Tips on owning a mare please?

Box_Of_Frogs

Box_Of_Frogs

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2007
Messages
6,517
Location
Deepest Wales
Visit site
I am taking on a little rescued native mare who has some pretty ghastly health problems. She has significant liver damage that we're working on to control and mastitis related to the sudden and traumatic weaning of her foal at foot. My experience has previously only been with geldings and I'm wondering if any mare experts out there have any tips on building a relationship with a mare that probably doesn't have a particularly good opinion of people and that has probably been used to being the "wise old mare" in a small group. Be grateful for any words of wisdom at all. Many thanks.
crazy.gif
 
You know how every day is pretty much the same with a gelding? Well with a mare every day can be quite different, without reason, just because.

Just remember this is an entire hormonal animal and you won't go far wrong. If you bond you will find the bond to be far stronger than with any gelding, in my experience.

I do hope you manage to resolve this mare's health problems.
 
My mare was very much the same as yours. Not into people at all and very much 'the boss'.

My advice would be to always be quiet, slow, fair, consistent .

Ellie has changed into a totally different horse to the one that was sold repeatedly for running off with people and knocking them from pillar to post. She is now a gentle soul who will do anything for you.

I couldn't so much as stroke her face when I got her and now she will cuddle you.
laugh.gif


Good luck with your girlie. Once you get them onside there is nothing like a mare in my opinion.
 
Have always had mares. The best advice I can give you is to give her time. Bonding with mares seems to take lots of time, but it's worth it! They are wonderful once they get to know you properly - more responsive than geldings, I think. I've never had one with the sort of problems you describe, but I did have one who had had a pretty traumatic time and who arrived very thin and very withdrawn. She just didn't want to know. I think she took about a year to come round fully. If yours was top mare in a group that's another problem, because if you put her in an established group she'll be bottom in the pecking order which is bound to upset her. If you can get her out with perhaps one other, who's not too dominant - sex immaterial - she'll probably settle. Good luck with her anyway. I promise, if you can sort out her health, and make a friend of her, you'll probably never go back to geldings. (Sorry, I'm biased! There was a thread about mares v. geldings a while ago, and people seem generally one way or the other.)
 
I find mares so much more affectionate than geldings BUT they get stroppy. my advice would be to take your time and spend quality time with her however if she gets stroppy dont let her walk all over you. i find that my mare really needs to be reminded whos boss as she can get bargy and has a wicked temper.
 
remember that mares go into season alot, hormone everywhere, they can be moody grumpy etc for bonding with your pony i would literally sit with her just being quite stroking her and stuff thats what i do with poppy. then once shes comfy find her scratchy spot and scratch it best way to bond!!
 
My last pony was a native new forest mare who had the strops pretty much most of the time...We rescued her as a foal and the best way we got around building a relationship was by just lots of handling, brushing, stroking, talking quietly around her and gentle handling. We did really well with her and she became a really good competition pony, went out on loan and I always believed she would never be a childs pony but the people I sold her to now use her for their young boy who is 9. She never got over her moods and would always put her ears back at us, go to pretend to bite us and would often turn in the stable and threaten with back legs...we never got through that. I had her for 15yrs and she was a really giving pony. Patience is also a good recipe for trust & improvement.
Good luck
 
My top tip, is don't take offense! Like everyone has said they can different from day to day and at times my girl can be a right unreasonable madam! I just try remind myself I can be like that too at certain times of the month and just try give her a break! Mares are great...
 
Some very good advice; time, consistency, respect (my older mare requires so much more respect that my geldings ever did) And CSYMolly has made an excellent point about "don't take offense" - some days they just won't play the game. Walk away, try again tomorrow, and don't take it personally. When I was younger I used to get quite upset when my mare would be having a stroppy day - as Weevil can vouch, now I laugh at her
grin.gif


I also thoroughly agree with the Watcher - the bond you get from a mare is worth it!! I love my mares
laugh.gif
 
Ditto to all the comments made by everyone else. I've owned 3 mares and one gelding over the years, and the only one I've sold on is the gelding! They are very different to geldings, definately moody, (but then so am I!) and can be quite opinionated and/or independent, but once you've got a bond with a mare, it is very special. I think you either love the mare temperment or you don't, generally people seem to be in one camp or the other. The old saying that you can 'tell a gelding, ask a mare and discuss it with a stallion' is still a very accurate picture!
 
To everyone who has posted tips and advice, many thanks - loads of helpful stuff for me to work on. The advice about not taking offence, giving her time to settle, walking away from a hormonal strop, quiet respect is all great. Thanks again guys and will post a news update as things change. x
grin.gif
 
I agree with most people's replies. It took me over a year to bond with my mare and you have to love the mood swings or they'll drive you crazy. My mare has the biggest personality which I adore but it comes with its own set of problems as well!

Mares seem to 'think' more than geldings so you can have a more intelectual relationship but they dont' seem to be as tollerant as geldings or as demonstrative. I know my mare likes me only because she puts her ears forward when she sees me, neighs when she hears my voice etc... she's not into cuddles or being fussed with - it is more about being respectful friends!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Mares seem to 'think' more than geldings so you can have a more intelectual relationship

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL! That describes Star just grand!!
grin.gif
 
Mostly - just remember she is a horse. She likes what other horses like. Don't worry about her being a mare just get to know her.
 
One last thing - the trouble with mares is that it takes so long to get on their side and it's so rewarding when you do, that you can't bear to sell them... Speaking as someone with 2 adult mares and 2 'baby' mares - she had to have fillies, didn't she?
 
I have always find that I have got on much better with mares that geldings and that I have a far stronger bond. If you work away quietly and build the trust she will do anything for you (within reason!). I would be interested to hear how you have been advised to deal with the mastitis. My mare has mastitis and as long as I milk her reguarly it doesn't cause any problems (wierd I know but it works!!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top