Your choice: Mare or Gelding?

[diggydoggy]

Thanks, everyone - this is fascinating! Re; dogs. I had always had male dogs until my latest, Toffee, my Border bitch.
She is very sweet-natured and gets on with every dog we meet. The previous boys would try to defy you to get their own way sometimes, and weren't so "cuddly."
However, I am a Dogwalker, and one of the most challenging dogs I walk is a bitch whose owners indulge her waywardness, shall we say.
I think owners have a much bigger influence on dogs' behaviour than their gender does.

[Mellymoo]

I've only ever had two geldings, but know plenty of mares. Me and mares just don't get on, I don't think I could ever own one as my main horse. I think because I am such a moody sod, I think me and a mare would be too similar ;D

I wouldn't discount a mare, but my preference would be a gelding. Although, I would want a horse that does the job I need, and in the end it wouldn't matter on gender too much if it was perfect in any other way. Mind you, when I horse hunt I go pretty much on instinct, and seem to end up with the horse I need.

[wills]

Personally I think it depends on the horse. In the past 14 years i've had 3 mares and 5 geldings. The first 2 mares I didn't really gel with so I thought i was more of a gelding gal, but just now my main horse is a mare and I totally adore her. She isn't tempremental or moody (and shes a ginger ) however I do find her slightly sharper and more intelligent than any of the geldings i've had - except perhaps my current mini gelding -. I loved my 2 previous geldings and I love my 2 current ones as well i also now love a mare ;D