What Gender Is Right For You?
Published by GHC • May 23rd, 2008 • Category: Horse Advice, by SBby SB, age 14
This may seem like an odd question to ask, but it is a real subject you should consider when deciding on a horse to buy or lease. There are three different genders that you can choose. There is a mare which is a female horse, a stallion which is a male horse that can father foals, and a gelding that has been sterilized so it cannot father foals. I’ll explain each gender’s characteristics before I go on to explain how you should choose.
MARES
General Personality Characteristics: Can become cranky and unwilling
Mares are more times than not good companionable horses. But there are times when they can get cranky or irritable because they are in heat. Most of the time though, owners expect the mares to turn like this, so they treat the mare with a firmer hand than they are used to. Occasionally the mare will not get moody, but will be treated as if it is because that’s what humans expect. So some of the blame goes to humans for the reputation of mares as cranky and moody.
The horse I rode at my uncle’s farm was a mare. And only about once did she completely ignore me, and I didn’t annoy her. I just watched her from the fence, and eventually she let me come up and pet her. People get cranky and moody too. If you are not easily snubbed by your horse and can have patience for a bit, then a mare would be great for you. Also, it’s possible that you might get little foals in the spring!
STALLIONS
General Personality Characteristics: More likely to be aggressive, act studdish with mares, harder to control
Stallions are more often than not used for breeding. They have different hormones that allow them to have more muscle in the neck so they are stronger. Often their attention is diverted to looking for mares, so it can be difficult to keep their attention. You are often warned when taking tours not to stick your hand in the stall unless told that you can, because the stallions do and will bite. I haven’t had any real experiences with stallions, but I’m sure there are tons of other people on this site that can relate personal experiences about them so comment please!
Just as with mares, there are exceptions to the aggressive nature. I’ve heard of stallions that were as gentle as mares and often mistaken for being girls. Even the ones that can be aggressive aren’t always like that, just be sure to keep them away from mares. You could think of them as girl crazy teenage boys. If you are a strong and experienced rider and are able to handle them, a stallion could be perfect for. But for the rest of us, that dream of a great big black stallion will have to wait.
GELDINGS
General Personality Characteristics: Laid-back, more gentle, and easier to handle
Then there are geldings. Geldings are male horses that have been castrated so that they cannot have foals. This means they lack all the hormones that make them aggressive and things like that. They are gelded if it is felt it will help them improve focus, or isn’t worth the breeding to keep everyone in fear of them. The gentle and laid back nature that geldings usually have makes them excellent horses for everything. They are usually preferred for first timers and working horses.
As with all horses, there are exceptions to the gentle and laid back rule. Sometimes after being gelded, the horse still remains somewhat aggressive. Two of the horses on my uncle’s farm are geldings, and one of them is the one I ride constantly. He is gentle and sweet even to my little sister when she walks behind him (something you should never ever do to a horse). If you are a first timer or are looking for a usually dependable horse that would not be used for breeding, a gelding would be great for you!
Whatever gender you choose, let it suit you and be your friend until you part!
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You have no idea how much this guide would and is helping me. I’ve always thought I would prefer a mare although I am more comfortable with geldings since I have just started. Who knows? I have just started going to riding lessons and these ideas may change, so I’m very glad that this fantastic blog is written. Great job!
This is a great blog, SB! I learned so much from this. Even though I’m not in school today, I learned something
from you! Last August, I had gotten thrown from a stallion. He was on a trail ride with me and started to race with 2 other horses. He came to an abrupt stop, and I fell over. Yeah, it wasn’t fun at all.
Anyways, now that I’m riding Buckwheat, he’ll be super gentle because he’s a gelding. He used to be a mustang (he’s so sweet that I didn’t even believe that) and went to those fairs and had to walk in circles all day. So, all the mustang part of him has been driven out. My best friend got scared (she goes on this site too) when she heard the “buck” part in Buckwheat. But anyways, to wrap this up, he’s a very sweet horse.
MM
This a very informative blog! I think that if you are going to get a horse you need to know what you are getting into and GHC seems to be helping everyone out right now in the department! This was very good SB. Hope to hear more from you soon!
Now thanks to you, I’m not so sure that I want a gelding because I’m a little more experienced than when I first started (duh)! Maybe I should get a mare…I like a challenge, but not a danger (stallion).
Thanks SB, you have really helped me learn to think things through before talking my parents into something…lol!
Great blog, SB!
For the mares part, mares generally need a gentle but firm hand.
For the stallions, there was this one Hackney pony who was a stallion named Sport at the farm I used to ride at a while ago. He was a very sweet stallion, but would sometimes nip. He needed people to give a firm but not harsh reprimand when he did something he wasn’t supposed to. I became very close to Sport just through stall bars. He often got spooky when the little kids came around because they were so loud and in a hurry. I was allowed to go in the stall with him if an experienced horse person was allowed so they could keep an eye on sport. By treating him the way he needed to be treated, I earned his respect and a bond formed.
As for the geldings: They are PERFECT for beginners if well behaved. I learned how to ride on a gelding named Danny, and he was exactly what a beginner needed.
This is real helpful, thanks! Here is a suggestion to all of you out here: If you get a gelding and you want it to be gentle, don’t get an Arabian gelding. I know one at my barn that is boarded there and is JUST like a stallion, he is very sweet but likes to nip. And he is real strong and can be aggresive sometimes. Just a tip! Arabians are like that though, full of energy and nippy at some times. But still, be careful!
Thanks, it’s brilliant! I always thought I want a mare, too, but most of the ponies I ride are geldings, I only normally ride one mare (she is very sweet though).
Great blog SB! I didn’t know much about mares when I bought mine but it is true that they can get moody! My mare will somtimes get sooo stubborn that it is really hard to ride her! She is a sweet heart though!
But I also know that it is in her blood. We believe that she has some Arabian in her and maybe part Mustang.
Great blog, SB. I never knew this about horses. Someone told me that stallions were the best! But maybe that’s because they breed with other horses. Thanks for teaching me a lesson!
-HorseCharmer (aka Aphaia)
great blog,SB I have a gelding and a stallion my stallion is so sweet I ride him bare back. My gelding on the other hand is the jumpy one. My next door to me is a mare but my stallion still does really good. I guess all horses are difrent. :)
Interesting post.
Horsey folks do like to make such distinctions on equine gender. Still, there can be exceptions.
We have known stallions who gently carried little ones (even bareback), mares who were calm and compliant all month long, and geldings who were rowdy.
But the overall descriptions often do hold.
;-)
Blessings.
Linda
The Mane Point - A Haven for Horse Lovers
THE MANE POINT – a haven for horse lovers
Awesome blog!! Its totally true. I would never ride a stallion, if I wanted to come back in 1 peice! Also I used to ride a mare named Allie EXTREMELY moody! At times she was a sweet pony who will do anything you ask, but once your on her bad side, there’s no turning back! She once bucked me off (my first fall!) Now I ride the sweetest gelding!
Amazing Blog!
As for the Mares, yes it is very true they can be stubborn and cranky when in heat, but they are very well known for bonding well with their rider…and getting attached. So if youre an experinced rider that will be the only one handling a horse, a mares perfectly fine.
Stallions, ofr me…totally out of the question (for right now at least) never have ridden one, maybe someday i will.
Geldings, my idea of the ideal horse…geldings are what you would ever need in a horse, whether your an experinced rider or a novice.
All in all…it all comes down to the individual horse itself. Just like people, they each have theyre own personalitys and vices.
sorry for such a long comment :)
If I were to have a horse, I would either have a mare or a gelding. No stallion…. for a fact. My aunt has a stallion and he’s as gentle as can be, but whenever he sees a mare, he gets all crazy. It’s funny, but he doesn’t hurt you. When riding, he is NOT for young inexperienced riders. I ride mares and geldings and the mares have never been cranky or moody. They’re gentle, but will demand a treat and stomp their hoofs and whinny if they don’t get it, but they’re perfect. Geldings are awesome. I would probably prefer owning a gelding, just because of the mares when they’re in heat. Geldings are so sweet and funny. I luv ALL horses!! So I really wouldn’t mind, but my rank in riding would probably be a gelding… and if not, a mare.
AMAZING BLOG by the way!! :) It’s very nice. I luv it! :)
Thanks for all the input guys! It’s great to hear from everyone!
Stalloins can be great rides it all depends on the horse choose. Some stallions wouldn’t hurt a fly and I have riden some geldings who would.
I have never ridden a stallion, I’ve ridden mares and geldigns thoguh. A gelding at my horse barn I have had a REALLY STRONG relationship with him. He is so sweet, definately not for beginners, and he makes funny faces. He is so cute! His name is Dakota, I LOVE him!
Typos in my comment above, sorry! Oh Well!
I would have never thought of this blog!
Great idea!
mustangmane
I always ride geldings. I love them. But I do ride some mares, and 5 times ive ridden Pegusause, the stallion.