But is a mare a mare of course?

It seems not always as there is a huge fight going on in the States between the people who bought Kept True as a broodmare prospect and the vendors.

Kept True had 5 wins, two seconds and two thirds in her CV but against female horses and when the purchasers got round to having their new "girl" examined by their Vet (something they had failed to do before handing over the money which they must now considerably regret) they found that Kept True was female only in outward appearance!

"She" had no ovaries and the chromosomes of a male horse and therefore not any use as a potential broodmare.

"She" had gone to the sale with a Certificate from another Vet saying "she" was suitable for mating but that obviously has turned out not to be the case!