Mares vs. geldings

I do find I get on better with geldings than mares, there have only been 2 or 3 mares I can say I have clicked with. I like to think I have a good bond with B and now have the startings of a good bond with Lord aswell, both are quirky, Ban can be stubborn as a mule but boy when you get him thinking with you he is fun :D. The same goes for Lord, he is a quirky lil lad but he always tries his heart out :)
 
I think a good horse is a good horse mare, gelding or stallion.

However I am a total mare fan, had mostly mares my whole life, we used to breed Welsh Cobs years ago so had mostly mares.
I did ride the stallion we had and train and back some of the gelding foals we had. But most of my riding was on the mares, they varied in temperament and such like as the mares were of different breeds. Had a lovely TB mare, she could be cheeky but on the whole was a gem, the section D mare was very sharp but spending the time with her one to one was very important to my backing her. I had to take things slower with her for example when compared to one of my mares sons.

Anyway, not sure what my point is lol! I just adore mares, had the same mare since 1992 and I adore her, we have had some moments, but they have been so few and far between in our 18years together. She will try her heart out for me and do really anything I ask as long as she feels the confidence from me, if my confidence is not so hot one day she notices, but she is a real trooper. When I can afford another I will be getting another mare without a doubt, as much as I loved our stallion and the gelding sons of the mares, mares are really my preference. My god I have rambled, sorry ..... :D
 
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Personally I much prefer geldings. I've ridden some very nice mares but I just don't like them as much as "people". Maybe I'm a bit of a tart - I just prefer boys.
I don't hold with the arguements that mares are more intelligent or sharper or have more attitude. My gelding is sharp, clever and has shed loads of attitude - I often joke he's like a mare with a willy. Really I think its much more to do with his breeding than his sex.
 
kandm said:
I think the difference is, you get alot of very nice geldings, however if you get a good mare they are worth their weight in gold. The saying is "you can never beat a good mare".

However all horses are different :).
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What she said! :p

I had 3 gelding who were all very similar and were depenable, they were great for learning to ride on and made great competition ponies.

I've also had 2 mares, 1 one was very similar to a gelding (her character was always the same, she had a lovely character which was great!) but Lacey can be very mareish! She can be feisty but boy when she's going well she is super! For me if you are happy to put up with a bit of messing around for a cracking competition horse then you can't beat a good mare.
 
I would have to say I am a mare person but probably because I have an extra special mare.
I have never had the bond with a gelding that I have with Gin. She never puts her ears back and would never think of hurting anyone. She has a personality whereas I have always found geldings to be more bland. The gelding that I had wouldnt care less if I never went to see him but my mare stands waiting for me at the gate.
She is hot headed when being ridden but as quiet as a lamb on the ground and will let you do anything to her.
Luckily for me she has just produced me a super filly.

I never used to have a preference but after having a gelding and growing up with geldings I would always go for a mare providing they had the right temperament.
 
Before I got my first horse I thought I would want a gelding as I didnt want to end up with a hormonal mare. Then I found Tia and had to go view her cuz she was so pretty. She was such a good mare. Very affectionate and honest.

Now i've just bought a gelding even though I was leaning towards getting another mare. So we shall see how I do owning a gelding! :)
 
Must admit I had a friend's stallion stay for awhile and he was stabled next to one of my geldings. Soon learnt to put mares out first, then geldings, then stallion. He only jumped out of his paddock once to talk to my mares, couldn't get in with them after that he was as good as gold and he was as easy to handle as the rest and loved the fuss he got from everyone, lovely temperment:D
 
I just don't know and so I have to say I like both. I've had 4 geldings and 2 mares but I have to disagree with the saying and I think its more that if you get a good gelding, they can't be beat. I've had a couple of real good mares, one in particular, but they've both been inconsistent and prone to making stupid mistakes (in showjumping). Its almost like they go looking for trouble round a course, but occasionally both of them would produce an incredibly outstanding result. Also with mares the squealing and making faces and being super-sensitive to do things with can be a bit of a pain whereas all the geldings I've had have just been easier to wash, plait, vet, etc.. Although geldings can be grumpy and can try to dominate a bit too much and need to be put in their place more. Mares too seem to look after you better if you get a good one.

Next time I buy a horse I'm not going to bother restricting my search to either mares or geldings, if its a good horse, I will buy it no matter what sex it is!
 
I really agree with the people that say they bond with a mare more, my current horse (mare) rides wonderfully for me, so well behaved, never puts a foot wrong, and preforms, the kind of horse everyone wants, but when my sister gets on she just bucks, spins and tanks her everywhere and refuses to do anything 'pretty'. Needless to say my sister doesn't get on with mares and i do, they just need to be asked and not told, otherwise you will never win with them
 
I turned down 2 cracking mares, purely because they were mares. Stupid, I know, but I was put off mares forever by my loan TB who was very mareish. I now look back and think it was the other loaner's fault because of the feed she gave her and the way she handled her.

Anyhoo, I got a gelding and I adore him, so can't complain.
 
I always seem to end up sharing/loaning etc geldings. But i have had 2 mares now with the strongest, deepest bonds and so i would prefer a mare when i buy my own.

Geldings are nice, but they don't seem as bothered about human company to me. Granted, i've had bonds, but not like with the mares.
 
I do have to say, after reading people's comments, that I think my age and maturity level has made a difference in what I like. I'm much more patient than I was when I was younger. Back then I preferred geldings because they pretty much did what I asked and were straightforward. I loved them all and had great relationships with them but I've never had a relationship like I have with my mare. It's like we speak the same language.

She's probably my last horse anyway (I'm pushing 50 and she's only 5) but if I do end up with another, I think it's likely to be another mare.
 
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