I just finished reading Pony Girl's post on mares, and had to smile.
I've only adopted mares here. Oh, sure, I adopted Steve Holt! and Sandy, but they were assigned to me and of course they were difficult to part with after spending 90 days with them. I'd never have selected a gelding to train for myself though, and while I love them both...they're not girls. Girls have something that boys haven't got. Some magical little spark deep down.
Snotty? Cranky? Difficult? Yup, some times. But there's a cunning character that goes along with it. The boys can be goofy and playful and fun...but the girls will take care of you. There's an autopilot with a mare that I've not found in the geldings. Let them mother you, and they will. They'll tell you where you should be standing, where you oughtn't be sitting, and basically boss you every which way. But when the chips are down, they'll out perform and out think a gelding any day of the week.
Tika has most definitely told me where to go on more than one occasion. She's pinned her ears and flashed her teeth, and the girl definitely knows how to give some lip! But I've also experienced those tender moments...moments when I've wondered, as she's shielded me from the blowing wind with her neck curved around my body, does she miss her foal? Because theres no mistaking that maternal instinct as she moves in close and wraps herself around you.
Yes, I'm definitely a mare lover. Give me Mare-itude any day. Or as we call it around here, Tika-tude!
13 comments:
I think my next might just be a mare. I loved the video. Especially when her lip went up every time you pulled the rope. Like she was saying she'd rather not, ever so politely:)
I prefer mares, which is weird seeing as the two newest members of the family are geldings.
I just think that a good connection with a good mare is worth more than a great connection with a gelding.
IMO mares will try harder for you and longer for you, as long as you have built a relationship!
On a sidenote... I have never been particularly fond of chestnuts but Tika just pulls me in. There is something about her.
Cdn...maybe that's because under all that red coat, she's a dun? I know, you'd not know it to look at her, but there's a good, solid stripe down her back.
Or maybe, like everyone else, she's suckering you in with her eyes?
Jennifer, it cracks me up the way she wags that lip of hers!
So I was just curious how many horses do we own again ?
I really prefer mares too BUT it would be hard to out do Pepper.
Ha ha (City Boy's comment.)
Interesting that most of the people commenting on the mares in a similar way you have....are women. I wonder if men have a different opinion on mares? Hard to find many male horsey bloggers out there, though! :)
You know, Pony Girl, I think historically it's been men who would say they could do without a mare's attitude. Sort of like Professor 'Enry 'Iggins would like to know why can't a woman be more like a man...yes? They simply don't understand our complexity, hence, would prefer to ride a good gelding.
Lea, I agree, it would be hard to do without Pepper. It'd be hard to do without the two boys here, either.
City Boy? Do I know you? :)
That video cracked me up! Tika-tude indeed! Even though I now ride a stallion, I love mares, and will have 3 of them to ride in the near future, soon as they grow up a little! Mares will go that extra mile for you. I've been blessed with some good ones.
lol @ City Boy
Love Tika's lip!! That is just too darn cute!
Loved seeing Sandy and SH kicking up their heels in the background, it's like they were saying "ha ha! you have to work, and we get to play!"
Tika does have something about her face that draws you in. Beautiful! (And no, I don't need another Mustang!) :)
That's a good way to put it about mares. The video is funny. It's nice to see a horse that thinks about trailering without panicking in the process.
Your post got me thinking....and I agree about the mothering instinct with the older, mature mares....but with the young girls it is something different. Almost, dare I say, the opposite? Like, my coming two year old has relied on me, as her alpha, quite heavily. But, I know this role will change as he matures, as it has with every mare I have raised.
Paint Girl, I've got your sis to work on, lol!
Nuzzling, it's funny, but nearly every mustang I've had has thought about it, then loaded. Sandy has been my only bugger to load.
Lulu, I think you're right about the transition. All my others have been under 4. Tika, of course, is still working through some trust issues, but when we're snuggling, she's total mommy.
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