Mare or Gelding ?

I love both but if I had to choose, it would be mares. I used to think all mares were aloof and could take you or leave you, and that geldings were more affectionate and loving. However, my mare is the most affectionate, cuddly horse I have ever come across, and she beats all others hands down. My gelding is lovely too and quite soppy, but I would say he is far more quirky and 'mareish' than my mare is.
 
I have 4 mares, 2 geldings and a filly. Both the geldings are pretty chilled, as are the filly and 3 of the mares. I do however have one mare who is a bit of a jekyll and hyde character. If she feels like it she will out perform the others by a mile but if she doesn't she won't :o I kind of like the quirky ones though :)
 
I prefer mares and was so pleased my mare gave me a filly last year, I know when my mare is in season has she is more responsive to ride. So I actually look forward to her seasons lol.
 
I never used to be bothered and i've had a mixture of both. If i was every looking for another horse i wouldn't look for a particular sex. However saying that i seem to end up with mares most of the time and wouldn't swap my current girl for anything.
 
I like both - we have two geldings and a mare atm. If I had to choose it would probably be a mare though. I think it takes longer to get to know them properly but once 'there' you have a much stronger bond. :)
 
I do admit that geldings are so much easier to do and you can tell a gelding off, but with mares you have to ask them to do something and if they want to then they will (bit like females tbh)

However I do love my mares and one of my mares is all me - we have an unbreakable bond; she is mine and will not do anything for anyone other than me.

xx
 
LeannePip said:
Always wanted a gelding, have since ended up with mares!! thankfully my 3yo isn't mareish at all but she is a complete flirt and is becoming more affectionate, before you could stand and talk to her and when she had enough she'd walk off for some grass, now she has her favourite scratching places and even if your stood near her she will groom you or 'do' your hair for you in the hope it will get her some attention in return!! however this years purchase was a little colt foal so although the intention was to sell him on in a few years as we only bought him to save him from going through the sales, i will have my gelding at last!!
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She sounds just like my mare who is delightful company, honest and lovely. Most of the mares I have met maybe take a little longer to befriend but are worth the work.

On the whole it is hard enough to find a horse that ticks all the boxes without adding a preference for mare or gelding.
 
My favorite pony was a gelding and so I always preferred them. I now have all mares and one gelding. :confused: lol I have grown to love mares very much and don't find them moody at all but very sensitive, intuitive and giving. Of course this a gross generalization as they are all individuals and the gelding is fab too. :D
 
Mares, without question. It takes a really really special gelding to catch my eye these days. It's mostly down to that inexplicable 'click' factor - and it's not confined to horses, both my dogs are female and the only reason my cats aren't is because they were spur-of-the-moment rescue cases. I just seem to get on better with ladies! Especially highly opinionated, super-sensitive, alpha females - apparently my life isn't complicated enough without them!!!

The only gelding I've had a comparable relationship with was my ex-stud-stallion very riggy gelding. I bought him 14 years ago and he'll be with me 'til he dies. This said, the three other geldings I've had didn't give me the best experiences: one was a cantankerous old so and so, the kind of first pony that makes you either stay with horses for life or run for the hills (I guess I should thank him for my ongoing addiction!); a rehab project with a filthy buck in him; and the one who quite literally tried to kill me on several occasions...
 
I'm a mare fan. Most of my shares/ loans have been geldings, but mares are nicer to bond with and seem to have a bit more brains about them. Geldings are ok, but they take a long time to be bothered enough by you to bond with you.
 
I like both for different reasons!

I like mares because although they take longer to bond with when you do it is an unbreakable bond. A good mare is a formidable friend and I find their natural protective instinct can kick in and look after you when you least it.

Geldings I have found milder mannered and generally much quicker and easier to get on with right away, you can boss a gelding around a bit more whereas you can't with a mare! You also don't have to worry about feeding hormone supplements ;).

There are exceptions of course but I like both, a good horse is a good horse at the end of the day but I can see why some people may prefer one or another as they are different.
 
Guess there is a good reason most of the riding schools I know of have geldings. But I'd rather not deal with rigs or late-gelded geldings, I know stallions that are better behaved! Personally I adore my moody mare.
 
You can TELL a gelding
You can ASK a mare
or...you can NEGOTIATE with a stallion

sums it up for me :rolleyes:

My negotiation and reasoning skills arent that brilliant...
 
I have a theory (that so far, with all the mares I have come across or owned it is correct) that most of the really nasty 'mareish' mares are actually in pain of some sort. Sadly, as their behaviour is often put down to 'mareishness', they are often not properly investigated by a Vet, physio, saddler etc... which they would have been if they had been male. :(
 
i dont have a preference but in my opinion geldings are so much easier to handle and ride. alot of the top horses are geldings so this must prove something............ i do like mares aswell because they usualy are the braver of the two but this all depends on the horse :D
 
Definitely geldings. Have had 2 mares and 2 geldings and much prefer the geldings, i just tend to click with them more as being quite a laid back person I prefer having laid back horses and the geldings I have had are way more chilled and easier to train and more loving. I currently have 2 mares and a gelding and have to say I havent completely clicked with the mares, I just find them more stroppy and tempermental and more argumentative.
 
well this is really interesting :D i must say though im defo for geldings :D but saying that one of the mares ive had the sweetest most unmarish ponies ever but the others were very marish but i know not all are :)
 
Geldings but I do have a mare to bring on at the moment and she is lovely but my god she gets all squealy and silly as soon as she sees the boys!
 
The first pony I bought is a gelding and I always said I would never have a mare, I've since had 4! 2 were utter baggages although one was due to a previous owner, 1 was utterly amazing but sadly too small and my current mare is a total sweetheart. I think a good horse comes in all forms.
 
Mares. Have ridden geldings, never owned one, i think mares have a bit more spirit about them & i have bonded with mares more.
However i wouldnt turn a good gelding down as a good horse is a good horse. I wouldnt change my chestnut mare for the world!
 
Faracat said:
I have a theory (that so far, with all the mares I have come across or owned it is correct) that most of the really nasty 'mareish' mares are actually in pain of some sort. Sadly, as their behaviour is often put down to 'mareishness', they are often not properly investigated by a Vet, physio, saddler etc... which they would have been if they had been male. :(
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Not necessarily, I had a mardy mare who I did have investigated by a vet/physio, there was nothing wrong with her she was just a baggage!
 
broke_but_happy said:
Not necessarily, I had a mardy mare who I did have investigated by a vet/physio, there was nothing wrong with her she was just a baggage!
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That's why I said most, not all. There is always the occasional horse (of whatever gender) that is just plain grumpy (I was going to use a stronger term, but I chickened out! ;) )
 
I have one of each: a mare, a gelding and a stallion, all good. Wouldn't choose a horse specifically by sex unless I was planning to breed.
 
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