Why We Shouldn't Be So Hard on Mares

I see a lot of people post on various social media with typical "mare problems" and I just wanted to give a little insight on why I think we should be more sensitive to our mare's little idiosyncrasies. In my opinion, and I think many would agree with me, mares and geldings are very very different creatures. I have worked with both over the years, and it is apparent that mares have special needs. But ladies, don't we have special needs as well? I relate my mares "problems" to my own issues as a women. We have our "times of the month" and times where we become super hormonal or sensitive for no apparent reason to our male counter parts. We must acknowledge that many of these "problems" our mares are facing, are the same that we deal with, only they don't have chocolate to eat or Romantic Comedies to watch. For Pete's sake, they don't even have Nicholas Sparks on their side!

What I can tell you from my experience in owning a mare for over three years, is that they need to be handled differently than geldings. The old saying "tell a gelding, ask a stallion, discuss it with a mare" is true to the core. Remember people, discuss things with your mare! Be sensitive! 

Contrary to what my equestrian friends may say, my mare is pretty easy to handle and ride compared to some real doozies out there. I have heard horror stories about mares being as "bad" or unpredictable as stallions (which I have never really worked with stallions, so I am not an expert by any means in that area). That being said, my mare is 19 and still acts like a green horse often. She is very opinionated and will let me know very clearly if she is not going to tolerate the situation. She has broken many halters in our "discussions" about whether she would allow her ears to be clipped, or if she actually ties in general for that matter. Her ground manners are only good about half the time, she tends to drag me around on the lead line most of the time. Some days she is perfect under saddle, and other days she is clearly not having it. Maybe she has cramps that day, you don't know! She gets cranky, and since she doesn't have the aforementioned Nicholas Sparks novels or chocolate brownie ice cream, she races to her stall to take solace in her gelding neighbors. I can't blame her, sometimes I just need a hug or to spend a day snuggled in bed too.

This all being said, I know my mare isn't perfect, but it really bothers me when people call her "crazy." I honestly find it offensive. If she is crazy for just being a female horse, then its a wonder more of us female humans have not been locked away at the looney bin. I get sensitive and new things often give me anxiety, I am pretty sure my mare is feeling these same things.