midgey
Olympic Poster
Posts: 571
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Post by midgey on Dec 29, 2011 21:43:16 GMT 1
Although my horse of a life time was a mare ,and not at all mareish.I am looking for a confidence giver, happy hacker and have decided that a gelding would be best ,as not affected by hormones etc. What do you think.
I have worked with all types of horses and generally prefer geldings.
Am I limiting myself. My current mare although lovely in many ways is mareish and can be moody .Do you think geldings are generally more straight forward?
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Post by lizpurlo on Dec 29, 2011 22:13:11 GMT 1
I've always had geldings as my own personal horses, but have known and loved riding three very special mares. Nowadays I'd never buy a filly or a mare - I only buy colts and have them gelded, as for one thing, they always tend to get on easily with each other, and for another, I can never breed anything in these days of massive over-production, no matter how tempted I might be!
However - confidence givers come in all shapes and sizes - a friend of mine bought herself a coloured cob as her first 'grown-up' horse - she was coming back into riding after many horseless years. He tanked off with her and gave her a bad fall - she would have given up riding entirely had not the YO persuaded her to try a forlorn little chestnut Arab mare, who though quite buzzy, was safe. They clicked - and my friend had twelve happy years with her. So I don't think one can ever be too dogmatic, it's such a personal thing.
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Kayti
Advanced Poster
Posts: 314
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Post by Kayti on Dec 29, 2011 22:23:47 GMT 1
i do think that we as horsemen have a preference - without any concious decision I seem to have had more mares than geldings. One gelding I did have we just didnt get on, no fault, just no connection.
A friend recently bought a chestnut mare from me for her son. This lady is a very experienced amateur eventer and only buys geldings as mares are too unpredictable as you stated above - particularly chestnut mares!! She has fallen hook, line and sinker and can't wait for her son to go to uni so she can have the mare to herself!
This mare was kept the other side of the big hedge from a herd of colts and a senior stallion all summer and this didnt effect her manners in the slightest. On another occasion she was being tacked up one day on the same yard as a gelding she wee'd and winked at him but then hacked out foot perfect with him - never a hint of hormones.
I think that sometimes we are surprised at what suits us and perhaps it is too soon to narrow down your search. If you miss the perfect horse because of it's gender it would be a shame :-)
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Post by shan on Dec 29, 2011 23:46:58 GMT 1
When I was looking to buy I wanted a gelding as I'd always got on better with them & never had one-to-ones with mares, but fate had a mare in store for me - very mareish she is too, she didn't take kindly to me at first but I won her round I absolutely adore her with all her mareishness and have no regrets about taking her on, she's taught me so much. If I was looking to buy now I'd go for either sex. Keep your options open, they find us remember
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Post by Beth&Rosie on Dec 30, 2011 0:04:15 GMT 1
I have had one of each and TBH the gelding was more of a handful! My YO says that if you get a good mare and bond well, she'll give you all she's got! My girlie has given me so much confidence and she will do most things for me, she is never marish at all (she used to be a bit flirty with geldings on the ground before she went on oestress, but never ridden and not on the ground any more!) I have shown her in classes full of geldings when she was in season, hacked her with geldings and she is turned out next to geldings no problem! When I was looking, I didn't want a mare, but fell in love with her straight away!
Don't be put of, but be prepared for a mare to be a very different ride to a gelding, you can't tell a mare, you have to persuade. At great length. You get used to it pretty quickly though! You'll learn to love a mare for their marishness and stubbornness!
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Post by laurac on Dec 30, 2011 0:29:44 GMT 1
I would take each one as an individual and consider both
My first pony was a mare, arab x welsh, safe as houses and very straight forward, bit too calm for me at the time so i took over my sisters nutty gelding who used to rear and buck
My old boy was a gelding we clicked and trusted each other 110% i always thought of him as my horse of a lifetime (had him 10 yrs)
Had a chestnut mare on loan this year (ex racer tb) she was absolutely lovely and much more sensible and intelligent than most geldings ive known!
My BF is a gelding and hasnt been easy but some of that is down to his past and down to some physical issues
Each horse is different whether mare or gelding
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Post by BJMM on Dec 30, 2011 10:27:39 GMT 1
Ive had geldings all my life, and my mother had only one mare, who was VERY hormonal. Then six years ago I got my Blaze. Known by all as Aunty Blaze, she is the most wonderful horse I've ever owned. Fast and forward if you are confident, I could (and have!) put a 4 year old on and they could hack her alone. She has restored loads of friends' confidence and nannied lots of babies and 'difficult' horses. I know she is one in a million, but I have since had three more girlies (Jas, my TB baby, her mother, and my little Arab, Silky) and I have fallen in love with mares. Generally, though, I think it is down to the individual horse. But if you get a cracking mare, she is solid gold
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Post by jennyb on Dec 30, 2011 10:38:18 GMT 1
I normally go for geldings. My current gelding is less than easy and keeps me on my toes, but I love a sharp horse and he's just perfect for me!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 30, 2011 10:54:40 GMT 1
I walked my two stoic mares down the hill in a gale yesterday, the rain lashing us in the face while the gelding (my horse, and I would lead him in these conditions in a FIT) circled us fa5ting and bucking..... ehem...... mare for me next time.
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Post by rosemaryhannah on Dec 30, 2011 10:59:50 GMT 1
Given an equal choice, it would be a mare for me every time - i think they relate better and more deeply to people. However my current pony is a gelding, and I have a very good bond with him, and love him to bits - that time the right horse just happened to be a gelding.
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Post by tikkatonks on Dec 30, 2011 11:28:42 GMT 1
Given the choice I would almost always go for a mare. I have found when I get a good relationship with a mare it is awesome. Having said that when things go wrong with a mare in my experience its awful.
I currently own 2 geldings, proof you don't always get what you wanted. However I really enjoy them, so its a good thing I didn't stick to my guns and only buy mares.
The only problem with trying mares is that if you try them on a good day, you may not be prepared for how bad they can be on a hormonal day!
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daisysp8
Grand Prix Poster
People only see what they are prepared to see
Posts: 2,120
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Post by daisysp8 on Dec 30, 2011 11:31:37 GMT 1
I currently have 1 of each .. and wouldn`t change either of them.
Though i do as a rule prefer geldings.
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Post by highlanderpony2002 on Dec 30, 2011 12:16:00 GMT 1
I much prefer mares to geldings they just seem more deeply involved with you I have 3 mares and 1 gelding the mares are easy kind and not hormonal the gelding has small man syndrome and is a little git and very hormonal. lol He has been brought exactly the same as the girls from a foal but he is a pain in the butt but i love him
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Post by sophielouise on Dec 30, 2011 13:26:04 GMT 1
My type appears to be bay geldings, although neither my old horse or my current native pony are 'easy'. Pete is young, sensitive and forward going with a definitive belief he is right and everyone else is wrong! Chester had a lot of 'issues'. Wouldn't have swapped either of them for the world - although they are both very different. Before you get bogged down with sex or colour then I would make a list of what you want and start looking at horses that fit the bill. When you find the 'one' you will know
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 30, 2011 14:20:11 GMT 1
I have 2 mares and 1 gelding. The gelding is the kindest sweetest horse I have ever owned, has never once pinned his ears back at me or my mares, is terribly cheeky and has rubber lips ;D, but, I prefer my mares. I'm not sure why? Maybe its because I never know what I'm going to get with them!! You would think I would prefer my gelding because he is more consistent with his behaviour!! My mares are more forthright at telling me when they are not happy with something that I am doing- maybe thats why I prefer them?? they are better at communicating. I also think they are smarter too... again... each horse is different, thats just my experience. I'll let you know which I pefer properly when I start riding both Nancy & Mcgyver
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