Gelding preferred but would consider a mare

My mare had a proper foot stomping temper tantrum on the yard this morning. The type that would send any would-be horse owner heading straight for a gelding. It's like dealing with a hormonal teenage daughter....
 
The Trooper said:
Hey guys,

I see the above alot, it seems that alot of people far prefer geldings to mares. That's the general consensus at the yard I'm on too (Based on numbers of each).

What's the reason for this? What is so off putting about a mare vs a gelding?

I see mares to be more appealing, one of the reasons is that if she happens to be an absolutely cracking horse I have the option of taking a foal off her and preserving the blood line, with geldings, for the most part they are the end of their specific blood line.

I'm interested in your opinions and thoughts.

Thanks!
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I have never bought a gelding and never would, I have a gelding but I bred him so nature gave me no choice. I don't know why but always go for mares, and have had/have presently 8 mares currently, at present I have 4 mares. I have been lucky to only have 2 that are hormonal the others were not, I found in the past when push came to shove, insurance were much more likely not to squabble with a mare, as you could breed from them, thus they got another policy out of you.

A gelding is the end of the line, but if your mares is able to be bred from, and how many people, who have a mare of a lifetime, has or would love to have a foal from them to continue the gene when the mares is lost.
 
It's interesting when you talk to the anti mare friends (hell i was one of them!) and you say just be nice to her, ask her dont tell her and if she pulls faces and is being 'difficult' just stop and appreciate her for a moment and the chances are she is going to like you a little bit and find it in her heart (just) to do as you have asked .... they look at me like im mad but its so true.

To my gelding im like "ok lets do some leg yielding" but to my mare im like "Crazy you know you showed me that cool leg yielding thing the other day, can you show me again" lol works every time :)
 
I was always a mare person and had mares from the age of 9. By mistake I ended up with a gelding (who I found out during the sales process was the subject of many threads on here...let that be a warning to everyone that not everything written on a forum, even by the "nicest" of posters, is true!!) alongside 2 mares. I will say people were right, he was consistent unlike mares; unfortunately he was consistently the spawn of Satan*

After losing my mares I specifically went looking for another mare and my wanted ads were for mares. I got called about a horse who sounded ideal and it wasn't until I'd arranged to view said horse that it transpired he was a he. I ended up with him and it's been geldings all the way since. I now have a little herd of 3 at home so a mare would upset the equilibrium and the late cut TB who loses his mind over mares having never been allowed turnout with them in his previous life.

I definitely feel that I had better relationships with the mares but had to be a lot more "on it" with them, now I'm older and lazy geldings are just perfect!

*disclaimer. I fed said horse and got him healthy, installed manners, trained him up and sold him onto a cracking home.
 
I love mares, and I always have. So when I bought a gelding 6.5years ago I'm not sure what I was thinking :p. Though I do love his goofy ridiculousness, but boy oh boy do I find myself knocking on wood dealing with him sometimes:rolleyes:

Then 2 years ago I got a mare again. Didn't much like her for quite a while (mainly because I was so used to the gelding by that point). And then I started working with her in preparation for backing her and remembered all over again why I love mares.

But agree with the points above that those who know they are not mare people are probably best off with a gelding.
 
When horse shopping I never gave any weight to whether the horse/pony was a mare or gelding so between us me and the girls have had several of both. Our favourite 5 horses/ponies ever were ALL mares. And of course my current horse-of-a-lifetime is a mare. And the girls both currently adore their mares.
 
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My first pony was a gelding and he was just perfect, since then always mares and I have the greatest possible love and respect for them, even though one of them was a right b***** at times. (tbf it wasn't her fault, she had been bred by a woman who was very frightened of her and she learnt to intimidate her.) However, I am lucky enough to have the ride on an elderly gelding who is just the very best horse in the world, perfect partner for an OAP, though I do know he had a few tricks up his sleeve when he was younger. I have to say though that through out my long riding life I have found all of my equine partners, at the time of knowing/riding them, to be "simply the best".
 
milliepops said:
Some people can really butt heads with mares and not everyone enjoys the kind of relationship that you have with them. i think it's wise that those people seek out geldings because "my way or the highway" kind of tactics can really backfire with them ;)
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This is very true! Mares won't put up with a dictatorial approach.
 
I've had 3 mares and 1 gelding. My gelding was late cut and had covered mares so had his own opinion on things and would happily dump me without warning. My mare is very opinionated and clever and can be a complete witch. Usually when she's hungry or cold.
She is brilliant to ride and looks after me if I'm having a wobble but will also tell me of she's not happy with what I'm doing. She tries her hardest most of the time. After 2 years together we have
understanding that I never had with the gelding.
 
I had one of each until recently. When looking for number 3 I would have prefered a mare, as would have been a better fit for being out with the other two (gelding is dominant and the mare is 'his' mare!) but I ended up with another gelding, as he was what I was looking for and just up the road from me.
 
Only two nasty from birth and would kill you as soon as look at you were geldings I own one and he certainly isnt easy. I really dont like geldings I owned them growing up but since converted to mares I would only ever have a mare they have more about them, will try harder for you and will take care of you if they are on your side. Win them over and there is nothing quite like having a mare as your true friend. I fell over the electric fence the other day and all the mares came over the old one put her head down as if to say ok hang on and she picked me up. We have a mutual respect for each other. Mares are more curious and better behaved in an open kind of way. I have owned mares for over 35 years now and never come across one I noticed being in season except sometimes a dirty bum or tail
 
I'd only have a mare. I always find geldings quite silly - I don't know if it's me that sets them off but they always remind me of naughty 8 year old boys!
I find mares much easier to reason with.
 
I've had both over the years and it makes no difference to me, it is the individual horse which is relevant. The most sensitive, touchy, ears back "keep away from me" one was a gelding and my daughters current pony is the most level headed, sane, happy, cooperative, "can do", pony ever and she is a mare. I've also never seen the need for segregated turn out particularly. I turn them out singly or in two's usually and mixing the sexes has never made any difference to me. Hate, hate the idea of the "gelding only livery yards" I have seen around. I agree that it smacks of sexism. Interestingly I kept mine at a polo yard once and apparently the preference in the polo world is for mares. I think because they are sharper and think for themselves.
 
my first horse and daughter's first pony were mares, I never knew when either was in season and they were the same all year round. We had a succession of geldings after that but I was totally put off mares by the ones that I came into contact with, they just weren't very nice and were a bit unreliable in competitions. TBH I haven't found our geldings were dopey either, they did their job to the best of their ability and were absolutely 100% on the ground and to do generally. I now have a mare and perhaps I'm just very insensitive but she doesn't seem that different to our geldings. Her behaviour etc is pretty consistent even though she is now having seasons, she can be a bit lazy but doesn't get upset when told to get on with it and she's lovely on the ground. She's clever and will test boundaries but we've had geldings that would do that.The only thing I notice is that she can be pretty vile in the field with another horse and gets quite aggressive If her companion gets too close to me when she's coming in from the field. I've not experienced that before although my late gelding, who was cut at 6, would get most upset if I didn't take him out of the field first. I have to admit that she has won me over somewhat.
 
I love my mares. I know there's exceptions to the rule but I can't imagine having another gelding. The geldings have done their jobs but I fall in love with my mares, they've had far more personality and we've had a one to one bond. Mares seem to try their hearts out for you. My mare I've got now will be with me forever.
I wouldn't have a male dog either though.
 
Pippity said:
I'm with huskydamage - when I was looking, I was, "Mare preferred but would consider a gelding." (I got a mare.) My experience has been that geldings are easier to get on your side, but once you've got a mare on your side, she's there for the long haul.
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Couldn’t agree more! Give me a mare any day of the week.
 
milliepops said:
Had this thread in mind while riding today ;) Chestnut Welsh mare was channeling all the stereotypes tonight :eek: OMG I just love her but I fully accept that plenty of people would find her unbearable :oops: She is the most marish mare I have ever had and I think she's the bees knees!
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Haha, yes I thought of this thread tonight too. I walked into the barn, went to stroke Arty's neck, got teeth snapping in my direction, wondered off and got the other mare out to groom tied to the wall opposite Art's stable and she reverted to nuzzling me as I passed and desperately trying to get my attention. Love her ❤. Still, at least mine's not ginger :p
 
DabDab said:
Haha, yes I thought of this thread tonight too. I walked into the barn, went to stroke Arty's neck, got teeth snapping in my direction, wondered off and got the other mare out to groom tied to the wall opposite Art's stable and she reverted to nuzzling me as I passed and desperately trying to get my attention. Love her ❤. Still, at least mine's not ginger :p
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😂😂😂😂😂
I'll forgive her anything
She can't help any of it 😂
 
love em all, the two most difficult opinionated and self important ones we have are a gelding, 1st prize, a stallion second prize, both are ridden, you have to work with them, the oldest one is a mare who from the word go 20 years ago was just so easy and still is, she knows she is a little queen and often surrounded by admirers, another young gelding, a rescue is just starting breaking is so willing and clever, he will make someone a wonderful horse.

i enjoy all of them, but in preference i like a horse with high proportion tb, so if i was was looking i would decide what type of horse i wanted first then choose the best regardless of gender
 
I have 3 mares and whilst they all have very strong personalities, I musn't be a very observant owner as I have no idea when any of them are in season. I don't notice any mood swings or changes in behaviour either in the field with each other or being ridden. So I don't quite understand the aversion to mares that I often come across.
 
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