older mare owners...I have some questions.

I'm a gelding girl!!! BUT, I am concidering trading one of my guys for an 18yo mare.

I offically know squat about mares. I was ignorant and learned about keeping geldings but not mares. HELP!

I'll take any info you want to share!!! What about going into season? Do older mares still do that? Is is worse or less annoying than younger ones? What kind of attitude should I be looking for?

Gah...I feel so silly asking.....

No honest question is silly-i know squat but have heard that they get quite the attitude if they are lead mare-they do go " out of season" just like us girls but I don't know at what age interesting question I am going to look that up!

I am going to ask some questions in the breeding space-couldnt find an answer. BUt all the articles say that the mare will egt testy and or flighty when she is in estrus. So if you get a mare you will need to know her cycle dates.

Once upon a time I knew an ancient lined saddlebred mare that they continued to breed until the age of 33 (they would always use AI and also flush the embryo)...don't know if that helps (?)

Older mares are kind of like older women...a little set in their ways, and often times a little moody 8)

Ok...estrus cycle...how long does that last? What kind of moodieness are we talking about. Just being a bit off or down right witchy?

I can't believe I've never spent any amount of time with mares!

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Just like with us they can be just a little touchy and other mares are down right hostile-you'll need to visit the mare while she is in estrus ?????i think to really know how she handles pms. There is also the thought =are there any stallions in your neighborhood? Could be problems with a new girl in town if there are.

Like Kirsti said, it depends on the mare. My previous mare, Star, was a witch when she was in season, but Stella's temperament never changes. I noticed Star stopped coming into season around age 20, but she was also a maiden mare so I'm sure that has something to do with it as I know someone who has a broodmare still popping them out at 28.

I know not many people do, but I prefer the mares.

We would have 1 gelding and 1 mare if I do this trade. There are no stallions that I know about. They will be the only horses for about 1 mile. (we have approx 5000 acres here) There are several horses on our road but I don't believe that any of them are stallions. ( no special paddocks or fencing...they are all together etc) I can't say for sure but it doesn't look like there are any.

I wish I could see her in cycle. The mare is 4 hours away from here. She is in Oklahoma, I'm in Arkansas.

Vega is the only mare where I board that was a witch when she was in heat. All the other ones didn't even change their behavior.

I think it totally depends on the horse, just like with women, some get really bad, where others are pleasant to be around.

There are numerous things on the market you can get if she is moody when she's in heat. And your vet could also prescribe med. If she's really bad.

Until this year our 30+ POA was still going into heat. She adores hubby, EXCEPT when she's in heat. LOL Then she wants to spend time with me. ( Misery loves company ? )

Another point, just like us girl's, regular exercise can have an impact on the amount of moodiness they show.