CaprEquine Mare

In the Wild

Young mares will come into their first heat when they are 1 year old. Unless taken from her fathers’ herd by a young stag, however, she usually won’t breed until her second or third year when her sire runs her out of the herd. Once she is pregnant, she will separate from the other mares to birth in peace.

A healthy mare can successfully birth and raise up to 4 lambs. This is because she has an udder like a cow; it has 4 teats. She will usually only have twins, though. Even after the lambs are born, the mare will NOT return to the herd until her lambs are at least 2 months old. A mare that returns to the herd too early may have her lambs stolen by another mare.

The biological clocks on the females run out very early; they only stay fertile until they are 5 years old. By then, they are spent---too old to birth and raise lambs. But since these creatures have a strong mothering instinct, it’s not uncommon for older females to steal the lambs of younger, less experienced mares. Some mothers, however are extremely protective, and will battle with another mare to the death for the protection of her lambs…these battles mean one thing---more food for the lizards.

Once the season is over, the last stag makes his journey home, and the mares mothering instincts finally come to a calm, the herd is a very quiet and solemn place to be.

Domestication

Mares receive early training; if it’s delayed, they may become aggressive. By the time they are 8 months old, they have already begun to pull loads and plow fields by themselves. By the time they are 2 years old, they learn to haul in a group harness. It takes about 4 mares to do the work of one stag. These mares are also ridden by women Lobo Sapiens.

They are bred when they turn 3. The lambs are taken away at 2 weeks old so the mare’s milk can be collected. Meat-wise, only the wild lizards can withstand the bitter taste and tough flesh. But the milk of the mares is sweet and rich and in high demand. Mares can become very attached to their keepers.




Done with sharpie and colored pencils.

Lobo Sapiens, CaprEquines (C) *MichelW