“A mare will work harder for you than any gelding will” says Dominique Winpenny, SPILLERS Nutritionist. “I own both a mare and a gelding and although mares can be fiery and unpredictable, they are extremely competitive and brave.
Mares, in general, are known for being more sensitive and more temperamental than geldings. When they come into heat, they can be extra sensitive and persnickety.
At younger ages mares were less aggressive than geldings but mare aggression increased with age, whereas gelding aggression stayed relatively constant with age.
When it comes to mares, their reputations precede them. From often-touted clichés to humorous tee-shirts, it is clear that they are known for being touchy, moody and just generally difficult.
In other words, you might think mares aren't fit for some disciplines—such as dressage and eventing, for example—or that they are less reliable under saddle. But according to results of a new study involving more than 1,200 riders and their horses, mares don't behave any differently under saddle than geldings.
For a beginner rider, there is a slight bias in favor of geldings. The reason for this is that geldings tend to have fewer mood swings than mares because they have no heat cycles. Depending on the horse's training, temperament, and how late in life the horse was gelded, a gelding may or may not be the best choice.
Mares can make excellent first horses for a beginner. As with all horses, the individual's temperament and behavior must be taken into consideration. In the event that a stallion is nearby, a mare could have a behavior change, but this is typically seen more on the part of the stallion as opposed to the mare.
Disadvantages: While some mares' temperaments remain constant whether they are in season or not, others suffer greatly from the change in hormones. A moody mare can be a real headache, especially if you want to compete. Mood swings might render some mares less able to concentrate and more unreliable than geldings.
If you want a reliable mount, a gelding is most often your best bet. He's less likely to have an off day, but he's also indifferent to your hugs and pets. There is something about the loyalty of a mare. I think mares test you more, but if you gain their trust and respect, their ability to bond is unmatched.
One of the most common causes for mares being moody is changes to their hormone balance. As with all animals including us, different stages of the breeding cycle will have an affect on hormone levels. In some cases where these levels can be out of balance to the point of quite dramatic mood swings.
Mares have a bad reputation for being moody or grumpy, but recent studies have shown that they're actually better behaved than geldings! Much of this stigma is related to human sexist ideas of male versus female behavior. Mares usually compete equally with geldings and stallions (see next section).
Mares over Geldings, which one is best? Indeed, it has been the general rule that geldings are preferred over mares in most situations – they don't come into heat, they don't have those “stallion qualities”, and they tend to be more laid back in general.
In horses, as many as one third of completely castrated geldings will still achieve full erection, mount, insert, thrust, and ejaculate, especially when given pasture free access to females in estrus.
Once you build a proper relationship, your mare is likely to be very affectionate. She'll even demand attention! They seem to be sensitive to others though. Usually, a mare is a one-owner type horse.
The Faroese are not only one of the most difficult horse breeds to obtain as a beginner, but they are also nearly impossible to obtain. They have always been known for their stubborn nature, and unfortunately, the Faroese are one of the world's most endangered horse breeds.
The strongest horse breed is considered to be the Belgian. Besides them, some other strong breeds are the Shire, Suffolk Punch, Ardennes, and Percheron.
They have the ultimate level of loyalty. If you own a mare, she more than likely has bonded with just you. Most develop close relationships with their riders and handlers.
Aggression by mares toward people is normal during the first few days after parturition. This behavior is hormonally driven and usually wanes with time. Mares should be familiarized with their caretakers before delivery and have minimal contact with other people after delivery.
Mares can be known for crankiness, soreness, reluctance to work, a generally bad attitude when they are in their 5-7 day heat.
Remember the 1-2-3 rule.
1: Foals should stand by one hour of age. 2: Foals should successfully nurse by two hours of age. 3: Mares should pass her fetal membranes within three hours of delivery.