I have always been a gelding lover. Have never owned a mare because for some reason my heart has always been set on geldings. I have been out of the horse world for about 6 years since having my kids. I'm ready to start riding again and have been looking for a new horse but don't have much to spend at all (again thanks to the kids lol). I have come across a 4 year old mare that has a nice collected trot and lope in both directions. Owner says she has no bad habits, injuries, etc. They have started her on the pattern but just don't have time to finish her. She is on a facebook auction group and right now the high bid for her is $600 (of course that can change). I'm thinking if I can get her cheap enough she may be worth trying. Only problem is i have it stuck in my head that i'm a gelding person lol. Anyone ever been a strictly gelding person and started riding a mare and don't regret it?

She's gorgeous.  I'm not a mare person, but if the price were right I would be.

I'm on the only gelding bandwagon and have been as long as I can remember. But I'm also not naive to the fact that there are some nice mares out there that I'd probably love just as well. I say if you like the horse, try the horse and get along with it the way you need to and the horse fits what you're wanting to do then who cares if it's a mare or a gelding. 

I am on the strictly mare bandwagon. I love my mares.... geldings not so much! lol

I LOVED my geldings. Until I got a good mare. 

Now I only own mares and pray for fillies

Always a mare person here, I have a gelding now that I bought as a backup horse to my good mare. I like my horses with some grit and a lot of heart and I've found that's a lot easier to get in a mare than a gelding. My gelding is a super well-bred sissy and he irritates me to no end, he's going on the market as soon as I can find time to get him tuned back up. 

There was a post with a survey on it I believe last week about this.  I like mares.  All of mine have/had a better work ethic (no nonsense).  Not all but most of my geldings I've owned have been big goofballs that want to play games and push their limits.  

Try not to look at what the gender is.  Go with your gut feeling.  

That said. . I have owned mares, geldings, and stallions.  Mare ratio to geldings is always high though - currently 7 mares. 2 geldings.  Just love a gritty mare.  

Another mare person here. I say if the price is right and your gut says go for it, then go for it! 

I have honestly never had a moody or nasty mare. When my mares come into heat they are fine, if they are in pain I deal with it but they are never hormonal fire breathing dragons, even the chestnut ;)

My geldings on the other are usualy high mataince drama queens or total jacka$$. 

Even the chestnut my red mare also goes against the stereotype of the chestnut mare. 

The one gelding I actually owned was a jackal. Just a little brat for no reason. I sold him. Happily. Another I rode as a teenager (WP) was a great horse and I don't knock him one bit except if he was in a mood and COULD do a little something to make your job harder while showing him, he did. My mare? Nah. If she's acting out, something is wrong and she hurts. She doesn't try my patience for the fun of it. 

I love my mares, once you earn a mares trust....they will do anything for you and I find that has rang true with all the mares I've owned. Geldings, I'm really not a fan of even though I've ridden a few of the ranch horses that were super nice geldings. I'm just a mare person.

I've had both; crappy mares and bougie geldings. And a great mare and a great geldingI think it comes down to each individual horse and how they were started and handled from a young age. I think the nature vs. nuture arguement might be a little more relevant than the gender argument but that's just me and I don't know anything. 

Been going towards mares, then I was given a Smoke N Spark gelding to run. Loved him! Then he developed a strangulating Lymphoma which killed him. This is something that only happens in geldings, no more geldings. I am traumatized enough. 

How awful, bless your heart

I actually agree with you. I just think it's going to take 1 very special gelding to win me over.  But I wouldnt hesitate to buy the right one. I just have always loved the mares I've had. 

Geldings only. You couldnt give me a mare. 

I prefer mares.  I currently have 1 mare and 2 geldings. 1 gelding is proud cut .  In my experiences, my geldings have always been way bigger divas than the mares.  Plus, the mares have had more heart and grit. 

Oh man. There's nothing and I mean nothing that annoys me more than a proud cut gelding.

I prefer mares. But have a gelding that will be with me until he dies. But he is more of a Drama King than most mares I've owned. Doesn't help that he is spoiled and expects to be. 

Mares all the way to the bank!!!  Love the grit and the try they have.  

Either. Check the HYPP status on this one.

I'm another Mare Lover myself...

I love both. Go with your gut feeling. I've ridden wonderful mares and I own a wonderful gelding. He has a lot of heart. 

That's a nice looking mare. I would sure do a 5 panal test on her prior though as her pedigree could be suspect. Or call AQHA and ask if her dam and sire were tested. They will tell you and it costs nothing.