Snap

Do you think mares have more personality and character than geldings, or vice versa? I have talked to a lot of horse people, and some only like to ride mares because they don't think the geldings have any individuality.

Cadri4n

I don't think so. I think each horse has his/her own personality and perhaps the geldings are just calmer and quieter than mares. Which makes it seem like they have less individuality.

dappledear

I've found it can go either way as breeding often has alot to do with personality as well as hormones. The problem is that feisty often works well in the show ring, but not properly trained becomes obnoxious and dangerous.

Estelle

I guess it all depends on how you define personality, but yes I believe that a gelding generally has less personality. I think that goes for all animals, not just horses.

By taking away the reproductive hormones you take away a large part of the animal's drive. Think about how a human is in the same light.

alexis

I think horses are just like people. All different shapes, sizes and personalities and it never matters the gender. I have seen more aggresive females than males and vs. versa.

SaddleSore

Indeed Alexis I would say that females (intact ones) being more aggressive than males is a fairly common situation. The females are the ones who have to look out for the babies, and so that leads to certain instincts that males don't have.

Cadri4n

True story. What's that saying? The thing you should fear the most is an enraged mother? I think it goes something like that and it applies to both animals and humans.

dreamer

I've seen enough variations to conclude that personality is more based on the animal itself than the gender/gelding of it. I've seen mares that were flighty and some that were calm. Same with males, both gelded and not. It all depends in temprement.