Harness the Girl Power!

Mares can be so rewarding, but also challenging, especially when you need them to perform. Why are mares so tricky and how can we help them?

Firstly, remember mares are ‘entire’ animals, exactly as stallions, with the hormonal challenges that brings. For example, in the wild, the boss of a herd is usually an older female, known as the ‘alpha mare’ who can certainly assert her dominance despite not being physically as strong as the stallion. That alpha position can be a fluid situation, with different mares within the herd taking the lead on different issues, so there may be an alpha for feeding, and a different alpha for when to move the herd.

Owning mares can be challenging, but with the lows come highs. Mares can be determined, clever, natural leaders – making her a truly amazing competition partner! If you’re lucky enough to own a mare it’s a case of working with her, rather than against, and that ‘alpha mare’ mentality will help you both tackle whatever life throws at you. She will certainly take on the geldings, and win, if she is given the opportunity.

However now, as we come in to early Spring it can be a particularly challenging time. The hormonal behaviour usually follows a pattern from March through to October, with this Spring transition period – the change from the anoestrus season over winter, when they typically don’t cycle, to the natural breeding season through the spring and summer months – being particularly erratic.

For mares, there are two challenges, staying focused, and staying comfortable. Their ovaries sit just behind and down from the saddle, and signs of discomfort are often associated with that area. For example, the mare who swishes her tail, or is sensitive to grooming her quarters may be uncomfortable, impacting her ability to engage her quarters and bend correctly. For disciplines such as Dressage and Showjumping, where engagement of the quarters is so important, this can be a particular challenge for both the mare and rider. Seasonal discomfort can certainly contribute to her behaviour changes, but is not the only factor. Behaviour changes can also be due to hormonal swings, and range from signs of preparation for breeding, such as flirting, excessive urination and distraction from work; to dioestrus signs where she would naturally reject the stallion with aggressive, dominant behaviour. Therefore, working to improve both her comfort and balanced behaviour can make a huge difference to performance throughout her seasons.

Unfortunately, mares’ seasons match, almost perfectly, with the competition season, as they are stimulated by longer day light hours. Using a sympathetic, but proactive, response is the best way forward and there are a number of ways you can support her.