[trafalgar]

I am so impressed by the number of mares competing and how well they are doing! Maybe now people will not disregard them as too problematic.

[Foxtrot's]

You knew that all along, didn't you?

[Auburn]

As the proud owner of a great mare, I was impressed with how many lovely mares are going, too.

[aascvt]

Agreed.. A lot of them are quite young and lacking in experience at this level, too, yet going right around!

[vineyridge]

This seems to be something that has only come about in the last ten years or so.

If proven competitors pass on their performance abilities as so many stallions and race mares do, the next generation will be even more impressive.

It will be interesting to see if the registries give them the same breeding pass for performance that they do for stallions.

[Foxtrot's]

I remember a time not too long ago when there were no mares at the top in dressage and then along comes the likes of Brentina, Matine..no doubt more but the general view was not to bother to try to take them to the top.

[trafalgar]

I have NEVER understood why anyone would turn down a good horse due to her marehood......especially since most of us riders are of the same sex!

[scheherazadetbmare]

Most people don't want mares because mares are smarter than most people. You have to appreciate that intelligence and work with mares.

[FineAlready]

OP - couldn't agree more! I love, love, LOVE a good mare!

[jumpingmaya]

Truth is... a good mare or good stallion... will "usually" try that much harder and make a wiser decision...

NOW- I'm not saying that geldings aren't great- but for the most part (read most part)... they don't give quite that much.

Oh... and no horse competing at that level has "no attitude"... they need to have some cockiness in order to be that successful

[rodawn]

From a breeder's perspective there is one very important point to consider. It's always good to compete a mare to the top of the sport if she can make it, but you are also risking that she will never be able to bear foals. There are a goodly percentage of performance mares that develop conception problems because they've aged past their prime foal-bearing years. Just because they've only had only one or perhaps no foals does not mean their uterus is pristine.

Any repro vet will tell you - if you do not use it, you will lose it. Even if she had a foal in her youth, some of those great mares have considerable problems conceiving post performance years. And if they cannot conceive long enough to make it to their day 16 U/S they usually don't make great ET candidates either. So for these reasons alone, there are a great many mare owners who have a hugely talented mare, but value her genetics and reproductive value, and thus hold her back until she has had a 1 or 2 foals, and as is sometimes the case after they've had a foal or two, there could be nerve damage that ends a future riding career before it starts. The double edged sword every breeder knows that if they send a maiden mare forward to a great riding career, they may never get a foal from her at all . . . So, this is a decision that is weighed carefully by mare owners who are also saavy breeders.

[HorseLuvr]

From a breeder's perspective there is one very important point to consider. It's always good to compete a mare to the top of the sport if she can make it, but you are also risking that she will never be able to bear foals. There are a goodly percentage of performance mares that develop conception problems because they've aged past their prime foal-bearing years. Just because they've only had only one or perhaps no foals does not mean their uterus is pristine.

Any repro vet will tell you - if you do not use it, you will lose it. Even if she had a foal in her youth, some of those great mares have considerable problems conceiving post performance years. And if they cannot conceive long enough to make it to their day 16 U/S they usually don't make great ET candidates either. So for these reasons alone, there are a great many mare owners who have a hugely talented mare, but value her genetics and reproductive value, and thus hold her back until she has had a 1 or 2 foals, and as is sometimes the case after they've had a foal or two, there could be nerve damage that ends a future riding career before it starts. The double edged sword every breeder knows that if they send a maiden mare forward to a great riding career, they may never get a foal from her at all . . . So, this is a decision that is weighed carefully by mare owners who are also saavy breeders.

That is why there are surrogate mares.

[NOMIOMI1]

That is why there are surrogate mares.

And that has opened door IMO to mares being more competative without losing their mommy value

Honestly she has a nanny now right? She can work and have a career all on her own

[Mayaty02]

Most people don't want mares because mares are smarter than most people. You have to appreciate that intelligence and work with mares.

ha ha that's great! I love a good mare too though I'd never had one until we got my DD her chestnut pony mare (yup, triple threat). We are working on my DD getting her lead changes (which all our pros can get easily) and she was frustrated with why she couldn't get them, and I said, "thats because you need to have a sit down conversation with her and give her the pros and cons of doing a lead change, and I'm sure you'll be able to win her over to your side" LOL.. Point being, yep, they're smart!

I love them, go Mare Power!!

[teal tea]

I love my mare. She is athletic and has lovely manners. Before her I had a gelding and was under the impression that mares were emotionally difficult.

[Electrikk]

ha ha that's great! I love a good mare too though I'd never had one until we got my DD her chestnut pony mare (yup, triple threat). We are working on my DD getting her lead changes (which all our pros can get easily) and she was frustrated with why she couldn't get them, and I said, "thats because you need to have a sit down conversation with her and give her the pros and cons of doing a lead change, and I'm sure you'll be able to win her over to your side" LOL.. Point being, yep, they're smart!

I love them, go Mare Power!!

So true! You can never demand a mare to do something, you have to convince them

[ako]

Most people don't want mares because mares are smarter than most people. You have to appreciate that intelligence and work with mares.

Very good point!!!

I have a mare now and they really are different from geldings. In a good way. They really do try sooo hard for you, when they want to. And when they want to, it's just amazing!

I was likewise so proud of all those lovely mares making a name for themselves in sport! Girl power!!

I love my gelding, but as a woman myself, I have a soft heart for the hard-working equine ladies!!

[carolprudm]

Most people don't want mares because mares are smarter than most people. You have to appreciate that intelligence and work with mares.

LOL, LOFF my mares. I'll take Lenamore please

[Hunter'N'Jumper]

Go mares! I have a 15.2hh mare. But man does she have the biggest attitude. She had two babies when she was 3-5 and got started in work when she was just turning 6. She tries her heart out for me. And very easy to work with. Im hoping that despite her size she'll end up my grand prix horse. She reminds me a lot of Via Volo sometimes.

The saying "Mares give 110%, 75% of the time and gelding give 75%, 100% of the time" comes to mind.

[Capall]

I'm definitely a mare person. So I too am happy to see so many mares doing so well! I loved my geldings of course, but it was nothing like the relationships I developed with my mares.