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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 19, 2012 17:54:11 GMT 1
I had always sort-of thought "depends on the individual horse." but having been looking after a friend's equines recently, I did find the geldings were pretty much the same every day. But the mares... did seem to (individually) get quite stirred up for no reason I could find, and were unpredictable. Hmmm. I would not want to buy trouble. So, I have decided only to look at geldings for sale when I am going to buy- unless you think otherwise... Please, let's have your thoughts/experiences. Thank you.
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hammie
Advanced Poster
Posts: 448
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Post by hammie on Dec 19, 2012 17:58:04 GMT 1
Couldn't really say, as I've only had one horse (gelding). But he is not the same every day, and is affected by grass (grumpy if not enough, content if he's stuff full, and then silly when the sugar works its way through...) and probably other things I'm unaware of.
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Post by bramblesmum on Dec 19, 2012 18:02:14 GMT 1
I have had, mares, geldings and stallions and to be honest for me as I like a horse with some courage a mare or stallion, to pardon the pun I feel a gelding lacks balls and for me in a driving or riding comp its the balls that get you through when youre knackered and racing against the clock. My mares are steady of nature and very friendly and not at all temperamental and I also own two chestnut mares in the mix
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 19, 2012 18:05:37 GMT 1
Thank you! I had a chestnut mare once which jumped the gate and went walkabout. Found out later my Dad had been giving her extra feed...
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Post by specialized on Dec 19, 2012 18:09:05 GMT 1
Mares are more ruled by hormones at certain times, what is the old saying - you can tell a gelding, but ask a mare.
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 19, 2012 18:11:26 GMT 1
I wonder if the weather was affecting the girls - we are in Wet Wales tooo!
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Dec 19, 2012 18:16:45 GMT 1
Geldings for ease and reliability, but give me a mare every time. Once they love and respect you, it is forever-----------unless you let them down, then watch out
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Post by ladyndibs on Dec 19, 2012 18:26:40 GMT 1
I bought a gelding first and he's wonderful but my other two are mares and BJMM's girlies now share with me and yes I'm a convert, mares everytime.
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 19, 2012 18:35:07 GMT 1
A friend of mine bought her first horse, a Welsh Cob xT.B. mare, and she's not mareish at all. But my friend is a very calm rider... Maybe it's ME! Perhaps I am temperamentally unsuited to mares!
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Post by kizi on Dec 19, 2012 18:53:51 GMT 1
Mares.. Every time.. For me anyway, I bond stronger with mares, I don't know why, maybe it's a mental thing on my part.. But I just feel like the geldings could take or leave me.. The mares you know, they either want to be with you or they don't! Black and white! However, my niece doesn't gel with mares at all... Maybe it's the slightly more unpredictable nature of a mare, she is a very emotional person and needs the steady geldings, not suggesting mares aren't steady, but with hormones thrown in the mares can be emotional haha not a good mix. I have 2 young geldings, 3yo and 1yo and they're great..I adore them.. The yearling perhaps a little more but I will admit that is because he's a needy nervy sort who worries easily so likes more reassurance than the 3yo. But I just always chose mares.. I love mares! I guess I just understand the mood swings ;-)
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Post by kafee on Dec 19, 2012 19:14:00 GMT 1
I've always had boys, except for once a long time ago, when I had two small pony mares. They weren't mareish, so there was no difference between them and the boys. From reading other people's experience's with their mares, I'm going to stick to having boys, to keep life simple and straight forward.
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Post by Beth&Rosie on Dec 19, 2012 19:38:43 GMT 1
I have had both a gelding and a mare. The gelding, to me seemed a bit more "dense" for want of a better word! He sort of just went along with what you asked and if he didn't want to do something he would quite soon give in for an easy life! But I felt he lacked any sparkle, he just plodded along doing as he was told.
I adore my mare and I think if you find a good one and then get them on side they will do anything for you. You do need to get them on side though! Although mine can be quite stroppy and stubborn sometimes, but that is fine for me as it is not very often and the good times make up for it. (she also tends to know when it matters and knows that competitions are not the time to muck around!) So I don't think you should rule out mares completely. My horse was the complete opposite of what we were looking for, we said an older, experienced gelding, and not white as that requires too much bathing! And I ended up with a green, 5 year old, coloured (mainly white!) mare and she has been the most wonderful horse I could have asked for! We have had our bad times and her "teenager" attitude but we have just about worked through that now and better than ever!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 19, 2012 20:06:45 GMT 1
I love my gelding but............. shhhhhh................. the mares are so deep and intriguing.
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Post by diggydoggy on Dec 19, 2012 20:30:34 GMT 1
Thanks! Very interesting and thought-provoking. It looks like there are many factors to consider.
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Post by june on Dec 19, 2012 20:51:23 GMT 1
I'd have a mare every time, given the choice. Having said that, four of the twenty two horses we own are geldings and they are all characters and I wouldn't swap them! The geldings do seem just a little bit more dopey than the mares. They are still bright and learn quickly but there is that extra sparkle from the mares. Once you have a mare on side they are a joy to work with. If you don't get them on side then they'll let you know that you have to buck up your ideas and work out how to get them on side!
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