Girl power: Gail and Grace Wilson ride high on their talented mares

Mares don't always get a good press largely due to hormonal issues linked to moodiness and behavioural problems, particularly when they are out competing. However, there are many mares out there bucking the trend and achieving success in the various equestrian disciplines.  Mother and daughter team, Gail and Grace Wilson, have enjoyed some fantastic dressage results with their mares and don't believe they present any more challenges than geldings if handled correctly.  Here they share their insights into riding and competing their mares:

Grace and Big Grace! Photo: Kevin Sparrow

Farantie (aka Olive) is ridden by Gail. She is 6 years old by Negro out of Garantie by Grande Cru and Gail has owned her since she was 6 months old
Giovanna (Grace) is ridden by Grace and is known as 'Big Grace' to save any confusion with the rider! She is 5 years old and is by Glocks Johnson out of Zepety (by Rhodium). Grace has had her since she was a weanling.

Were you looking for mares specifically?
Gail explains, "we were looking for youngsters of either gender." "Who were well bred," adds Grace.
What are the best things about owning and competing a mare and is it any different to owning/competing a gelding?
Both agree that the quirks they see are not gender-related, but due to personality differences, though Gail adds, "Olive thinks she is a stallion sometimes, which is quite amusing - she arches her neck and grows a few inches taller when she sees other horses. I tend to ignore her antics and canter on!"

Gail and Olive under the watchful eye of their Dutch instructor, Jeroen Hulsman

Age is another factor, as Grace explains, "I don't think, in my experience, that owning and riding a mare is any different to competing a gelding. Big Grace is a young horse so we have green moments, as you'd expect. She has been tricky to do some things, like loading onto the horsebox, but she's brilliant now. Oh, and she can trash a rug in 3 seconds if it's not tough enough! She's just a princess really. At 17.3hh, it's not so much the hormones that are the issue, but the size and she grows even bigger if she doesn't  like something."

Grace relaxing at home

What top tips would you offer other riders considering buying/competing a mare, or who may own a mare and are having problems?
"When buying any horse, I really don't think the sex matters - you need to look at conformation, education and behaviour. If someone is having a problem with a mare, I would get them to consider a few things, assuming the horse is sound and otherwise in good health: hormone supplements have helped a few mares I have known to cope with day-to-day life. I would also ensure you set boundaries early on to avoid the horse becoming the boss, although this would be true for a gelding as well," suggests Grace. Gail agrees, adding, "it's really important to consider the combination of horse and rider and look at factors such as training level and age. If you're having issues, try and understand the root cause of the problem".

Gail and Olive competing at the Hickstead Masters; photo: Bonnie Bubbles Rug Wash

What are you top achievements to date with Olive and Grace, and what are your hopes for their future?
"Olive came 3rd in the Badminton Qualifier as a 4-year old and did well in the International Dressage Horse Qualifiers as a 6-year old, coming 6th. We qualified for the Hickstead Masters this year and at the final we got a brilliant mark of 69+%, finishing 10th. We've also qualified for this summer's BD Regionals at novice level. As far as the future is concerned, only time will tell. She will go as far as good health, training and natural ability lets us and then we will breed from her to produce youngsters for Grace to ride."
"My top achievements with Grace have been getting to the 4-year old finals at Hartpury, and winning the Shearwater Qualifier at Quainton Stud, which qualified us for the 5-year old Shearwater Semi-finals at Hartpury this year where we finished 12th. We too have qualified for the summer novice Regionals and we came 12th in the novice class at the  Hickstead Masters. My ambitions are to continue her training up the levels and see how far we can go, and then maybe she can have a foal, but with a pony stallion!"
Gail and Grace are based at Hill Green Farm Livery in Wigginton near Tring. Gail is available for lessons on your own horse or on one of her schoolmasters.
Equilibrium Products are celebrating mares and have recently launched a delicious 2-in-1 feed supplement, Simplymare, designed to support your mare's temperament and promote great condition all year round. To join in the conversation go to their website and share your mare stories #celebrateyourmare

Kathryn White is owner and director of Cathean Ltd Medical and Copy Writing Services. She is a published medical, copy and equestrian writer with a passion for creating compelling text in collaboration with her clients. Her customers include pharmaceutical, healthcare and equestrian businesses across the world.