Mares or geldings............discuss!

I'm both!
Love geldings because they are cheeky but do listen to you.
Love mares because they have their own opinions on everything, either give 100% or give you 1% :p
 
Mares. Think once you've got them on side the bond is ace. Quite like geldings too & wouldn't be put off having them in the future again, but for me I just like mares more.
 
I love both. I was always a geldings girl before I bought my mare. She is truly my horse of a lifetime and I love her more than any other animal. But my bond with my gelding is really growing now. He is such a character. So I have to say I am not at all fussed either way, so long as the horse has character and is a 'touchy feely' type. Can't be doing with aloof, or unfriendly horses.
 
I bought my mare 7 weeks ago after owning geldings for years.

My two boys are great - but neither is really affectionate (unless I have treats!!)

My little mare is really sweet at times and while the boys always come to say hello when I am bringing the hay out or to see if I have food, she is still ere when they have buggered off again and likes just hanging out. We haven't even known each other that long - but I think we have a lovely little relationship growing already. I'm just getting used to the 4 or 5 grumpy days a month!
 
Makes no difference. Have had lovely mares and lovely geldings. Any horses here are run as a herd anyway, so deal with both sexes every day. Only dislikes - geldings' mucky sheaths and mares' squeals!!
 
Both. I lean more towards mares but my gelding is so sweet and honest. Even if he is a bit gormless:o. My mare is very clever and crafty with all the tricks and the bond with Will is not about food as it is with Sophie.
 
The boys. (Gelding and entire)
I Dont think geldings are necessarily any more gormless than mares though.

We have more mares and theyre great, fine, but my lad's my lad :D
 
Mares. Have 4 and one gelding. Gelding is a PITA as far as having to sort company. Can love them or run them through any type of fencing. Plus I'm also in a place that had 2 one owner geldings. The special needs of these 2 geldings was absolutely ridiculous. Ie, neither could ride if my mares were in view because they had stallion geldings, of course they did. More like watching too much Black Stallion syndrome.

Anyway as far as riding, my mares give me more every time. They get on with their jobs no matter what. They have odd quirky moments but never fail when needed. When my mare foals colts I'm delighted because most people want geldings. They've always sold as foals to good homes. Just means I'm not inclined to keep them! Refuse to take less money for a filly because she is a filly. It's rather funny because I get more for colts and don't have the expense of gelding! Figure that out.

So yeah while I love my mares, so thankful for the gelding lovers out there!

Terri
 
In theory I have no problem with mares, but have never 'clicked' with one. When I have bought I have tried both but always seem to gel better with the boys. Maybe it is because it takes longer to bond with mares and I don't have time when viewing.
 
I am very interested in this thread and I hope many more people comment.

I have owned and ridden for 30 + years but never owned or ridden a mare.

Two years ago I bought a cob mare in a bit of a poor state very cheaply, only 15hh. The plan was to patch her up and sell her on as a family horse.

Both her mind and body were in a poor state but she was a delight to work with and it wasn't long before I really rather liked her, a fact I dare not admit to anybody because I don't do mares and never will. She was brighter than any gelding I had worked with and never needed telling anything twice.

The sale was abandoned and I put her in foal to a RID. My hope was for a colt of course - I simply don't do mares - my foal arrived safely and was a filly. The foal was strong, correct, very good looking and has lots of substance - exactly what I wanted with one exception.

10 months on I love this filly, she is brave, well mannered, easy to teach, sensible and polite. I realise she will have 'stroppy teenager' moments at some point but she is so different to the colts/young geldings I have had in the past. If she continues to grow up with the same outlook and carries it through into an adult ridden horse I will have a lovely horse and be in a unique position for me - sitting on a mare for the first time in over 30 years.
 
Both I always had only mares but now have ended up with four geldings .
I loved working with the mares They went well for me now it's turned into all boys and I really don't find them any easier perhaps because it's a small yard it suited the girls .
One thing i would say geldings ,apsolute pratts in the field the girls where definatly easier in that respect.
 
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I've had some fantastic geldings over the years and to be honest if I ever have another horse I would probably go for a gelding. HOWEVER my current horse, a beautifull, opinionated, larger than life mare has taught me the most about myself in all my years of horse owning. She is never the same 2 days running, is definitely a challange but immensly rewarding as well. We have a great bond and she loves to be part of the action. I wouldn't have been able to put up with her in my younger, more hormonal days but as I have learned to be more patient, I am better able to manage those equine hormones!!!
 
I am a geldings fan. I just seem to bond better with any male animal. Did own a mare and loved her but the second i got my gelding (chico) the bond was instant.

Think i would be reluctant to buy a mare again but it she was exactly what i was looking for i would consider it, but always prefer a gelding.

I like my boys :D
 
cinnamontoast said:
Geldings. I can't be bothered with moody mares!
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ameeyal said:
Geldings for me every time, because i like an easy life. i would never have a mare.
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I find these comments quite funny as all three of my girls are easier than my gelding. ;) OK, he's only two, but he is more difficult than the grey was at the same age.

With the grey, once she understands what you want, she remembers and willingly tries to get things right. He just gets over excited and cannot concentrate. :rolleyes: Luckily I love him and his funny ways eg, the grey loves to boss him about but he adores her and almost had kittens when I took her out of the field. The other two mares were just standing, looking at him with 'what the flip is he up to, she'll be back soon?' looks on their faces. :p
 
Mares all the way, between myself and the kids we have four, and two of the kids ponies are chestnut. Seriously I got them for pennies as no one wants a chestnut mare for a kids pony, except me apparently. They are far less moody than my black fell mare, she looks like Toothless out of 'How to train your dragon'!
 
always seems to be mares for me. I know and admire lots of lovely geldings, but when it comes down to my own horses I have always had mares and love them uirks and all.
 
either, i have 4 geldings who are all different, one is very loving ( i never feed treats)and tries really hard, the other is besotted with my daughter, the new one is great fun to ride and the smallest is like a little old man even though he's only rising 5:D the mare is a big mardy lump who winds the boys up when she's in season and makes you work for every step, but strangely thats what i love about her too:D
 
I had a Tb chestnut mare whose seasons were so difficult to deal with, I had her ovaries scanned! On the other hand, I also had a chestnut anglo arab mare who never "appeared" to have seasons - lol. However, given my experience with the former, never again would I "risk" buying a mare, she scarred (and scared) me for life!

Gelding's every time - though sheath cleaning is no nice job either!

The saying "You ask a mare, but tell a gelding" is so true, IME!
 
I always thought geldings, all my other pets have been boys I've never had a girl! But my share mare has changed my mind a bit. My last share was REALLY moody and turned around a kicked me once just out of spite in the field! I still liked her but with this one I have been riding her for about 3 months and she is like a different horse, she was just testing me! She does still tank off every now and then but we're getting there :-)
 
I don't care what gender they are if they do the job I want them to. I have had plenty of both.

Right now I have very little use for geldings as they can't reproduce ;)

If I have geldings it is because I have had colts cut. I have one gelding of my own that is a useless, but quite delightful pet, he also has a job or two, in that he is an excellent nanny and gives children a great deal of leasure from handling him.
 
I had two great mares both were very opinionated ladies in particular my chestnut mare had a lot of attitude :D went looking for another mare but ended up with a gelding who is totally lovely and hey gives cuddles all the time the girls definitely had to be in the mood but like others have said either are great its the individual horse I think!
 
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