Mare or gelding?!

[aussierider]

I have both, I love geldings they are tend to be friendly and easy going. My mare is very special though, she isn't super friendly, a stranger would not be able to catch her and she isn't that keen on attention but we have a bond, and I do feel like she prefers me to other people which is nice.

 

[saddlesore]

I have had both and if I was looking to buy I would view both. However if it came down to a good mare and a good gelding then I would take the gelding.

 

[Shantara]

Never owned a mare, but looked after/ridden a fair few and it's a tricky one. I think I would take a gelding.

 

[Auslander]

I think the prevalence of geldings at the highest levels of equine sport rather disproves the theory that they are stupid, untalented, ungenerous and generally second rate. I think people often use their horses sex to pigeonhole it and make excuses for bad behaviour. "My horse is a mare, therefore its ok for her to be stroppy and kick off whenever shes asked to do something she doesn't fancy" or "he's a gelding, so he's a bit slow and lazy and dumb".
If horses are produced to the best of their ability, and their riders/owners insist that they step up to the mark (whatever that mark may be) when asked, most healthy horses should just do the job they are supposed to do without putting the rider and themselves at risk. I like geldings, stallions and mares - and wouldn't judge them on their sex. I might judge the rider/owner for the way they deal with their animal though.

 

[Rebecca1988]

I've always had a gelding & when I brought my second horse last year it was a mare. No reason why as long as they are suitable for what I want I don't mind. 😊

 

[Rebecca1988]

I've always had a gelding & when I brought my second horse last year it was a mare. No reason why as long as they are suitable for what I want I don't mind. 😊

 

[Merrymoles]

I think the prevalence of geldings at the highest levels of equine sport rather disproves the theory that they are stupid, untalented, ungenerous and generally second rate. I think people often use their horses sex to pigeonhole it and make excuses for bad behaviour. "My horse is a mare, therefore its ok for her to be stroppy and kick off whenever shes asked to do something she doesn't fancy" or "he's a gelding, so he's a bit slow and lazy and dumb".
If horses are produced to the best of their ability, and their riders/owners insist that they step up to the mark (whatever that mark may be) when asked, most healthy horses should just do the job they are supposed to do without putting the rider and themselves at risk. I like geldings, stallions and mares - and wouldn't judge them on their sex. I might judge the rider/owner for the way they deal with their animal though.

Well said!

 

[Oisintirnanog]

Just interested to know what people have/ what they prefer and why?

I prefer geldings. Have my first, after a having Marish mares since childhood. I guess the difference is that I can tell him what to do. He wants to be good, so long as you’re clear about what you want. Then he’ll do it. Sweetheart would try jump a ten foot fence for me if I asked him to.
My mares knew what I wanted, but they had an opinion too. So going over a jump would be more of a negotiation as in “Are we both going over this, or just you?”