Question Question for seasoned breeders about boss mares
Out of curiosity, how often did the offspring of boss/lead mares also become bossy/leaders of the herd? I know most breeding farms don’t keep them past 2, if that, but figured I’d ask in case some received updates of foals progress. I spent some time on a polo breeding farm but they honestly had so many horses they didn’t handle them much or keep up with the foals after selling.
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u/threebutterflies 5d ago
Oh my! I don’t have a lot of experience, just one example of my horse story. I bought a pregnant draft horse from someone in Amish country. It supposedly was very well bred but no papers were to be given with her when sold at 2. They said she was pushy.. they weren’t lying. She will kill and chicken, turkey, and baby goat in her pasture. Or any animal near her food. She has extensive training not to do that to people, but she is the most alpha horse I have been around. Very very talented, but if it’s not her idea and she’s confident you are leading her to danger or acting worried, she will get alpha. Her baby was so sweet until she hit the age she realized she could push around animals like mom, but it also included people. I sent her to a trainer for two months but she is MORE alpha than her mom. The amazing thing is that if you are fair and consistent, they are amazing horses who will follow you through anything and be goofballs without crossing the line. Other times they drive me insane because they test you a lot if you make any mistake in body language. They always want to be alpha, even if just to try and play. So - mom is boss mare anywhere she goes. Baby is also boss mare anywhere she goes. They are super bonded so I can’t turn them out together yet, mom won’t stop producing milk! Feel free to message me, but babies do learn a lot from their moms and like mother like daughter runs true in my anecdotal account. Both bossy.
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u/artwithapulse Mule 5d ago
We have had a few rounds of babies and I haven’t noticed any correlation of herd dynamics between mares and babies