What ride do you prefer?

[Haviris]

I don't think geldings are dumb or dull, and I don't think the majority of mares are crabby.

Actually both my mare and our gelding are very similar in personality, and in all the best ways! If we took away their genders no one would be able to say which was which (except that I think she looks like a "she" and he looks like a "he", but maybe that's just because I know them). When my mare is in heat she's more attentive to other horses, otherwise she's pretty much like any other time. Actually the last time I rode w/ the gelding while she was in heat, he was a bigger pain then her. But I'm not putting him down either, he's a great horse, he's a great family horse, pretty much great for anyone, recently taught my 10 year old nephew to ride. My mare is not a beginner horse, and I'm the only one that rides her (not because she's a mare).

Now that said I've been around some unfriendly hateful geldings, and mares I didn't get along with. So it all just depends on the individual. I guess it does annoy me abit to hear someone say's mares are crabby, or accuses one of "acting like a mare" when she's misbehaving, in the same breath the gelding acting the same way is just having a bad day. My mare doesn't act that way, I can't say she's never, or would never act up, all horses will at some point, but it's not typical for her. Our gelding also doesn't typically act up. I've had more mares in my life then geldings, and I'd say both have been pretty good in their own ways, some of my best horses were mares, and some of my worst were also mares, ironically the worst mares were not mine and I wonder if that isn't part of the difference, a typical good gelding will work great for everyone, and a mare has to like you and want to work for you (I did have am exception to that, a gelding that was like that, on the other hand I've had a few mares that would work for anybody to).

A well behaved stallion can be great to, but there are alot of times stallions are not allowed and like I said I don't like to be restricted. I also have no strong desire to breed so see no reason not to geld, it's just easier. I have one miniature stallion, he does have a few foals on the way, but I have no current plans to use him in the future, don't know yet if I will geld him. No real reason, I think part of it is he is the most calm and lazy horse in the world and part of me worries he'll get even lazier if he's gelded. At least right now he gets alittle more motivated w/ other horses around, so he's generally more lively when we go to a parade or something.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Rode them all, do not actually prefer one over the other. Voted mare - cause that is what I have left - well two mares left, the Arabian and th Mustang.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:

I like that quote. Everyone always tells me I'm strange because I like mares and this time around my only rule was... no gelding.

Not saying there aren't good gelding out there, I've met quite a few, I just end up with the pig-headed stubborn ones. Or maybe I just bring it out in them.

 

[Skyesrocket]

"ASK a stallion, TELL a gelding, NEGOTIATE with a mare" I like that quote too.
I have had some neat geldings...I like the ones with a sense of humor. But my personal favorites are mares. Maybe because my first two horses were mares?
A good friend has about 30 horses and an indoor arena and anytime I get bored I go over to ride. I almost always pick a mare to ride. I just feel like I connect better with the gals.

 

[seminolewind]

My glide-ride is a Tennessee walking horse mare. I love her. And I don't even notice when she's in heat.

 

[Mahonri]

Mare

 

[danischi24]

I'm a stallion person through & through. I grew up with race stallions & fell for (& off

) them at a young age. If I find a flashy highly strung mare, I'll take her but a stallion is so much more fun! Generally, my studs aren't puppy dog tempered but I like their fire & I always make sure that they don't pose a danger or hassle to others.

 

[BorderKelpie]

I guess I've been lucky, I've had several sarcastic geldings with awesome temperments. My mares and I always seem to PMS at the same time, takes the fun out of a relaxing ride and can make a working ride too much like work. I also get along great with stallions. I would actually prefer stallions except for some of the horror stories I've heard (but never witnessed). I would not want to take a chance of injuring another rider just so I could ride my stallion. I always rode them either alone or with a gelding he knew. Never with horses he didn't live with or know well and not around inexperienced people. I love an animal with fire and drive, even my dogs are intense.
neat poll.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
LOL...that is spot on! And why I prefer to ride the gelding...I am bossy like that. But, I love my mare cause of her personality and her antics...most of the time.