What makes a 'Typical Mare'? (Over 16hh)

Antw23uk

Antw23uk

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So to all mare owners I ask what this phrase means?
I've always been a gelding kinda guy :p so when it comes to mares I automatically think difficult, complex and a nightmare to keep .. especially at certain times of the year .. just like you ladies of course ;)

Experiences and descriptions much appreciated :)

Ant x
 
Hmm my mare is typical in that she can be generally a bit moody, only really around food or in the field where she prefers to have her own space, however other than that she is never a problem to ride, extremely easy to handle, affectionate on her terms and luckily her temperament never changes when in season! :)
 
The 3 mares I have owned have all had very different characters, one young and cheeky, sadly I lost her to a broken leg in the field just as she was starting to mature at the age of 7. The mare I had after her and still own is very different, has her own mind and she is the most loyal horse ever. Would call her my best friend, knows how far to push before she gets a slap, always has a welcoming whinny and is almost human at times. My most recently acquired mare is one we sold 4yrs ago and now have back, thank goodness. Was my daughter's horse when we sold her. Very brave little horse, lovely character and never moody. You could almost think she was a gelding.

I have a gelding too, very much like my OH puts up with anything and is pretty much the same every day bless him. All 3 horses different but adorable in their own ways..I don't think there is a typical mare, they are what you make them and most of all how you treat them, respect them and they will in return respect you.
 
I've always had geldings on loan, and since buying my first horse (a chestnut mare with four whites) I've been told she is 'marish'

Bar peeing a lot I can't tell when she's in season. But she is an alpha mare and doesn't like handing over the reins (no pun intended...) so I've been doing a lot of ground work to help establish me as a leader. She needs a confident rider, even though she isn't really 'difficult' she likes to take confidence from you and relaxes a lot more when she does manage to let go and be led :)

hope that helps!
 
Well they can be sensitive, sometimes aggressive, and rude on certain days and you just don't know why, then fine a day or two later! Mine has obviously been feeling sensitive for a couple of days, she bit me when I was grooming under her belly which she normally loves, then when I told her off she reared up in my face and generally looked like 'I am no mood for you to cross me!'. She has also been extra nervy and spooky and even another horse catching her eye in the next field her makes her jump! She is a very nice natured mare though and despite only having her two months I find she has so much personality and her affection for me seems sort of more genuine somehow? I really prefer mares to geldings, there seems to be a better channel of communication for me or something! Other mares I have known were a bit more evenly spread out grumpiness so I couldn't have identified exactly when they were in season unless they were 'squirting' etc and going mental when we saw another horse out etc.

I always seem to be thinking 'do you understand me?' With geldings whereas mares it tends to be more like 'I think she understands but needs encouragement/persuasion' if you know what I mean!
 
Why only "over 16hh"?! I've known many 'typical' mares under 16hh ;)
I think mares, being entire and hormonal, are prone to mood swings. I think the saying "tell a gelding, ask a mare, discuss it with a stallion" often rings true :)
Then again, for every grumpy hormonal 'mare-ish' mare, there is a sweet and willing poppet like my little mare :D
I love my girl, yes she has her moments, but she's a real trier - she'd have a go at jumping the moon if you asked her to. Sometimes I feel like she can read my mind, almost like she knows what I want her to do before I've asked her, but I suppose that's nothing to do with her sex, we're just in-tune.
As for typical mares, well I've never met a more typically 'mare-ish' horse than my mums gelding. No joke!
 
My mare is always described as 'marish'; she just pulls a lot of grumpy faces and has a strict personal space bubble but she's never kicked or bitten me and can be very affectionate when she feels like it
 
My mare is lovely on the ground and never moody! Unless she gets bored if you clipping her, then she will threaten you with a back leg lift just to let me know she could kick if pushed!!
She is a sensitive girl and can get stressed at times! When she is stressed she will not eat or take any tit bits!
Although anyone can handle her in the ground, she is very funny about anyone but me riding her! In fact she usually gives a 30 second grace before trying to ditch them!!
But saying they we get on great! I trust her 100% (bar in heavy traffic!!)
A mare in a million!!
 
Blitzen said:
Why only "over 16hh"?! I've known many 'typical' mares under 16hh ;)
I think mares, being entire and hormonal, are prone to mood swings. I think the saying "tell a gelding, ask a mare, discuss it with a stallion" often rings true :)
Then again, for every grumpy hormonal 'mare-ish' mare, there is a sweet and willing poppet like my little mare :D
I love my girl, yes she has her moments, but she's a real trier - she'd have a go at jumping the moon if you asked her to. Sometimes I feel like she can read my mind, almost like she knows what I want her to do before I've asked her, but I suppose that's nothing to do with her sex, we're just in-tune.
As for typical mares, well I've never met a more typically 'mare-ish' horse than my mums gelding. No joke!
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Thanks guys , much appreciated :)

Over 16hh ... well apart from ponies make no sense to me i have a mare in mind.

Arrgggg boys are so much easier .. in all walks of life :o :rolleyes:
 
Don't call my mare 'typical' she WILL be offended :rolleyes: She is complex and moody but she has a wonderful sense of humour. She is beautiful and rewarding.

Some days she can be down right rude and other days she is literally 'a dream,' but every single one of those days I trust her with my life.

I have a gelding and, my god, he's simple. But the relationship feels like it's missing something. I feel a better bond with my mare as she is somehow.. so very female. She is my best friend.

There, I said it. She is my best friend :o
 
Antw23uk said:
Thanks guys , much appreciated :)

Over 16hh ... well apart from ponies make no sense to me i have a mare in mind.

Arrgggg boys are so much easier .. in all walks of life :o :rolleyes:
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Replace 'easier' with more 'more simple' ....... Why over 16 hh? They are the same under 16 hh? Mini TX's mare is just lovely. She pulls faces and bangs her stable door, but she is just so cuddly, genuine and honest. She thinks for her and looks after her. True she is probably the biggest slut on the yard and will flirt with any gelding, especially warmbloods, she loves them big time, but she is also the prettiest, most loving and honest mare there is.
 
I have way more mares than I do geldings and none of them would I class as 'difficult, complex and a nightmare to keep'. Mine are soft, gentle, trustworthy (to within an inch of their lives!), incredibly affectionate, loyal and amenable. Treat your mares nicely and they'll look after you better than any gelding ever would! ;)
 
I think "more simple" is a good way of describing a typical gelding, especially one cut young. Mares and stallions and to a point geldings cut later have a bit more to them, they are a bit more canny and have often more presence, maybe less straightforward but a good mare onside can be fantastic.

Some have horrid hormone issues and that is a nightmare, but most imo don't really. I can tell when mine is in season as she is a bit nappier to other horses and a bit dull off the leg and grunts and groans a lot, but that's it. Mine is total sweetheart in the stable and after a lot of teenager behaviour now becoming really super to ride. I got a very useful comment from a trainer a few months ago - she has to respect you to trust you and I think that's so much more true of her than of my gelding.

If you like the horse, I would not be put off by her being a mare.
 
Well I have a chestnut with 4 whites ha ha she is a sweetie but has her moments if she doesn't want to do something she will plant all feet and will NOT budge for anything the more you pull the more she digs her heels in.
I had trouble getting her out of her stable last night to muck her out, wouldn't move little moo so had to get someone in to hold her whilst I went into stable, soon as I stepped foot in she went out little toerag!

Then lunged her, going well til she says she's had enough and comes in at you stands there and will not budge... I think I have my work cut out with her.

She's not nasty in anyway shape or form so gentle.

This is my first chestnut mare always had geldings.
 
Spring Feather said:
Treat your mares nicely and they'll look after you better than any gelding ever would! ;)
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Isn't that the truth! If you get your mare on side you are absolutely laughing. I find mares to be better 'thinkers' as a rule. I quite like that, people who prefer geldings tend not to. I have one of each and as a teenager I always preferred big, stupid, cuddly geldings. But now I am older I have learnt to appreciate mares a lot more. I like the self sufficiency they seem to more frequently possess and I like riding something which offers an input the the situation. My gelding will go anywhere if you bully him enough, my mare isn't that stupid ;)
 
Great responses thanks guys, very much appreciated.

Still un decided :D

I guess because since getting back into riding after years away from the hobby i have only really been around geldings for the last six months so ive had it easy ;)

I get a sense from all the comments that mares, once on your side are fiercely loyal and I like that. What puts me off is the thought of getting a real headache of a mare when in season and being a guy im not sure if i would gel with a mare better or play safe and stick with a gelding because we are gona get on because we are both blokes so therfore simple :p
 
My mare is 16.3 she is the sweetest horse ever, never puts her ears back loves being groomed and cuddled, although she can be a bit stressy when left alone, but would trust her with a child never seen her raise a leg to anything.

My old mare totally different would look like she was going to kill you, teeth barred snapping at you most days but she never hurt me in the 13 years i had her, I think most are all mouth and just there way I just ignored it.
 
Antw23uk said:
Great responses thanks guys, very much appreciated.

Still un decided :D

I guess because since getting back into riding after years away from the hobby i have only really been around geldings for the last six months so ive had it easy ;)

I get a sense from all the comments that mares, once on your side are fiercely loyal and I like that. What puts me off is the thought of getting a real headache of a mare when in season and being a guy im not sure if i would gel with a mare better or play safe and stick with a gelding because we are gona get on because we are both blokes so therfore simple :p
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Traditionally there was a view that mares often do better with men......

My mare certainly loves her "Dad", she is quite possessive of my husband.

I don't think there is any such thing as a typical mare, all the yards I have been on have had a decent proportion of mares and they are so varied, just as varied as geldings. There are grumpy ones and affectionate ones, ones that love fuss, ones that like their own space etc etc etc I've met plenty that are sweet and generous and you would never know when they are in season. I've only met one who was a true witch in season, and a couple who can be girthy or backy in season, and a couple who can be a bit jumpy and unpredictable in season.

The trouble is if a mare is grumpy/spooky/girthy/aggressive/stroppy/flighty/nappy/etc it is blamed on her hormones and the fact that she is a mare when there are plenty of geldings that are just the same. If it is a mare and she has a bad day she must be in season, if it is a gelding he is just having a bad day.

I love mares, I think they are very often much more loyal and will try much harder for you, they are also often more intelligent.
 
My mare's lovely (16hh), sweet to handle and ride, she doesn't change when she's in season (just pees a bit more! :p). However she is as dumb as a box of rocks lol :o! But i love her to pieces, i can trust her with anyone and everyone seems to fall for her charms :rolleyes:.

My gelding on the other hand can be more tricky and sensitive, although he has grown up a lot in the last few years. They are completely different characters to deal with, polo is a lot more intelligent and will take more time to bond with a new person.

So a gelding may not be more simple ;)
 
KristmasKat said:
Traditionally there was a view that mares often do better with men......
My mare certainly loves her "Dad", she is quite possessive of my husband.

I don't think there is any such thing as a typical mare, all the yards I have been on have had a decent proportion of mares and they are so varied, just as varied as geldings. There are grumpy ones and affectionate ones, ones that love fuss, ones that like their own space etc etc etc I've met plenty that are sweet and generous and you would never know when they are in season. I've only met one who was a true witch in season, and a couple who can be girthy or backy in season, and a couple who can be a bit jumpy and unpredictable in season.

The trouble is if a mare is grumpy/spooky/girthy/aggressive/stroppy/flighty/nappy/etc it is blamed on her hormones and the fact that she is a mare when there are plenty of geldings that are just the same. If it is a mare and she has a bad day she must be in season, if it is a gelding he is just having a bad day.

I love mares, I think they are very often much more loyal and will try much harder for you, they are also often more intelligent.
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I like the idea of this and the owner who is female thinks she would do better with a man .. but then that could just be telling me what i want to hear to sweeten the deal, lol
 
I'm not sure i appreciate all this "geldings are stupid" talk! Are they cutting his brain out with his balls!? My gelding is the best horse in the world ever, deal with it ;) though having said that i have recently ridden some cracking mares. It's all about the horse's personality, not its gender. Good luck in your search :)
 
harlequinwalk said:
I'm not sure i appreciate all this "geldings are stupid" talk! Are they cutting his brain out with his balls!? My gelding is the best horse in the world ever, deal with it ;) though having said that i have recently ridden some cracking mares. It's all about the horse's personality, not its gender. Good luck in your search :)
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I don't think it's coincidence that the common phrase

'ask a mare, tell a gelding' is in use. These things often come about through years of observation and I do think it's true that you can't bully mares like you do geldings. I suppose it isn't really stupidity (geldings can learn just as quickly etc) more a difference in mind-set?
 
Antw23uk said:
Great responses thanks guys, very much appreciated.

Still un decided :D

I guess because since getting back into riding after years away from the hobby i have only really been around geldings for the last six months so ive had it easy ;)

I get a sense from all the comments that mares, once on your side are fiercely loyal and I like that. What puts me off is the thought of getting a real headache of a mare when in season and being a guy im not sure if i would gel with a mare better or play safe and stick with a gelding because we are gona get on because we are both blokes so therfore simple :p
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I am a girl and I have a mare and a gelding and I love them both and they both love me tbh I don't think it makes any difference if you are a bloke or not - just look at Michael Eilberg - virtually all of his current rides are mares :) My trainer is a bloke and has all stallions and geldings at the moment, but he thinks my mare is fab too and he loves riding her.
 
I agree with jesstinsel. You really do ask a mare & tell a gelding, with the odd exception. I do find with mares they just like to do things by choice. However once that choice is what you want too, they'll pull out all the stops. My mare is as sweet & genuine as anyone could ever want, provided you remember its her way or the highway. But, her way is what anyone would want anyway. Was trickier when young though because she didn't have the experience to always make the right judgements. An easy way to explain her is that she'll do anything you ask, quite often before you ask. Toddlers can & have done allsorts with her. But, order her to & she'll dig her heels in & refuse, just to prove a point. Daughters is similar, but only young, & had a bad start so slightly different. But still, she's definitely one to ask not tell.
 
My old mare was a cow- extremely grumpy, moody, she'd bite and kick, the list was endless. But she was the best horse I have ever owned and despite being a "typical ginger mare" she was actually (in a way) the sweetest most genuine girl, tried her absolute hardest and taught me so much...she just didn't like to come across as "soft" ;) but she was really, never had a bond with any other horse like I did her, I miss her dearly :(

My new mare is the complete opposite- so friendly and happy, loves people and loves nibbling your face, but then she's only a bubba :)

I couldn't imagine having a gelding.
 
Just the one out of my five mares is a typical mare and she's a chestnut :D
All the others are a doddle and have fab temperaments.
I don't like geldings, never have done have owned two (sold lol)

Create a bond with a mare and she will go to the moon and back for you :)
 
Pipkin said:
Just the one out of my five mares is a typical mare and she's a chestnut :D
All the others are a doddle and have fab temperaments.
I don't like geldings, never have done have owned two (sold lol)

Create a bond with a mare and she will go to the moon and back for you :)[/QUOTE]

Yeah I have got the impression thats my safest route to a long and happy life, lol :D Thank you. Im feeling so inspired from all of your posts good and bad :)
Seeing her at the weekend so just want the week to be over now. Also seeing a gelding tomorrow night but not sure he is right for me!
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go and meet the mare, she'll soon let you know if she likes you;)
mine is a mardy old baggage who lives up to all the stereotypes but she knows the boundaries and won't cross them, but would i swap her, not on your life:p
 
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