB, but with a miniscule dose of Suffolk Punch way back, so she's a lovely strong sort. She evented to Intermediate level, and was then a fabulous schoolmistress for two teenage girls, who did a bit of everything with her. She retired last year, with a serious heart murmur, and is a very happy field ornament. She's mannerly, sweet natured and a pleasure to have around. She has her grumpy moments, but she's earned the right to be a bit of a grump sometimes. I love her to bits!

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I LOVE my mare - she's amazing, in fact all our mares are! My mare is kind, willing, loving, 'hard working', tidy, loyal, bold & brave, intelligent, the list goes on - every thing that I could ask for! :) She is very, very fast, can jump really high (she's only 13.3hh, and cleared a 1.33m hedge, a few weeks ago, without touching it).

She loves having cuddles, and grooming you, she's well mannered - and very beautiful, everything I could ask for.

I've never really got on with geldings, my previous pony was a 14.1hh Welsh Cob gelding, he was just awful. Very naughty, bad mannered, pushy on the ground, and pulled like a tank when being ridden, so not nice!

Go for a mare, you'll love her! :)
 
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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.

^^ Totally agree with this.

Apart from my best friend's gelding, who is also amazing, I wouldn't buy another gelding again in a hurry.
 
I never wanted a mare as all the ones I'd met were nasty pieces of work who were judgemental grudge holders! But I bought my girl anyway because I had a feeling about her.

She is, quite simply, the best horse I've ever ridden. She is teaching me, she's cuddly, clever, funny and kind. In the last month I've got back on after breaking my arm mountain biking, and my canter transitions are rubbish. So she's learned 'ready?....aaaaand...' Means canter, and also that when she has tack on and I open the door and say 'come on then' we're going for a ride, and she leaves her haynet of her own volition to make her way out.

I love her! But she's special, I haven't met any other mares I like, to be honest!
 
A RS mare is the only one for me - spirited, forward going but clever with it - She taught me to ride and 10 years later we are still going strong. But I notice how many of us are devoted to just one particular mare - Could it be that an intelligent mare rewards one's time and one's understanding?
 
I never thought I'd end up with two mares but now that I've got them I'll be sad to see the shares end (hopefully not any time soon). The highland is a typical grump, but she was an RDA horse in her younger years so will generally look after her rider. The seven year old is not everyone's cup of tea - she's still a bit green, stubborn and I suppose fairly pushy - but I like to think that we have an understanding now and I love her to pieces. I know that she will never intentionally hurt me and if you catch her in the right mood she'll try anything you ask. I think I've been converted - if I'm ever in a position to buy my own I wouldn't rule out mares now.
 
Until now I've Never been a mare person. all the ones I had known were moody or at least when in season they were.

Now I have a welsh cob chestnut mare WOW she is awesome!!! I have never had so much fun. She does have the odd day when in season when she is hyper and wilful, unfortunately for showing its usually every 3rd Sunday.

She is fun,forward, bold doesn't take fools lightly, if I ride like an idiot she treats me like one. Can occasionally take the mickey and run off,even bucking (small ones tho), but not far and easily pulls up.

She is learning to jump and OMG she is amazing!!

Great to do everything with. never raised a hoof or bitten.

Her most favourite thing is to show and gallop, she loves it too much sometimes I can't contain her (oops)

she is proving to have great dressage potential and enjoys it, the more complicated it gets the more she loves it (again sometimes too much and I have to keep it simple)

She gets excited in the school in company of more than 2 others but nothing major

All in all I would buy her again without hesitation :):)

in fact although I have only had her a year I am sure she is going to prove to be my horse of a lifetime:)
 
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).

To be fair, I've had many geldings that would fit these descriptions too!! :D
I do like a gelding but I've decided that it's because I like to 'tell' a horse what to do - I currently have 3 mares!!! I just have to remind myself not to be so direct with them! They're all up for cuddles (although one only when she's not hungry - nothing comes between her & her hay!) & whilst they have their quirks, they're generally a jolly lot!! :D
 
My mare is my best friend. She is my first horse and I adore her. I'm a novice rider but she looks after me. It wasn't easy at first but that wasn't her fault..I had never ridden a real horse before - only RS ponies. She is So good on the ground, never silly, occasionally objects to something but a quick word in her ear and she is fine. RArely spooks. Not overly affectionate but very placid even when in season
She is lead mare at our yard, dominant but not a bully. I cannot now imagine life without her.
 
Could it be that an intelligent mare rewards one's time and one's understanding?

You might be onto something there, like with human women where you need to know them a while before you can be sure that 'I really like your dress' doesn't mean 'go away and fall in some dog poo with your mouth open, because I have taken offence at the way your hair makes me think of a teacher I used to hate'. Hehe
 
I love my wench, she's a high maintenance gal but for me she's good. but show one bit of doubt,fear or over assertion she will chew you up and spit you out. I feel it's is a special bond with a mare xx
 
Mine will go to the moon & back to please me & look after me. However she is very sensitive; drama queen; quirky & sharp but i love her to pieces & is so brave; tough & with a massive heart

Love her to pieces
 
I thought of myself as a gelding person so how I've owned 3 out of 4 mares I don't quite know, but I'm perfectly happy with my girls thesedays. They are more sensitive, seem to see themselves as more equal, you have to be more emotionally careful than you do with most geldings but I think they repay it. I like it because they are more like my cows - you can't just boss them around, you have to ask rather than tell. But, my main mare is an angel on the ground and to load etc and is very caring with her rider. She's opinionated, but seems to know when things might get dangerous for the human and will stop short.
 
I moved from geldings to mares 40 years ago and have never had a bad one I have had a few Diva types but never one that was nasty aggressive or a pain in the but most I have never known when they were in season and have had talent and the qualities of an entire without the balls. The old girl loves kids and will look after them all day she never needs a lead rein and even with wobbly adults she moves under them to make sure they don't fall makes me laugh as it sometimes looks like she is drunk as she tries to keep them aboard
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