# My mare died last night **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233 "2012-04-28T14:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/61 "2012-05-03T03:56:52Z")
I just read this today. I’m very sorry for your loss. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/62 "2012-05-03T12:07:36Z")
**Poysyn and Infovore** - Thanks. Irish seems to be doing quite a bit better, although now he’s hvering over my mini mare, Daisy. I don’t want him to get as attached to her as he was to Nakota, in part because she’s very old, has scoliosis and lordosis (curvature of the spine and hunched back) and is insulin-resistant. She’s in far better health than when I got her last year nearly starved to death, but she won’t last forever. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/63 "2012-05-04T17:15:03Z")
Maybe it would be best if you did get another mare one of these days (when you feel ready) for Irish’s sake. Sounds like the poor guy is going to be terribly lonely without his pal, especially if anything should happen to Daisy. At the rescue farm near where I live, there is the “odd couple” as I like to call them, in the front field - an elderly-looking gelding that’s cream/white colored, was probably a very handsome horse in his heyday though he’s kind of old and grumpy and bony-looking these days, and his gal-pal and polar opposite, a little black shetland pony that’s probably no older than 10 or 12. Apparently they are BFFs for life - and it’s not like there isn’t plenty of other horses they could buddy up with. Horses are weird folk. There is another farm/ranch a little further out, around here, that is home to a handful of zebra-horse hybrids. I have noticed that the “Zorses” never seem to have a buddy horse - maybe they are socially inept? They always seem to be “loners”. Maybe being a Zorse is the horse equivalent to Asperger’s? LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/64 "2012-05-04T18:10:16Z")
StGermain - I’m so very sorry to hear this. So so sorry. I hope you and Irish find a new love, soon. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/65 "2012-05-04T19:43:19Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > There is another farm/ranch a little further out, around here, that is home to a handful of zebra-horse hybrids. I have noticed that the “Zorses” never seem to have a buddy horse - maybe they are socially inept? They always seem to be “loners”. Maybe being a Zorse is the horse equivalent to Asperger’s? LOL. The only thing I know about Zorses is that they are very, very aggressively territorial, towards horses and also humans, while being 2-3 times more powerful pound for pound than a horse. You know how they say a wolf-dog hybrid will always be unpredictable? Zorse has the same problem, except it weighs 1,000 pounds. Zebras are actually quite bad tempered and vicious. They don’t like to fight but they will fight the shit out of anything if they have to, and will attack people. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/66 "2012-05-04T23:07:05Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > The only thing I know about Zorses is that they are very, very aggressively territorial, towards horses and also humans, while being 2-3 times more powerful pound for pound than a horse. You know how they say a wolf-dog hybrid will always be unpredictable? Zorse has the same problem, except it weighs 1,000 pounds. > > Zebras are actually quite bad tempered and vicious. They don’t like to fight but they will fight the shit out of anything if they have to, and will attack people. Heh - that is funny, no wonder the Zorses have no friends. They are neat looking guys, though. I wouldn’t own one on a bet, though. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/67 "2012-05-07T02:51:51Z")
I know it’s too soon, but this was on Craigslist today. > [@](#): > > $700 Big grey registered Thoroughbred mare for sale- 14 years old, and right at 17 hands tall! Has been ridden at Wranglers and on other trails by beginner riders and is a baby sitter- follows calmly, no spook. Very well bred, sire is a full brother to Triple Crown winner Unbridled. She is NOT hot like a lot of thoroughbreds are though. She has been shown english and show jumping up until last year. We purchased her strictly for trails and she has been wonderful. Loads in and out of trailers and stands well for saddling, mounting, even lowers her head for bridling. She’s a good trail horse for beginners. easy to catch and loves bathes and attention. respects fencing, and is ok with cows. She’s bottom of the pecking order in the pasture, too, not your typical “mare”. Feet are trimmed, well kept, and coggins is up to date. She MUST go this week- we have found a walking horse we want to purchase. Email for photos or call to come out & we’ll go on a trail ride. Motivated seller. 9314360695 I have no idea about her soundness, and would have a pre-purchase exam done. But is it too soon? StG ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/68 "2012-05-07T03:14:01Z")
I don’t think it’s too soon at all. You’re able to give a home to an otherwise unwanted horse. You give them very good care and I think helping another horse would help to mend both yours and Irish’s hearts. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/69 "2012-05-07T03:15:22Z")
No harm in going to see her. Try not to think of a new horse as replacing Nakota - think of adding to her legacy. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/70 "2012-05-07T03:16:46Z")
Sweetie, no one can answer that but YOU. If she feels right, go look at her. Your heart will know. Best of luck whatever you decide. (((Hugs))) ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/71 "2012-05-07T09:32:47Z")
Geez, with that description are you SURE she’s a TB mare??!!?? If nothing else, I’d look at her for curiosity’s sake! 😉 You stumbled across the listing for a reason. I say go for it. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/72 "2012-05-07T12:50:11Z")
Agreed with Bobkitty… she sounds too good to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/73 "2012-05-07T14:10:35Z")
We had a TB mare - quite closely related to Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, actually - who was the most dead broke sensible horse you ever met. At the grand old age of 7 and without any special training she was used as a therapy horse for riders who lacked complete muscle control (so they would flap the reins uncontrollably, or thump their legs, or make random schreeching noises.) The average kid wasn’t strong enough to make her canter, no matter how hard they tried. TBs are not all “flighty” that’s just a prejudice. You never know. And in this economy people are giving away nice horses for next to nothing, or nothing at all (hell in this economy, people are euthanizing nice horses). My friend has a barn with a good reputation for care, and her last 4 or 5 lesson horses – all sound and under 12 years old – were given to her free. So the ad doesn’t really seem “too good to be true” to me. But, I would take a friend and if possible a vet to keep me in reality-land when I saw the horse. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/74 "2012-05-07T14:31:34Z")
Absolutely no harm in looking! Just don’t get your heart set. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/75 "2012-05-07T17:28:47Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > But is it too soon? You’re the only one who can answer that. But I don’t think it could hurt to go look at her and see how you feel. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/76 "2012-05-07T19:04:37Z")
I just got pics from the owner. Why can’t people learn to take pics that show their horses? (Of course, I say that and I’m the world’s worst photographer.) Her name is Grace, which makes my heart melt, because I lost my doberdog Grace to congestive heart failure two years ago. StG ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/77 "2012-05-07T19:43:52Z")
As I was reading that, Amazing Grace came on. So it’s a sign. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/78 "2012-05-07T20:32:41Z")
I am a big believer in signs. Last night, exactly 24 hours to the MINUTE of having Cricket euthanized, Arms of the Angel came on the radio. I felt like she was reaching out to me. Maybe this is Grace AND Nakota letting you know they are with you? ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/79 "2012-05-07T20:42:52Z")
Grace is a nice name, especially for a \*\*gray \*\*horse. 🙂 She does sound like an outrageously good deal, but then again, this economy has left a lot of really nice horses homeless, and a lot of nice owners unable to fulfill their responsibilities as owners. Have a look, maybe she’d be a good fit for your little equine family. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233/80 "2012-05-08T05:02:35Z")
[del]Reader, I married him. [/del] I went to see Grace, and she seems like a sound, sane mare, who’s about as close to 17 hh as I am. She’s probably 16.1, so she’s an internet 17 hh. If all things go well, I’ll buy her. She’ll make a good companion for Irish and hopefully a good riding horse for me. She’s been raced, but not much, from what I can see. I won’t claim to have some mystical connection with her right off the bat, but in 50 years filled with many animals, I’ve never had one that didn’t work out. I don’t expect them to be perfect, and neither am I. All I hope for is that our imperfections go together. StG [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mare-died-last-night/620233.md?page=5)