I prefer geldings. The mares always knew they were the smarter and more capable ‘half’ of the partnership and spent no time trying catering to my inabilities. The geldings knew this too, of course. They were just kinder about it.:lol:
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Mares always. I’ve owned one very sweet but very average gelding and have ridden much more of the same. To me geldings are too submissive, bordering on dumb, and just have less competitive drive. I think that geldings are the more popular choice (look at ISO ads almost anywhere) and geldings outnumber mares 2 to 1 at my barn (if not a little bit more than that).
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I’m in the minority here. I’ve had both and I definitely prefer geldings. I’ve heard a saying that once you lose a mare’s trust, it is gone forever, and I have seen that happen. As an example, I had an OTTB mare years ago who was a perfect angel on the ground. Kids could sneak up behind her and she wouldn’t flinch. In the tack, however, she was never able to overcome her lack of trust in the rider and ended up becoming a broodmare. I have seen this in mares without such trauma as well. Geldings are very forgiving and more wiling to “take a joke.” Also, I enjoy the “pet” aspect of owning horses and geldings seem more tolerant of baby talk and kisses! LOL.
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I myself I love my mares. The bond you can get with a mare is like no other and as much as I’ve ridden many geldings, none have ever given me that extra little thing that mares can give you.
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Geldings. There are a handful of mares in my life that I’ve ridden that I’ve enjoyed riding… but there are a LOT that I just haven’t gotten along with. Obviously it depends on the horse, but I tend to gravitate towards geldings for sure.
I like them both. I feel like geldings are the B student and will be there for you day in and day out.
But mares, when it clicks and once you have their respect will try their hearts out for you. There may be more tail swishing and back talk, but when the rubber hits the road the mare will carry you through. I miss my mare, but I also love my dopey dependable gelding.
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Geldings are my preference.
I have met a few really incredible mares that made me think that mares are the way to go. But I realized that by and large, mares have too many feelings, and I have too many feelings, so together we are a hot mess.
I also, it has been my experience that most “mare people” had one awesome mare (or a few, if they have had a lot of horses in their lifetime), and they continue to have mares in an attempt to chase that same kind of partnership again. And I see a lot more frustration and heartache than success. And then I see people with too much pride to admit maybe mare #1 was their heart horse, mare #2 destroyed their confidence, so maybe horse #3 should be a gelding so that they can enjoy riding again.
Currently I have a horse that can only be described as the most mareish gelding in all the land. He is as persnickety as any mare I’ve ever met and it took quite some time to build that partnership that we have now. He also has one heck of a cow-kick when he is angry, and that is a very mare-ish trait :lol: But he also has as much heart as one of the “good mares” and is good to me.
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Sorry I didn’t quote it…but the highlights I remember, she asked what fun things she could do all the time with her leased 18 year old OTTB specifically lots of jumping and riding all over bareback…don’t remember the rest but it was totally unrelated to mares or geldings. Struck me as things most owners of coming 19 year old OTTBs out on lease would want to be asked about first.
For the edited question. Riding random horses, prefer geldings. Personal horse, mare I know well enough to gain their respect, which can be a journey but ends in a partner, not a loyal servant. If you only want to deal with silent partners, and it’s not your horse to develop a relationship with, you need a gelding.
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Geldings to me are like labs, mostly friendly, goofy, and dumb.
Mares are like a sharp working dog. Not much for cuddling but once you get on the same page nothing’s better!
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I think I overall I prefer girl animals- except for future romantic partner there I prefer men. I have two girl cats. Did have a boy cat though and he was really cool. When I eventually get a dog, I would like a female. I do have a boy and girl goat. And a mare and a gelding. The gelding was left behind by ex. He is a bit of a fuss budget but very lovable (the gelding, not my ex). I am so in love with my mare. Is it because she is a mare or because she is just amazing? I don’t know. She is so much fun!!! If I were looking for a horse I would want a mare (but would not rule out a gelding).
That’s pretty close! I chose to scratch the question and just changed it to a question I was curious about since you can’t leave it blank but the repossesses has been interesting. I don’t have much of a preference as I’ve had good experiences with both. Gelding girl at heart though.
Responses have been…not repossesses has been.
Mares always.
I once heard someone say, “I hate it how when I’m riding my guy, and when something scary happens in one corner of the arena, he’ll spook at it the entire ride.”
I’m currently riding a mare and thought, “The entire ride? Try the entire friggin’ winter, my friend.”
I prefer geldings. I have a naturally anxious temperament and most mares are sensitive and can pick up on that fact all too quickly. That being said, I’m riding a mare now, and if I’m in a good head space, the fluidity and sense of oneness we have is priceless, and I can see why people love riding them.
I feel it takes a great deal of psychological discipline on the rider’s part to ride most mares well, which I sadly often lack. But, like I said, I’m currently riding a mare right now, so I have no choice but to rise to the occasion as best I can.
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I love mares and this has nothing to do with it.
I dunno. I just think I prefer mares. I just LOFF my darling Chestnut OTTB mare. She is so cute and so smart and so very lovable!!!
Hm. I’m very much about the horse in front of me, or beneath me in the cases of riding. I’m open to a gelding or a mare, with no strong preference. Back in the day (where I was located at the time, anyway) it was difficult to find a good boarding situation and turnout for a mare, so that swayed me to buy geldings. I almost bought a mare, but she failed her PPE, and a suitable gelding came along. I rode various mares throughout the years, and got along with them quite well, I just never owned one.
I changed paths a few years back and headed in a different direction. My breed of choice, P.R.E, mostly has stallions and geldings for sale as riding horses. I buy directly out of Spain. Mares can be cheaper, but are mostly used for breeding. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed many more being trained and sold as riding horses, so I may just end up with one.
Depends on the horse. I have always owned geldings until I bought my first mare about 6 weeks ago. And I must say…I think…I am leaning team mare now. I have always loved my geldings, but there is something about her that is just different. That said, I have seen both geldings and mares that I do not care for. I swore up and down that I would never buy a mare and here I am, with a mare thinking, I don’t know if I want another gelding :lol:
