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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
  
| Based on what I have ridden, I would choose a mare that loves her job over a gelding that loves his no matter what. BUT, I have to be a better rider to keep up with the mare! Therefore, now that I am half a century old, maybe I need to stick with geldings! |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| Good responses. 
Were looking for a 4-6 yo prospect and both my daughter and I are leaning towards a mare but wont turn down the "right" horse no matter what. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | I've had better luck with mares. The geldings I've rode all seemed a bit like airheads. Seems like once you geld them, their brains go at that time too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I don't think it has anything to do with gender. My old guy gave 110% every single time! But right now my little mare is the grittiest son of a gun and she has a heart of gold! |
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | I can't STAND my husband's mare. My gelding will try anything I ask of him without any sass. I've had a few mares in the past that I really got along with and I felt like they would "try" more for me but only if they "felt" like it. A gelding may not always give you 110% (of course many do) but they will usually consistently give me 99% and I like consistent lol. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| Definitely mares. Both of my mares try their hearts out (unless in season...but I can't blame them, I work my a$$ off until it's "that time" and then I'm a royal pain, too!) My gelding...not so much. I have had a few wonderful geldings, but I agree that they seem less inclined to really TRY unless pushed. I have yet to race a stud, but have jumped several and they are just amazing if they respect you and you treat them fairly. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I love a good gelding because they are usually more consistent, but I have found that if you can get a good ride on a mare, they will give you 20x more than a normal gelding.
My mare that I work with now, she isn't the most consistent horse on the pattern, but when she gives it, she gives you a good run, and they are a lot more likely to push themselves for you.
JMHO, of course. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I'm a mare person 100%. I currently have 2 mares and 1 stud (that will be gelded). In the past 5 years I have sold 1 mare and 5 geldings because the ones I have had just haven't had the heart or want to to please. They just wanted to do what I asked to that I would leave them alone, not because I wanted them to. The 2 mares I have now have more heart than I have ever seen in a horse. The 5yo has the most heart, the 3yo has the grit. Both have a TON of want to.
I would go with whatever horse works for y'all. Like for me, I would buy the mare because I know I'll get along with a mare better but if you know in your gut that you would get along with a gelding better maybe that's not the best choice. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| This totally depends on the horse. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 563
Location: Small Town Iowa | It all depends on the horse's personality. But with that being said, I personally have had better luck with mares actually wanting to do thier job and actually liking it and being gritty. The only problem with mares is that at the end of the day they are female. So you're gonna have your days when you just have to ask them and they will and then you'll have those days when you have to go the extra mile to wine and dine them just to get the simplest thing accomplished. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I'm partial to mares. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I think this is kind of a silly question.. kind of like asking if men or women are more dedicated employees!
IME, it totally depends on the horse, and sometimes the horse and rider combination. I don't think one gender could be labeled as superior. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I've had some super awesome geldings. Grew up on them and only occasionally rode mares at my uncle's when we worked cattle. The first mare I have owned personally is my broodmare. The first foal out of her was a filly that I'm keeping to futurity. And I just bought another mare earlier this year. Also, my mare threw me another filly this year. I love my gelding too. He has lots of try and is tons of fun. I also had a gelding in high school that would work himself into the ground to please you, super gentle. But my 2 year old filly is training easier than anything I've ever owned. She's smart, willing, and gentle. She also has the best personality. Thus I'm being converted to the mares are awesome camp since I have four of them and only one guy! I imagine since I'm getting more and more into breeding that I will tend to keep the girls and say adios to the boys. But I love them all! |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | My mares have always worked harder for me, they will give you everything. I won't own a gelding anymore... not specifically for that reason, but I just really love mares. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| I have a mare who has more grit and will try hard , and a gelding who tries soo hard and will give you everything he has. Basically I just feel lucky enough to have owned two horses who will literally work themselves into the ground for me. |
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