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.
For a beginner rider, purchasing a gelding is as good of a choice as purchasing a mare. Regardless of the horse's biological sex, the most essential thing for beginner owners to evaluate is the prospective horse's individual temperament.
Mostly the Same on Ground and Under Saddle
They found that most questions had a less-than-5% difference in overall scoring between mares and geldings, Fenner said. In the few situations in which the difference was more significant, the geldings often had higher scores for unwanted behaviors.
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.
Geldings are typically more docile and easygoing than other horses, making them safer and more enjoyable for beginners who are still getting used to riding. In addition, geldings are less likely to be distracted by mares in heat, making them more predictable and easier to control.
Geldings. Because castration removes the testicles and the testosterone they produce, and they don't have the monthly heat cycles of mares, geldings are generally considered the most even tempered and mild mannered of horse types.
“Assuming that there is no difference in riding ability, from the horse's point of view it does not seem to matter whether its human partner is male or female,” concluded the study's co-author Christine Aurich.
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.
All mares are different, but some can be particularly 'mare-ish' in their behaviour, being stroppy or difficult to handle. Hormones often get blamed for behaviour, but it isn't always the problem. Underlying causes such as gastric ulcers or musculoskeletal pain can also cause a change in a mare's behaviour.
Mares and geldings also squeal – and for similar reasons. Squeals often occur when unfamiliar horses meet, or when one violates the space of another, especially when there's an important resource at stake, such as food. Much like humans, horses sigh as a means of releasing tension.
Trick riding is one the most challenging sports, in my opinion. Not only are those horses running at a high rate of speed, but the rider is also performing very risky tricks. These riders are hanging off of the sides of the horse, going under them, riding them backwards, all while the horse is moving.
While mares are less aggressive than stallions, they can have their difficult moments as well. During their heat cycles, mares can sometimes get "moody" or temperamental. This may be most obvious in the spring, during the natural breeding season.
The Morgan horse nearly always tops the list of recommended breeds for newer riders. Considered America's first breed in the 18th century, the Morgan is known for being kind and courageous. They are particularly eager to please and will work hard to try to figure out what their rider is asking of them.
As soon as you know that you are not going to keep your colt to breed, there is no reason to wait until he demonstrates stallion-like behavior or becomes aggressive or hard to manage. That's one reason why the most popular age range for gelding horses is between six and twelve months or before one year of age.
Horses use smell to identify other horses. A mare uses smell to pick out her foal from others in a group. Smell is also used during mating. The stallion checks mares to detect those in heat (estrus).
Behaviours such as squealing, kicking out, kicking or looking at her belly, tail swishing, squirting small amounts of urine and laying her ears back can be interpreted as signs of being in season. However, these signs are usually associated with submissive behaviour, discomfort or inappropriate behaviour instead.
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.
Objectionable masculine behaviour, such as penile erection, mounting, copulation, and aggression toward other horses or humans, is not always eliminated completely by castration. A horse that has had both testes removed but still exhibits overt masculine behaviour is sometimes called a false rig.
Geldings, while they no longer have the sex drive of a stallion, can still get an erection. Should a gelding mount and then penetrate the cervix of your mare, the pregnancy will likely be aborted.
Whether it's mares, geldings or a mixture of both, horses soon sort themselves out when they run together. I've seen mares and geldings running happily together on hundreds of occasions. Horses always run and snort and kick and play when a new horse is added to the group.
It's a similar story for the overwhelming number of male winners – 67% compared to just 33% for the girls. Even in America's most prestigious horse race – the Kentucky Derby – only three fillies have won in the competition's 138-year-history. So why do boy horses rule the roost?
Several studies have shown that horses have the ability to cross-modally recognize humans by associating their voice with their physical appearance. However, it remains unclear whether horses are able to differentiate humans according to different criteria, such as the fact that they are women or men.
Yes, they do prefer males, though it has occurred in some cases that mares liked female riders. It is mostly a matter of bonding that you do with the horse, whether or not its a mare or gelding, or maybe even a stallion.