Why are mares branded as being “moody”? Its a common question, asked by not just mare owners but all equestrians, and hopefully below I have managed to provide some answers.
When mares reach puberty between 12 and 24 months old they become sexually receptive and start their reproduction cycle. This occurs throughout spring, summer and early autumn but for many it can happen all year round. During this time the female hormones, progesterone and oestrogen, change and can cause moodiness in your mare. For about five or six days of the 21 day cycle the mares is described as being in oestrus or in season. Eggs are released from the ovaries and the mare becomes receptive to the stallion. A lot of discomfort can come with oestrus and this can cause a change in behaviour, sometimes causing mares to act differently under saddle. To ward off unwanted company, mares can turn their bums to other horses and people, making them seems aggressive. Some mares who are said to be moody all year round may be so for a number of reasons: Oestrogen in excess is thought to be linked to depression and anxiety sometimes causing mares to act out of character for no reason. Another hormone, oxytocin, is released in response to the stallions whinny and approach. This hormone can be released inappropriately by the approach of other animals and people, explaining why your mare may seem moody all the time. Some young, nervous mares may seem withdrawn and show an unwillingness to work, this is due to them not wanting to show signs that they are in oestrus. Some mares that are constantly aggressive many have underlying issues. These are known as abnormal oestrus behaviour.
Progesterone is produced during the dioestrus stage of the cycle, the stage after ovulation. Under the influence of the hormone, the mare becomes none receptive to the stallion and normally returns to her “normal” self. The aim of treatments dealing with abnormal oestrus behaviour, is to give the horse a high level of progesterone which mimics the dioestrus phase. If moodiness is ongoing and disrupting you working with your horse it is best to seek veterinary advice.
There is that age old saying “Tell a gelding, ask a mare, discuss with a stallion” and
many people, when it comes to buying horses are determined not to go near a certain gender, but why and where did the phrase come from? It is claimed that geldings are somewhat easier to deal with than mares and stallions due to their lack of testosterone. If castrated at a young age, geldings have never experienced breeding before and therefore don’t constantly have their minds focused on mating, thus making them normally easier to handle and a lot more relaxed. You can “tell” a gelding not necessarily because they are easier to train but because they are a lot more sedate on the ground, less distracted by flirting mares than their entire counterparts.
Stallions on the other hand are branded as being difficult to handle and completely fired up. Not all stallions follow this pattern and some seem to calm down with age but the stereotype has come around due to his surge of hormones. When a stallion’s libido is aroused, he turns into a wall of muscle with a surge of adrenalin and testosterone pumping through his body. This makes a stallion harder to handle and if a flirting female is nearby it soon turns into a discussion with your horse to get him to carry on.
Mares, many people feel are a whole different ball game, with their mood swings and stubborn nature, they aren’t many peoples first choice. Mares are classed as stubborn mostly because of their hormones especially during their season, they can become sore and unwilling to work. However, similar to dealing with all horses, mares require respect and to be “asked” to work sometimes providing some of the best outcomes and most rewarding results.
