09/09/2026
This is very interesting reading for those who have mares at Pony Club.
Are mares really less reliable, less predictable or more difficult than geldings, or do our expectations influence how we interpret their behaviour?
A 2019 study co-authored by PCA Welfare Lead Dr Kate Fenner surveyed 1,233 people about their perceptions of mares, geldings and stallions.
Respondents were much more likely to describe geldings as calm, reliable, predictable, trainable and safe. Geldings were also preferred for dressage, showjumping and trail riding, while mares were the least preferred for dressage and showjumping.
However, the study did not assess whether mares and geldings actually behave differently. It examined what people believe about them. The researchers noted that studies of mature horses have not found consistent sex-based differences in learning ability, temperament or training outcomes.
Why does this matter for horse welfare?
Labels such as “mareish”, “bossy” or “difficult” can shape how a horse is trained, handled and valued. They may also lead us to interpret behaviour as a personality flaw rather than investigating possible pain, fear, stress, confusion or training difficulties.
Hormonal and reproductive factors can influence an individual mare and should be properly investigated. But simply being a mare is not a diagnosis.
Our latest Welfare Wednesday article takes a closer look at the research and why seeing the individual horse, rather than the stereotype, matters.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4hgHMYP
