Mares – Gotta Love Them!

Since I started to ride at the age of 9, I’ve been fortunate to ride many different breeds of horses including Arabians, Anglo-Arabs, Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paints, Lipizzaners, and various breed of warmbloods. Each breed brings with it certain characteristics. Overall I’ve been fortunate to ride many wonderful horses who have taught me a ton!

 

Of all the warmblood breeds I have to admit I’ve come to prefer the German warmbloods. Particularly the Hanoverians, they have become my favorite for many reasons. I have nothing against other breeds- I dearly loved my paint gelding Cody, and Patriot my Dutch warmblood that I purchased as a yearling. Yet just like someone may prefer Coke to Pepsi I’ve found that the Hanoverian is my favorite.

 

Similarly I always thought I was a gelding person. Since starting to ride at the age of 9 I’ve always seemed to get along better with gelding. No hormones, no drama to deal with. If I’m really honest I was immature and just really never had the patience to deal with it. Geldings don’t typically have mood swings and pretty much come out the same most days. At least that’s true of most geldings I’ve ridden in my life.

 

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to work with two mares. I never thought I would own a mare being hard core about not wanting to deal with all the hormones and the classic mare attitude. Well let me tell you I have done a 180 and this is largely thanks to my friend Dani. She repeatedly would tell me how wonderful mares are and that once they are on your side they will fight for you. So last year when Dani called me and said “I found this mare in Germany and you have to buy her”. I was like um no thanks. First I don’t need another horse and second, well, a mare… Thanks but no thanks. Then I saw her video and kept hearing about her. Needless to say, it didn’t take long for me to be convinced. Next thing I know I’m importing a 4 year old from Germany based on Dani’s recommendation.

 

I will never forget the first time we met. She was in quarantine in Northern VA. I drove up there and after putting on gown, booties and gloves I stood in her stall and just admired her. There was a look in her eye that seemed so intelligent and sweet. She stood there munching her hay while I looked her up and down and wow did I like what I saw.

 

When I finally had the opportunity to sit on her all I could think was: yes she is exactly what Dani described. There was a reason she scored a 10 on rideability at her mare test. I’ve gradually come to know her well over the past year and a half. We’ve had our ups and downs as is typical working with young horses but overall she’s been amazing. She’s a total machine always ready for whatever I ask. We had a couple bobbles at our first show when she got scared and proceeded to exit stage right, right out of the arena. Oops, will we went right back in and the next class she won with over 70%.

 

Over the winter she’s gotten stronger and as we’ve gotten to know each other better I just feel her desire to please. She’s a complete overachiever. I have to be careful not to push her too hard because I don’t think she would say no. With her floppy sideways ears it’s like she’s constantly asking “what are we going to do now” with a smile on her face.

 

Last fall I took in another mare. She is another Hanoverian and looks very similar to Saltira. Yet riding her is quite different. Belle is one that if you ride her correctly she will hand you everything on a silver platter. However first I needed to earn her trust. She is a confident mare and all business under saddle. She also is less tolerant of mistakes than Saltira. Yet when she is light off the leg, straight and even in the contact I feel like she could do anything. She is teaching me a ton. For example I have a horrible habit of my left leg sliding back a bit and giving away my right hand. Bell is happy to get crooked and let me know “hello your position is wrong!” and should couldn’t be more clear about it.

As I’ve gradually gotten to know Belle better and better she has really started to trust me and relax. While I still don’t feel ready to take her to a show I know that it’s not far away. With both mares I’m really just now understanding why many people love them. I’ve been wrong, it takes time to build their trust but now more than ever I’m feeling like it’s true – that the bond you have is special and I truly feel that both mares know I’m their person, trust me and as long as I’m clear in my communication with them they will try 100%. It’s a pretty cool feeling!