mares vs geldings. . .

S

show_jumper

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2005
Messages
398
Visit site
hey. just being nosey really. . .
i have always been quite sexist and stuck to geldings as i've only had a couple of mares in the past who were nightmares!~!
however, i did ride a lovely SJ mare in AUS who was outstanding!!! and started to plant the seed of doubt.... were mares really that bad???

now i do a tiny bit of buying and selling - of young competition horses in order to fund my own string of show jumpers (all geldings and a stallion) and only buy and sell geldings..

now im starting to wonder if maybe i should buy a mare i've seen who seems nice enough - but wondered what the buying pulic thinks.... would you buy a mare or would you always prefer a gelding??

ANY views are great - sorry for waffling.
 
At the risk of being shot down in flames!! I think that geldings can be bullied into doing what you want them to do, but you have to ask a mare nicely. However, when you have the trust of a mare, she will try her little heart out for you.
I have friends who would NEVER buy a mare, they think they are too hormonal/moody. Having had several of both, I would say I prefer mares to geldings. But as I said, it's down to personal choice I guess.
 
Had both..... i think its very hard to say "i prefer ...." over all as it all depends on the personality of the horse.

Out of my 3 mares, one was moody and quite "mare-ish", the other two i never even knew when they were in season. One of those was affectionate... one liked her own space.

Over all Ive had more geldings but that isn't down to a preference of one sex... its purely been down to which horses would do the job.

I think perhaps my geldings have been more affectionate that my mares but again, that could just be a personality thing.

So for me... I'd have either if they could do the job I wanted. I know some people who just can't get along with mares though (and just as an fyi... it's usually very dominating men!)
 
Tell a gelding, ask a mare, disuse with a stallion...
Mares all the way, athlough not for buying and selling, there a one rider type, once you have trust there isn't anything thing they won't do. Geldings are much more everybodies ride. With mares I tell them how pretty they are when asking them through water etc, with a gelding I tell them to 'Be A Man About It'
 
[ QUOTE ]
With mares I tell them how pretty they are when asking them through water etc, with a gelding I tell them to 'Be A Man About It'

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL - that really made me giggle
tongue.gif


You could be right although I have to say my gelding HATES people he doesnt know on him. He's turned into an absolute mummy's boy and has a real strop if someone new gets on him.
 
I have had two mares and now have a gelding. I think I would definately prefer geldings. When I watch the mares & geldings in their separate fields, the geldings always play fight but never anything nasty, they never get nasty when a new arrival comes, even though we have quite a few come and go. The mares are much more stressy and nasty and even worse when they are in season. I know there are some lovelly mares same as there are some horrible geldings, but I think on the whole GELDINGS!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
there a one rider type,

[/ QUOTE ]

No they're not, any sex of horse can be a one rider type because some are more sensitive than others be they mare, gelding or stallion.
 
[ QUOTE ]
With mares I tell them how pretty they are when asking them through water etc

[/ QUOTE ]

With mine I say 'Stop trying to roll you bloody great oaf I am still on your back!!!!' *whille frantically pony club kicking!
smirk.gif


Honestly, I don't have a preferance and didn't realise so many people did until I bought a mare and then had a load of 'hmm...you bought a mare? *shocked look*' comments.
 
I do think it is very steriotypical what people say about mares being scatty and what have you. I mean yes, some obviously are, infact it is
probably a majority. lLts face it mares have every hormone going while the geldings I presume have alot less(any one like to expand on my theory that probably isn't goig anywhere!!
crazy.gif
)

But what I was meaning to say is that when a mare is being scatty and a complete bitch, people just shrug it off as 'its just a mare'...if a gelding was to behave in the same way they are being bargy rude tw*t of a horse which is tad unfair, alot of it can be down to manners and how they are brought up!

Personally I do preferre mares I think, although we do tend to clash when one of us don't get our own way, but I do love a challenge. But then again I have known alot of fantastic geldings, but then some real brutes!
 
Super_kat of course any horse can be sensitive! Just like I know a very marish gelding, and mares that aren't at all marish but if we're genral which we must be to talk of them as mares and geldings then in my experience working with lots of each, mares work better for you once they have got to know you, were as geldings in genral are less sensitive. I guess there like people, you get sensitive men and very menly men.
 
For example, on my yard we used to have a gelding that was evil, he would bite you if you walked past his stable, and charge at you in the field if he didnt want to be caught.

On the other hand, my gelding is the biggest girls blouse you are ever likely to meet.
 
I have had mostly mares over the years and i do love mares, i would always go for a mare,i just love em. If i met a great gelding i would not be put off buying him because of the sex, but i definately have a real preference for mares and more than likely my next horse when seren is retired will be a mare
grin.gif
 
I prefer mares.... but i have a mare and gelding now, although he's only 11 months old... he seems quite affectionate and nosey, but then he is a nosey yearling... i seem to bond more with mares, all the geldings i've had.. thats 3 of them, have been grumpy!
 
When horse shopping, we were always told to NOT get a mare. We have 3 horses now - all are mares...one is chestnut!! And none of them are ever at all mareish - dont know if we're just lucky or if people exaggerate mareishness (?!) The chestnut is a real character, but that's probably just her being a typical spoilt welsh A.
However, the first horse we bought was Murphy (a gelding) and he was always my favourite. Dont know if it was anything to do with him being a gelding, but he had the most amazing personality and is by far my favourite horse.
When i next buy a horse, i'm gonna look for a gelding because i miss having a boy, but I wouldnt just write a mare off for being a mare. They're just different in a hard-to-describe way! I've confused myself now!!!
confused.gif
grin.gif
 
hmm... some interesting comments here.

from what i've read - im starting to think that its fine to have a mare of your own - but not such a good idea if its bough as a prospect to sell on.....
 
geldings are generally cleaner to muck out
smile.gif
lol

I have to admit all the horses i have had have been geldings apart from one chesnut mare (and she was a stereotypical chesnut mare!)

I would probably say geldings are easier to buy and sell on as they don't have the stereotype of moody etc like a mare. Could be wrong..
 
Geldings all the way, I'm afraid
wink.gif
They're generally not as intelligent as mares, but I've always found them more agreeable
wink.gif


"geldings are generally cleaner to muck out"

You haven't seen mine o_o
 
lol okay.. i did say generally
smile.gif
hehe

mind you... come to think of it, my mums gelding is foul and walks everything in and makes it a nice mess! lol
 
Give me a mare any day!!
grin.gif


But I agree, for buying and selling I too, would generally, stick to geldings.
smile.gif
 
I prefer Geldings. I love to watch them play and the ones I have known have been more dependant on you thant the mares and always more pleased to see you
smile.gif


Geldings IMO are also a little dafter and definately a little softer (generalisation here for purposes of the post) I think it comes from mares still being entire.
 
I've had all.to compeat i've had most succuss with mares and stallions.Yeah they can be complex, but i like a bit of spirit.
Got to admit it really pisses me off when people wont even look at a horse cos its a mare.
The mares i've had have gone the extra mile for me.
 
I help out at a riding school and I have to say that the geldings are so much easier to do and much more friendly (apart from one evil grey pony that has it in for me).

The boys are always happy to see you, easily caught and walk nicely, the girls on the other hand are just plain mean, they are bargy, stroppy and generally a pain to turn in and out, I'd rather get the youngsters in than try and get a mare away from her best mate!

I haven't been riding long and have stuck to the same couple of horses, both geldings, so I don't know what mares are like to ride but I'd rather handle a gelding because I know they aren't going to crush me against a wall or bite my bum when I'm picking out their feet
laugh.gif
. x
 
Ive had both but generally find mares easier to have around. Geldings can be so boyish!!! Mares, being the female of the species, seem to be so much more intelligent!!! And certainly more able to multitask!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif


But I havent really had a really tarty mare so maybe Ive been lucky!!

TBH dont think I would ever have another boy!!
 
I've had geldings and mares. even out of the horses that I didn't 'gel with', I still preferred the mares. My currant horse is a mare. I've had her for 3 years and I'd never sell her. I think there is a lot of nonsense talked about mares being difficult. If a mare is naughty people say its her hormones and she is being marish. If a gelding is being naughty, he's just 'being naughty'. The 'naughtiest' horses I have ever come across have been geldings! Coincidence? No doubt!

Mares are entire. Consequently, like stallions, they will sometimes be effected by their hormones, but also consequently they are full of character (in a good way). Comparing geldings and mares is not really comparing like for like. It makes more sense to compare mares to stallions I think.

You probably will find geldings easier to sell due to the predudice that is around. This leaves more mares for those who love them to choose from though
smile.gif
 
I think geldings are more straightforward than mares. Except Antifaz, of course! Typical.
However, mares are real triers and PF will sort herself out when I cock up more readily than A. On the other hand, she also thinks she knows it all already and if she were human would be one of those children that always asks "but why?"
 
[ QUOTE ]
Tell a gelding, ask a mare, disuse with a stallion...
Mares all the way, athlough not for buying and selling, there a one rider type,

[/ QUOTE ]
Not PF. I can put anyone on her as long as they're not great lumps of a rider
smile.gif
Although it's always very effective to tell her she's pretty.
And not Antifaz, either. You can't 'tell' him anything. Have to ask him nicely. Perhaps he's a mare trapped in a gelding's body??
tongue.gif
 
Well I've always had mares and when looking for a new horse have actively looked for a mare - although if the right gelding came up I'd certainly consider it.
My first pony was a mare and 1 in a million. As a pony mad child that just wanted to jump, jump, jump she was truly amazing but very buzzy, she would crab sideways to the fence and then turn and pop - no matter how big it was. She could jump anything and even gave big horses a lead out hunting. Never refused, sorted strides out for herself. Bomb proof on the roads. A lovely affectionate personality - had all my cousins scrambling over her when they were very young. It used to be very obvious when she was in season but it never made her act any different to handle or ride. She died 2 years ago - she'd been with me 25 years. Cherry RIP.
My second horse was a chestnut mare and she was the most honest and genuine person you've ever met. She'd go out in all weathers with her ears pricked and be happy to work no matter what. I could never tell when she was in season. She did a bit of everything but was no world beater - except to me. She was PTS after being hit by a car when we were out hacking 6 years ago. Amber RIP.
My current mare is probably closer to the stereotype than any other but I have learnt more from her than any other horse over the years. She was described by one of her previous owners as "quirky but genuine" and that pretty much sums her up. Ask her politely to do things or even better make her think it was her idea all along and she'll do whatever you ask. Try to force into anything she's not happy with and you've got a battle on your hands! She's highly intelligent and that can sometimes be a problem as she anticipates things and thinks she knows best (usually regarding what we are jumping and at what speed) - sometimes its best not to argue and let her get on with it - other times I have to think up wierd and wonderful ways of getting her to do it my way without her realising - LOL but once she's cottoned on to what you want she'll go the extra mile for you. She's the most talented but most complex horse I've known. She's just been in season and she has been a little fresh but I've never noticed any connection to her seasons before. And thats Jenny.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top