best combination mare/mare or mare/gelding? does it matter?

[midi]

This is probably a really noob question.

But which is better to keep with mares.
Geldings or another Mare?

I've been told I'd be able to keep a horse at a friends farm as long as it would get along with my friends mare who is very much an alpha mare boss!
However I've been told it would be best if I got a gelding as she didn't think another mare would be a good idea as mares apparently don't get along?

Is there really a better option or is it really down to the individual horse? because I've also heard the polar opposite that its bad idea to keep geldings in with mares and that some liveries have separate paddocks for mares and geldings because of this.

I'm confuseeeeed!

 

[Honey08]

A lot of places seperate mares and geldings. We have our own place, and they all go out together. We don't have any problem, as our two geldings have a firm pecking order, and the mare adores one of the geldings and rarely goes near the other one.

I did have my mare on livery where there was a mixed herd of about 12 horses in a huge huge field, and my mare did get in a scuffle when she was almost in season and two geldings were bugging her too much.

In your case it really depends on what your friend thinks as its her field.

 

[Tormenta]

I don't think it depends on the sex, it depends on the character of the horse.

Mares can get along perfectly well, the same as geldings. Dominance in a mare does not mean she will not get on with another mare. The 'alpha mare boss' you mention might be just as difficult to get along with a gelding if he comes in as strong a character as her.

Some livery yards do keep mares and geldings separate, yards are entitled to their own rules I suppose. However, I have always kept my horses in a herd environment. Up until a month ago I had 3 geldings and 2 mares. Now I have 3 mares and 1 gelding. No problems.

 

[skint1]

I guess you have to go with what your friend wants really but we have always kept ours in small mixed herds and never had an incident until very recently when my mare kicked her field mate ( a gelding) . A very self confident fellow livery remarked that keeping mares/geldings together wasn't the done thing and the idea suddenly became very popular but that was the first I'd ever heard of it, I remain unconvinced if I am honest, but I guess I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder too