Mare or Gelding?

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domane

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I'm considering adding to my herd (OK, it's currently two geldings but with a third it's nearly a herd!! :D) I had a gorgeous hairy cob girlie who was totally non-mareish - I could do anything with her and she tolerated my cuddles but always remained aloof and "horse-like". My boys are both very softies and very affectionate. I posted yesterday asking about Welsh D's as I'm interested in a colt weanling but since posting a 17m filly has also come into the equation. Obviously as that young age, I have no idea of knowing whether she will grow up to be one of the hormonal types of mare so I guess I'm asking whether you would think the safer option would be to go with the colt and have him gelded when everything has descended to where it's meant to be....

Comments anyone? (please)
 
I always thought I would never want a mare as the ones I knew at the yard were all stroppy or old baggy. But I found my gelding a bit hard to get inside his head. Also I wanted a very well bred mare so that if she got injured she could be a mum, since I was breaking her in, I would be able to do the same with her offspring.

Ive never ever regretted getting her, I have sooo much closer a bond with her and shes never mareish. She even loves her lady bits being cleaned, much nicer than the big chaps sheath cleaning!

To reduce the risks I would get your filly nice and young, as they often bond with one person and life is much easier if it's you. Also when handling her, make sure she is happy with her lady bits etc being touched, if she is then its a good sign that she isnt hyper sensitive/hormonal type.

In short while theres a risk with a mare that they might be stroppy, I find it much easier to communicate with mine and to read what shes thinking.
good luck whatever you decide, as previous poster says get the nicest one, but I wouldnt rule out the filly.
 
Personally I wouldnt put a mare in wth two geldings (but that could just be me lol) but then I'd never have a gelding in the first place - mares rock :D
 
i think its more of a minority of mares that are really "mareish" mine can be a little bit but that only means pulling some faces and being a bit more feisty when in season (like humans) i really dont see a massive difference between mares and geldings, i think you will find more problems to start off with when cutting a colt than having a mare.
 
Having lost a mare to injuries caused by a randy gelding chasing her into the ground I refuse point blank to mix the sexes now.

I keep mine separate, them being broodmares and having a stallion on the place tends to make things a bit more hormonal as it is. Boarders can do as they wish with their own horses as long as it doesn't come to fisticuffs, I don't do all this "Oh let them be for a bit, they'll settle in a few days" malarkey and watch them kick seven bells out of each other whilst they do it. I have lots of little groups in lots of little paddocks. Suits me.

Plenty of people keep mares and geldings together very happily, it is just a case of playing it by ear and being prepared to separate them if needs be.
If you like the mare, get her, but have the facilities for another paddock if you need it.
 
agree about the seperation. my rig (before we knew he was a rig) was put out with my mare who acts as alpha female and he decided he didnt like it, i wouldnt want either of them hurt so i'd keep seperate. the same can happen with young colts being put out with geldings
 
:DI have one of both and they live more than happily together, she is only moody a few days before she is in season, when she is in season she is really sweet.
They do bond well with one person, both me and my mum do them but she'll always come to me, mum stood next to me the other day and asked her for a kiss she turned her head to me and kissed me!! lol :D

I must admit I wanted a gelding but she has turned out great, got her as a two year old didn't like being touched on her lady bits at all, but with a lot of time and work I can do anything with her, she is three now andbroken and I can ride her bare back walk and trot.

She is amazing, after being someone that was against mares, I would never now not have one, just because of her sex.

Someone once told me that Stallions and mares are the same they are both entire creatures therefore more prone to being senstive at times. :D
 
My boys are already in with a mare... when I took the lease on my field/stables, we inherited a "sitting tenant" in the form of an 18yo Welsh A who adores my two. Another mare would just even it up! :D Not that I've decided yet.....
 
My welsh D is a mardy cowbag at the best of times, when in season she has a right temper on her (mostly apparent when ridden) previous mares I've loaned/shared do have attitudes so if you didn't want the risk of having a hormonal mare I'd either get an older one or as you said a colt.
In regards to adding a mare in with two geldings - my mare was in with 3 geldings and no quibbles whatsoever.
 
Where I keep my horse we have 3 geldings in with 1 filly and it works well. We find the boys are very understanding with her and although they tell her off it is done very gently and they give her plenty of room to escape from situations where she would be cornered if they wanted to corner her. So I would say get what you like best.
 
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