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Mare care

Test how much you know about mares

A mare is an adult female pony and they’re super-awesome! Mares have their own special qualities that make them brill riding ponies, plus they have the ability to carry and look after super-cute foals! Take our fun quiz to see how much you know about them.

Did you know?

It’s a really good idea to keep a diary of your mare’s behaviour. That way, it’ll be easier to tell if she’s acting strangely because of her hormones or if there’s a potential health issue.

What do you call a female pony who’s under the age of three?

Dam

Filly

Jenny

Correct! Wrong!

How long are mares pregnant for before they give birth to a foal?

11 months

9 months

6 months

Correct! Wrong!

What are some signs that tell you a mare has come into season? (Tick all that apply)

Please select 3 correct answers

She’s more irritable and grumpy than usual

Raising her tail often

She’s more sleepy than usual

Laying down more

She might wee more frequently

Correct! Wrong!

Which of these signs will a pregnant mare show? (Tick all that apply)

Please select 3 correct answers

Her abdomen will be enlarged

She’ll be a hand bigger

There are visible changes to her udders

You can see the foal kicking

She’ll want to bite you a lot

Correct! Wrong!

Should you ride a pregnant mare?

No, not at all

Yes, you can ride her as normal

Yes, if she was ridden regularly beforehand. But you shouldn’t ride her in the last few months of pregnancy

Correct! Wrong!

Why don’t mares come into season during the winter months?

To ensure they don’t give birth when the weather’s bad

Because it’s too close to Christmas

They can come into season at any time of year

Correct! Wrong!

Which of these things can help control a mare’s hormones? (Tick all that apply)

Grooming her every day

Specific supplements and calmers

An injection designed to stop her coming into season

Putting her in foal

Correct! Wrong!

How many mares have won Badminton Horse Trials?

One

Three

Five

Correct! Wrong!

Mare care

First-time filly

You have a bit more to learn about mares. You may think they’re just like any other pony, but mares have their own special requirements that are useful to familiarise yourself with. They’re super-awesome, so why not spend more time with a mare at your riding school, or a friend’s pony? You’ll learn loads about them!

6-9 Middle-ground mare

You know a few things about mares, but you’ve still got a little way to go! It’s super-interesting researching how and why mares act the way they do, and you can learn all about foals, too! If you do a little bit of extra reading, watch vids and of course read PONY mag, you’re sure to brush up on your knowledge in no time.

10-13 Mare-xpert

Wow! You really are a pro when it comes to mares. You know loads about them and what makes them unique. You have loads of knowledge on the signs they might show to communicate how they’re feeling, and why they can be a little grumpy sometimes. But, all mares are different so you’ll always be learning!