I have over 20 rides and 1300 miles on a mare. While my mare was having a
foal a few year ago, I rode her mother. From my experience with these two
mares and conversations with ride vets, mares tend to be more excitable and
more unpredictable than geldings. Any metabolics may be more to this. My
mare tends to be fairly hyper for the first 25 miles or so. In general it
takes her longer to come down (settle down) at the first vet check than any
other. That is why I get off and walk her in, taking pains to talk to her
and rub her neck to get her calm. She is usually down and I can get her
through before she gets too excited.
I always warn the vets if she is in season. They are usually greatful.
One vet told me that he would rather examine a stallion than some mares in
season. One interesting point, when the ride starts, she is all business.
She is the same in season or not as far as the ride goes.
There is a book out, don't remember the name, that talks about performance
mares.
Truman
______________________________________________________________________________
The race is not always to the swift, but to those that keep running.
Truman and Mystic "The Horse from HELL" Storm
prevatt@lds.loral.com - Sarasota, Florida
____________________________________________________________________________
__