"Marish" Mares and Personal Space

Shiloh's whole stall is her Personal Space

Are mares more protective of their Personal Space than geldings? Feral herd dynamics suggest they could be. This would explain much “marish” behavior, and the perception that mares tend to be “territorial” about their stalls. A stall IS her Personal Space. In a feral band, a mare’s role is making and raising babies. Aside from her off-spring, only her friends are invited into her Personal Space; they are supposed to do so gently and politely. Stallions are responsible for protecting their families, and for supervising and playing with youngsters as they roam further from their mothers. Colts tend to play rough mock-fight games that prepare them to someday defend their own families, and may continue such games with friends as adults. Fillies are inclined to play more sedate games such as matching steps. Since mock fights are rough “in your space” games, it is logical that geldings might be more comfortable with intrusions in their Personal Space than mares are, even though they deserve the same courtesy. There are, of course, individual variations, including geldings who have good reason to be defensive of their Personal Space, and mares who are quite comfortable with people up close.

A Polite Greeting

If you have a mare (or gelding) who glares or threatens when you approach her or enter her stall, try pausing first, not facing her, and giving her a few seconds to acknowledge your presence as my granddaughter is doing in the photo above. More information and suggestions on Personal Space etiquette: Personal Space: Why the Double Standard? Other explanations for “marish” behavior: Marish Behavior: What Causes It?

References:
“Daddy, daddy cool: stallion-foal relationships in a socially-natural herd of Exmoor ponies” by Kateřina Šandlová, Martina Komárková, Francisco Ceacero
Horses in Company by Lucy Rees
What Horses Really Want by Lynn Acton (Chapter 3 Free-Roaming Herds: Complex Social Networks)