Re: Kick these Thoughts around!

["spencer" <spencer@inu.net>]

Interesting info.   My 9 yo green mare just finished her first 25 miler. 
It was first time for lots of things, including riding with other unknown
horses.  She did well except for one episode of kicking at a mare that had
just ridden up to where we were.  The rider was having problems with the
mare, but the excuse was that the mare was just 'off the track" and it
belonged to someone else.   The mare was being ridden with the shanks of a
'pelham' type bit with a curb chain and kept tossing her head--gee I wonder
why!  BUT for unknown reason my mare kicked at this mare.  No warning!  We
had been riding with other horses all morning.  I figure 'personality'
comflict.  But you may have as good a reason as any.  Usually, there would
be some indication such as ears pointing back, but it happens so fast
sometimes, you don't see it coming.  BTW, there was a stallion that had
yellow ribbon on it's tail and forelock to indicate it was stallion.  Happy
trails, 
Mary Ann, Tx

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From: Bonifield/Poulson <bonifarm@oro.net>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Kick these Thoughts around!
Date: Saturday, May 02, 1998 5:25 AM

Curious that in all this discussion of "kicking" no one has compared the 
proclivity of mares to kick defensively to that of geldings. I find most 
mares kick more frequently than geldings ever think about it, one of the 
reasons geldings make so much better pony horses than mares.Mares take 
themselves so seriously and have such a sense of THEIR space, while 
geldings tend to be easy-going and along for the fun of the 
ride.....Alexi