[QUOTE=Malda;8872733]
This would make an interesting study. You would have to dress men and women the same, only showing the face, and see if horses can tell the difference. [/QUOTE]
No, because the differences between men and women are not just in the face. There are differences in build, gait, posture, stance, and manner that would also play into a horse’s ability to differentiate between the sexes.
[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;8872913]
No, because the differences between men and women are not just in the face. There are differences in built, gait, posture, stance, and manner that would also play into a horse’s ability to differentiate between the sexes.[/QUOTE]
And Smell! Ask any stallion when the mares are in heat. Horses can tell guys from girls by just smell. Had a mare who “winked” at any male, horse or person…very much a hussy and she ignored women, wasn’t nasty, just didn’t seem to interest her besides for treats.
I had a lovely and very sweet 18.2 hand Shire mare…kind and anyone could ride her. I heard one horse husband comment, “Now that’s a guys horse”. Well, she was big, but some of the smaller horses were a real fun, challenging and athletic rides.
My one gelding my DH calls a ladies horse, he will do for anyone but he likes females better. But I am his person and he will push other horses and people away from me if left to do so. We did a photo shot on Saturday DH, Me and my horse, more then once he put his head between us trying to keep DH away from me.
My mare and other gelding are happy with just about anyone giving them love.
I know a lot of mares that love men and can’t (or can barely) tolerate women. I totally get that there are horses that prefer men or women. Same with dogs! And often it has nothing to do with the people who have handled them (but often it is based on experiences). I’ve ridden horses that have a definite preference for women, especially stallions! Kind of weird, but there are some that are like that. Many could care less, but there are a smaller number that have preferences.
One horse I know has been referred to as a “man’s horse” is Michael Poulin’s GP horse, Thor M. Having met the horse (and rider) in person, I agree. I do not know anything about the horse’s background, but he seems to want a direct, strong ride. He’s a huge old-style WB…
I had a mare who was bred and raised by a local woman who I can only describe as a hard a$$. This mare, and all her close relatives, had impeccable manners but was very reserved and let you know that she was cooperating with you because it was beneath her dignity to make a fuss. She liked my husband and step father and would allow them special privileges (like catching her in the pasture) that she did not allow women.
Now the mare had several (female) owners between her breeder and myself and had lived in boarding barns from NY to CA and back again. When she was about 15 we offered her back to her breeder and the husband (a peach of a guy) came with the trailer to pick her up. I swear, after all those years, she instantly recognized him and simply fawned all over him. She clearly preferred men.
I have no doubt some prefer one sex to the other.
I worked for 9 years for a male trainer, we definitely had some horses that went better for him or our male amateurs. And there were some that preferred me or our lady amateurs. Sometimes it was really subtle…just a bit of resistance or tension. Sometimes it was quite dramatic (like the one mare who about broke my boss’ nose whenever he tried to ride her, but she got along great with me and her owner…which is funny, as we often found that most mares went really well for the boss).
We had one little kids horse who, I’m SURE, must have had the tar beat out of him by a man, as he was just barely tolerant of even being led by the boss or the father of the kid who owned him (he dumped the dad- a pretty solid rider- and neither of them could bridle him. I always had to do it). He was a peach for me and the other ladies, and a SAINT with the kids. He had a lot of funny quirky stuff about him that made him bit of a PITA, but he was such a little doll, so cute with the kids, that the grown ups in his life just put up with him regarding some stuff.
We also had a horse who, while he didn’t so much as prefer women (he went on to compete pretty successfully with another male pro), did go a lot better for both the boss and his male amateur owner if I rode him at least once a week and gave him what we started calling his “estrogen fix.” He could be a tough horse who wouldn’t back down from a fight. If he put his mind against doing something, he would bar room brawl with you and escalate things REALLY fast. And he was the type to pick a new thing to dislike each week. I refused to fall for his tactics and would bore him into thinking my way, which, for whatever reason, was not something the guys would do. So, I got on him at least once a week, we’d have a pleasant little ride until he’d object to whatever his objection was that week, and then I would just sweet talk and bore him until he found it far more interesting to do that objectionable thing. Horses are silly. 
My first horse used to bite my dad whenever he could. Never very hard, but if he was close enough he would nip his chest. We finally figured out it was because when my dad showed up at the barn it was to pick me up to go home. My horse associated my dad with me leaving. Kind of cute really.
One of my current horses prefers women. He gives some attitude to men under saddle. Not enough that I can’t have a male dressage trainer though. The other two don’t care as long as there is a treat at the end.
I don’t think it is size, or the way they ride, or anything like that that makes horses like one gender more than the other. I think they can smell the estrogen in women. I think that is why geldings tend to prefer women, and mares men. There are always exceptions of course.
Not only horses, but dogs also are subject to prejudices for and against women and men. It’s really interesting to see how smart dogs and horses are in choosing whom they like and whom they dislike.
There’s a gelding at the yard who runs away from women (including his owner – oh, dear), but will happily let the male yard owner or his son catch him wiithout any trouble.
I have heard that over the years. But not so much as what the horse prefers as pertains to the level of talent that is needed. I have heard it as meaning a big strong horse is more of a man’s horse, a fine sensitive one a woman’s. Of course I have seen the opposite matches work quite well.
No, in almost all instances I don’t think it’s gender that is at play.
One horse had been abused by a man. That horse was slow to warm up to people, but slower to men than women.
I hear the terms more to describe the kind of ride that the horse is used to - man’s ride, meaning more physical, and woman’s ride, meaning light off the leg and hand.
My friend’s mule hates men. Will bite them, make faces at them, turn her rear on them, and if they can get close enough to swing a leg over she will plant herself in place and not move. Any woman or girl though, sweet as can be, responsive and energetic.
What do we call her? A lesbian :winkgrin:
Oh dear, they very much know. We are all social mammals.
[QUOTE=Beck;8870633]
This. It is manner, not gender.[/QUOTE]
I have to agree. I think that in general, men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to be more soft, which is why some horses tend to favor more of one gender over the other in broad generalities. Of all of my horses that I have ever had, gender hasn’t been what I’ve noticed, but rather manner. My old Fox Trotter gelding would get extremely nervous with an aggressive rider, but was absolutely perfect with a softer one. My current Appaloosa has dumped both men and women who got on him with the attitude that they were going to cowboy him or show off.
[QUOTE=HunterEq95;8892321]
I have to agree. I think that in general, men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to be more soft, which is why some horses tend to favor more of one gender over the other in broad generalities. Of all of my horses that I have ever had, gender hasn’t been what I’ve noticed, but rather manner. My old Fox Trotter gelding would get extremely nervous with an aggressive rider, but was absolutely perfect with a softer one. My current Appaloosa has dumped both men and women who got on him with the attitude that they were going to cowboy him or show off.[/QUOTE]
That was not my experience.
I mean, I have heard stories of men being ‘able’ to get along with ‘ladies horses’ quite well (as in the sensitive ride, not bullying the horse).
I experienced a horse that was a dream for the most unaggressive male, worked his butt off for the strong male, but was a total jerk to females of any skill.
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