Are you a mare or a gelding person?

[eahotson]

I have ridden some nice mares. Never owned one. Always have geldings. What does everyone else think?

 

[Tia]

I have an equal amount of mares and geldings. Mares were always my passion in the UK, however here geldings have the edge slightly.

I have some lovely mares and I have a couple of moody mares; but all my geldings except Spotty Horse are completely trouble-free

.

 

[Patches]

I actively sought geldings when I had my first horses. Had three of them.

When I was looking for another one to replace Bailey I was really looking for a gelding. Patches came along and I just sort of ended up with her. She's definately more complicated, personality wise, than any of the geldings I had, but under saddle I feel I can trust her more to look after me as she seems to stay more focussed. Not sure that is a mare thing though, possibly just a reflection of the horses I have owned in the past.

Hannah, my daughter, has a mare and Tweenie can be a cheeky devil at times. I bought Talis with the hope that he would be her next pony. I wanted a colt (to become a gelding) for her.

 

[Super_Kat]

Theres no real difference between mares and geldings as far as i'm concerned. I'm just about to purchase horse number 11 (no I don't own 11 horses at the moment, but it will be thet 11 th horse i'll have owned). out of those 10 horses 5 were mares and 6 were geldings. as you can tell, i get on well with either gender and don't favour one over the other.

 

[paintsplat05]

Star and Milo are both geldings. There 8 mares and 17 geldings in the riding school and 3 mares and 6 geldings on livery!

 

[pixie]

I prefer mares

 

[spaniel]

Ive owned both mares and geldings and although they are different Ive built up a special relationship with both sexes. Mares do need a different approach and I err on the gelding side now....maybe its my age.

 

[Baba_Monty]

In the last few years I've always seem to have ended up riding geldings, however my best horse was a chestnut mare with four white socks which a lot of people told me not to touch with a barge pole......

She was a complete angel and not in the least mareish...think it depends completely on the horse to be honest...

 

[piaffe]

My ideal horse would be a gelding or a stallion. have always had either more than mares. only had to mare and they were a nightmare.

say that though, i now have 2 mare! so i guess, even though id prefer geldings, i wouldnt hesitate to see a mare if it was nice

 

[Ginn]

At the end of the day it boils down to the individual horse - Ive known some marish geldings, geldings with "that extra edge", perfectly tempermented mares, and stereotypical mares!!

However, all things being equal I'd go for a mare! Not too sure why, I guess breeding potential is part of it but, I don't know, I just love T - she's perfect!! And I do believe its easier to come across a good mare with that "edge" then a gelding. I know when I decided to take the plunge I wouldnt have ruled out a gelding but if I'm honest a mare was my preference and thats what I got!

 

[Jazz1]

I always used to have geldings & never wanted a mare really. But - have since had 4 mares & believe they have been great because they never have ''proper'' seasons (well not that you'd know about!) - would now never pass over a horse just because shes a she!

 

[henry-]

Sweeping generalisation but I think my personality is better suited to having a soppy gelding. I like my horse to be happy with me hanging around his neck.......mares can prefer less fussing.
I like to organise my boys & perhaps one of my weaknesses is the need to "ask a mare".
Current young gelding is just so perfect in all my requirements but our Connemara Mare was just the most fantastic pony in every respect - very cuddly, never "mareish" & would try her heart out for me.

 

[tigers_eye]

If I was going out to buy a horse for me I think I would lean towards a mare. It's less heartbreaking when they get to the end of their competition career and you can breed from them. Having said that my mare isn't co-operating on that front!

If I was buying a horse to sell on I would lean towards a gelding as people seem to prefer them. I know there are people on here who have ridden many more horses than me, but I would say in my experience they are less likely to hit a fence - they seem to rather stop than make a complete mess of one.

 

[JaneMBE]

I have a mixture of both.
I prefer girl cobs, the boys are too bolshy and greedy I have found.
However, some of the mares are temperamental swines! Best to avoid their rears when grumpy..

I really don't have a preference!

 

[S_N]

Hmmm - both!! Have known some bl00dy awfull geldings and mares a like! Would take a mare over a stallion any day though!

 

[lordflynn]

geldings-nearly bought a mare this time round but glad I didnt. would also have a stallion.

 

[smallbutgreat]

Mares both times round ... first was a swine, the second an angel but both definitely had a bit of "edge", which is what I like. I just KNOW that the third, if we ever get it, would be a mare as well.

Having said that, it's so hard to generalise, isn't it? Like girls and boys ... I have three daughters, and they are so majorly, mega-ly different from each other!

 

[teapot]

geldings - I've never got on with the mares I've ridden although that could also be that I always managed to choose who I rode at yard not be plonked on anything.

If I were buying a horse, I would look for a gelding but if the right one came up and it was a mare I wouldn't say no

 

[helenandshadow]

I have owned and ridden mares and geldings and have no preference.

 

[sojeph]

Either-have both!

 

[XxMegxX]

Id rather own geldings then own mares as i get on better with them, but, ill ride either really.

 

[PapaFrita]

I've had mostly mares and have almost forgotten what geldings are like!! I love mares for their personality, but on the other hand, on some days I'd quite like a horse that's just a bit more straight-forward! Antifaz is NOT this horse

Not yet, anyway

 

[JM7]

Geldings.....everytime!

 

[siennamiller]

I have one of each and they are both fab, if anything my boy is more emotional, he is off due bad back at mo and is SOOOO upset cos bea is being ridden and he is not, should see the face on him!

 

[Sal_E]

Used to say geldings, now DEFINITELY say mares!

B.t.w., this would have been a great question for a poll!

 

[celia]

I used to mainly ride mares (not sure why - just always seemed to end up with them!) and now have a gelding on loan and would have either. Yes you do get the stereotypical 'moody mare' sometimes but i've know some pretty stroppy geldings too and think it's mainly down to individual temperament!

 

[eventingdiva]

mares all the way! cant go wrong with a good mare xx

 

[lisaward]

mares definately
we have 17 mares, 1 colt and 1 stallion , i think that says it all

 

[patchandloopy]

Nigel is my own first gelding-my sister has had 2 geldings- but i always had mares not through choice just the way it happened, but must say i prefer mares becuase i like their quirkiness!!

 

[KJJ]

I like Boys Boys Boys!! LOL!

Although know some nice girls too...

Hehe - no seriously I was specific that I wanted a Gelding when searching for my neddy - personally I think they are more affectionate... purely because I have yet to meet an affectionate mare.

Don't get me wrong I think both M & G are affectionate on their own ways though.