Competition horse: Gelding vs mare

kerilli said:
i prefer mares, and the golden rule is that if you get a good mare at a high level, she will be exceptional... in any sphere. But, day to day, geldings are more reliable.
Also of course, because a mare can have an alternative career, there's always that option if she gets a slight injury, whereas with a gelding there's more of a vested interest in getting him right if at all possible, and back out competing again. This might explain a bit of the skew in numbers at high level.
i think mares are slightly more generous if they are absolutely on side, they are less likely to be cheeky when the chips are absolutely down (e.g. less likely to run out at a skinny, say, if you leave the door open). They may take longer to get onside, because, like stallions, you have the whole horse, but once they're there, they're fantastic.
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Ditto this from my personal experience the bond is much deeper with a mare (there are always exceptions) if you are lucky enough to have that bond they will try their heart out ....:D
 
I've always preferred mares, I gel with them better and find it hard to bond with geldings for some reason.
My current mare is fab, when I was looking for her I didn't try any geldings, purely by choice. I think a good mare is exceptional and will always get you out of trouble if you have a good bond.
I have always gone by the rule 'You tell a gelding, ask a mare and discuss with a stallion'!
 
I love my gelding, he is the most soppy and affectionate boy in the world, and tries his heart out for me. I've always got on better with geldings, but it wouldn't put me off having a mare.

But I'm sure I've heard that, at least for dressage, there is a conformation issue at play. I think it's that mares supposedly have shorter backs, and that impacts performance. Has anyone else heard this? think I might have read it on Eurodressage or something.

Still love my placid, easy going gelding best :)

Isabelle
 
There are a lot of good mares in endurance, and a lot 'prove themselves' before going on to have a foal.

Re The moody issue. Personally I've never found that mares are more moody. My geldings are just as capable of getting out of bed the wrong side, it's just if they were mares that would get blamed on their hormones ;)
 
I'm also another who has never found mares more moody particularly. Truth be told I prefer geldings because the mares I've had have been smelly ones, sounds horrible but it's true. Although they have all been nice enough to work with including one I got that used to dump everyone that rode it, she just needed management but to be honest that could have been a mare or a gelding she was the way she was because of how she was started. Also one of the easiest and sweetest horses was a little chestnut mare, you could drag her out of the field and do anything with her, being in season never mattered. I've had geldings that are far more opinionated, maybe this means I'm actually a mare person in denial?!
 
I do not know why but mares never do it for me looks wise I think it may be the slightly longer back. Showing its hard to think of any really top show horse mares though you do often get them in show ponies.
I appreciate I have tarred hundreds and thousands of mares by virtue simply of their sex and something they cannot help!
 
It does not stop me appreciating them and seeing their good points says the girl with a horse with rubbish confo!! But tbf I would never buy him.
 
IsabelleJ said:
But I'm sure I've heard that, at least for dressage, there is a conformation issue at play. I think it's that mares supposedly have shorter backs, and that impacts performance. Has anyone else heard this? think I might have read it on Eurodressage or something.
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If anything I think it's the other way, you get more long-backed mares because they have extra room for the uterus, I think. I've not known many long-backed geldings compared with mares. A shorter back helps for dressage, for collected work anyway, pure physics... easier for horse to step further under itself and enable the front end to lighten.

I wonder if gelding takes away a bit of intelligence from some of the boys. The only gelding i've had who i'd rate right up there with my mares for kindness, utter generosity, consistency etc was by far the brightest gelding i've ever had, also incidentally a rig. hmm. food for thought there.
 
I love my mare, she is very clever and cheeky, but will try her heart out for me if I ask and is one of the bravest horses on the yard. It has taken time to build a bond with her but is definitely worth it. I will be looking for a youngster soonish to become my riding horse when she has to slow down.....it will definitely be a mare, no question
 
a very interesting post!! i have always had geldings so can't comment really on owning mares, but i do agree i think hormones and prejudice against mares plays a big role in there being less mares at top level competition..and the fact that if a mare is good enough, she'll possibly be used for breeding instead
 
I'd never given much thought to a horses gender, after selling a very tricky gelding I bought a mare purely cos she ticked all the boxes and I haven't looked back!

She does ask for a clearer question before she answers it and makes me work harder for affection but 18 months down the line, I wouldn't swap her for the world. I generally can't tell when she's in season but she doesn't spend too much time with boys so that might play a role in that part. She also has quite a short back, she's a compact little horse!

Most of the horses I work with on a daily basis are mares and I haven't had an issue with them, none of them are on hormone supplements either. Maybe I got lucky!
 
PooJay said:
Have to agree with this. I prefer mares. I think the bond you have with them goes deeper than a gelding. When i bought my girl, i wouldn't even entertain viewing a gelding.....there are times where i've regretted that decision (like - the WHOLE first year :D) but now, I'm glad i stuck to it! :D
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I was the opposite - I bought a gelding and then when looking for my second horse said I'd never have a mare...
4 mares later (:rolleyes:) I have been totally converted and would probably say I'm now 60:40 mares:geldings. My mares have been fantastic - the last 3 amazing but the first was sold to her loaner, the second too small and the third and current mare is my total sweetheart of a TB who is probably not going to leave the yard anytime soon!

I totally agree with Kerrilli that if you get a good mare they would jump the moon for you.

ETA: for a top mare - Blu Hors Matinee anyone?
 
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Yep mares tend to be longer in the back, room for babies. Although, a short coupled horse is better for reasons kerrelli explained. a horse that's too short can be so uncomfortable!
 
Tbh I'm not really biased either way as have had some brilliant mares and geldings. Interesting enough though I was watching top level SJ on H&C the other day and a lot of the horses were mares! Also it's always mares at high goal polo.

I do think if you get a good mare and she decides you are worth fighting for she will give you all she's got and claw her way to win for you if necc. Look at little Brit! Saying that though a good gelding will do that too.

Personally to me it depends on the personality and temp of the horse, not of the sex or colour or breed :).
 
I agree with the hormones bit!

When my mares in season I may as well give her a few days off as theres just no point arguing with her....!!!


Geldings are at least consistent with their moods eetc (generally)! :D




ets - i HATED my mare for the first month of ownership (truly hated her and wouldn thave cared less if someone had offered me a quid for her id have taken it) but then disliked her strongly for a year after that............. and now i quite like her :D



only as i trust her 99% and know whats shes going to do before she does it! (spooks generally)!
 
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