Ever since I first started riding I always said my dream horse would be a 15.3 bay TB mare. The horses I learned on were mares. My first “own” horse was a mare and she did anything I asked of her. My last two horses were geldings, but I still prefer mares.
My four fillies grew in to four lovely mares. Love my girls! Each is their own personality but each will lay it down for me. I’ve had great geldings who would lay it down for me too (and anyone else with a carrot).
I absolutely love my chestnut mare (TB x Trak). She can be a real pill when she wants to be, but is also the most loving soul. Wouldn’t trade her for the world!
i had a gelding many years ago, and ride my trainer’s mare now. I loved the gelding, but the mare is quite the caretaker. Once she decides you’re worth the trouble, she will try her best for you. I have major coughing fits when I ride and I have to make the mare move off forward- otherwise she will stand still or slow down to take care of me and make sure I’m ok. I literally tell her “I’m ok” and she steps right off.
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This 100%. Much to our trainer’s chagrin, DD and I are both firmly Team Mare. They have just a touch more fire to them which I love.
While I have owned several wonderful geldings ~ I prefer mares - for showing and pleasure riding .
I 100% prefer mares. More sensitive, try harder IMO. But not everyone likes “sensitive” or can form a partnership with them. It’s a skill. If you think about the classic amateur horse they are not mares… many more geldings because they are described as “kick rides”, “can take a joke”, etc. What is that saying? A mare will give you 110%, 75% of the time and a gelding will give you 75%, 100% of the time.
I’ve had a sensitive gelding before so they exist but not as common IMO and I always figured mine was gelded late because he had some studdy attributes.
Mares don’t play. (they can get excited and have fun…but they don’t wrestle play) Only Boy Horses really rough-house play. So yes, out in pasture, mares don’t play and get injured 
LOL.
I love mares and I guess I prefer them, but love my husbands’ gelding too. Can’t really generalize the sexes too much, but for sure. Mares don’t play like boys do. And mares CAN come into season - fact.
I do prefer them though!
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I like a good horse, mare or gelding. But I have owned quite a few mares in my lifetime, including my first saintly pony in the 70s and my current mount–and I would have absolutely no hesitation about getting another one if she were right for me.
I don’t care what the sex is as long as they have a good brain and are bold. My last three horses were mares and the horse I have now is a gelding. My last mare was the biggest B when she was in heat. She would squeal, kick, lean into you, stubborn and sensitive. I dealt with it for 12 years and it has been nice for the past year to not have to be dealing with it. i know I could have used Regumate but never did. The supplements never worked either. When i found my current horse, it was a plus that he was a gelding and BOLD! But at the end of the day, I would never look away from one sex to the other if they had a good brain. However, if they have crazy heat cycles that might help in a decision making.
Every horse mare, gelding, stallion is going to be different, none the same.
I adore mares. I think because I tend to be more of a ‘discussion’ rider, which means I get along well with mares and thoroughbreds, generally. Trainers have to sometimes tell me to toughen up and ride the gelding ride. I definitely agree that when you are really in tune with a mare, they will try for you above and beyond what a gelding will do, but they also get offended easier along the way. I just really enjoy the bond and communication I get from mares (and some TB geldings!)
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I prefer mares. The saying, “You discuss it with a mare” is completely true - they’re much more of a finesse ride. I own a very gelding-like mare. She’s the same every day, and once she’s tacked, she’s all business. A friend called her trot “purposeful” lol; she knows when it’s time to work, and she’s all heart.
I find with mares, there’s a greater sense of self-preservation, which means they’ll do everything to save your butt, too - once they decide they like you. There’s a lack of complacency, but also greater sensitivity. With my mare, she likes to make sure her opinion is heard; I don’t have to agree with it, but I do have to acknowledge it. She takes a joke (or two), but only up to a certain point. Mares have a strong sense of fairness.
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I’ve ridden some really nice geldings that I’ve enjoyed a lot. But I love my (chestnut, TB) mare, and the other horses I’ve ridden that I really clicked with have all been mares. I have done more with my wonderful mare than I ever dreamed of doing when I got her–I thought perhaps we’d have a nice career doing some 2’6 local hunter showing, the occasional hunter pace, and we’ve done the Adult Ammys, done rated dressage showing, pinned at 3’ regional eq finals, done Ladies Sidesaddle, evented a bit, even tried jousting once! She’s always risen to the occasion and given me 110% when it counted.
If I’m buying for myself, for keeps, when it comes time to replace her, I want another mare. The only reason I’d buy a gelding would be if I was planning to resell, or it was just such a fabulous deal that I couldn’t pass it up.
I do think, too, that there are certain people and certain trainers whose style of riding/teaching does not mesh well with mares. It does take a certain finesse and willingness to discuss 
things, and not everyone is OK with that. Finding the right program with a mare is really key to letting them blossom.
YES. 100% YES. And for the last couple of years I, sadly, I have pretty much been riding geldings - in all honesty I find mares more “ammy friendly” - geldings seem to be more prone to antics/playing/silliness whereas mares lend themselves to be opinionated and require “finesse” but I find them less likely to be “explosive” - I do think my style of riding makes me a better fit for a “sassy” mare which i probably another reason I adore them & this is of course a generalized statement! I am itching to get me another good mare and soon!
I am definitely am in the minority at my barn, but I far and away prefer mares. Everything I owned has been a mare. I just prefer their personality and whole way of being. Again, it probably helps that my two really aren’t all that “mareish.”
Definitely a mare person.
I’m sure there is some selection bias but the ones I’ve known and worked with have been very bold and careful.
My current ride is a mare and she has this beautiful wise soul that reminds me so much of my late mare.
Funny to see this thread, as I am horse-shopping and was just whinging to a friend this morning about the dearth of mares available in my area. Everyone seems, if not to dislike them, then to at least most definitely not-prefer them. Yet where are all these poor unwanted things?? I appreciate a good horse whatever its gender, but mares are where my true heart lies.
I just adore my Chestnut OTTB mare. She has a home with me forever. I am sure there are wonderful horses of both genders but I definitely prefer mares. The only difference when she cycles is that she is a shameless hussy. Under saddle she is just fine- no different from the rest of the time. She is so beautiful, smart, and athletic… not to mention a great personality. She’s the best!!!
I am a new convert as I am on my first mare. I LOVE her! If she’s an example of what mares are like, then I’ll shop for mares from now on. When I was looking (when buying her), I was looking for young horses 2-3 years old. I could find no geldings, only mares, so I gave up on my lifetime of geldings only and got my first mare.
I don’t know if all mares or like this or if she was just born broke, but she is SO SMART! I started her myself lightly in fall of 2015, gave her the winter off, then did some light work that spring and summer. Went to her first show in October and didn’t bat an eye and was a pro. She got this winter off and I just started her back to work four weeks ago. She picked up right where we left off and after three rides felt better than back in October. I’m looking forward to getting back to lessons soon.
She is very sensitive, very tuned-in, very interested, keen, willing, and makes a great partner.
Progress in a year with her has been more than in 2-3 years with my current gelding.
Like someone above said, I enjoy being more of a “discussion” rider and that works very well with her. I don’t like having to up the ante and get firm as I do with my gelding. I never have to do that with her, she always wants to get along and please.
AND she’s a pony, so she’s the cutest thing ever! (Have to try posting a picture now that we can do that!)
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I will admit to having a subconscious preference for mares for myself to ride, as does my son. but 7 of my lesson horses are geldings, with 1 mare. entirely by accident, that’s just how it worked out. we own something like 18 mares, 10 geldings and 1 stallion, at last count. of those that we have bred and kept, the majority have been fillies. lucky for me and DS, since we do all the riding of the youngsters.
