Horses are magnificent animals to ride on. But before riding the horse, there are some things you need to know about gender and other specifics of horses.
Male horses that are uncastered and are meant for breeding purposes are called stallions. In contrast, female horses that are above the age of three are called mares. While stallions are aggressive, mares are calm by nature.
In addition to gender differences, they also differ in many other ways. The differences include size, behaviour, speed, etc. Let’s explore and compare them on different parameters.
Difference between Stallions and Mare
| Comparison Basis | Stallions | Mares |
| Gender | Male | Female |
| Age | grown up horses of 4 years older are known as stallions | Female horses over the age of three are called Mares |
| Speed | Stallions can run up to 45 mph per hour | Mares can run up to 30 mph per hour |
| Behavioral Analysis | Stallions are aggressive and self interested | Mares are usually calm and less aggressive |
| Weight | They weigh around 1500-2000 pounds | They weigh about 1200 pounds |
Stallion vs Mare Size
It is commonly believed that mares are female horses hence they might be smaller in size and stallions being males must be muscular. However, this is untrue.
In general, stallions are more muscular than mares, with their necks being curved and a bit stronger than mares. But, there is a little difference between stallion and mare size. Mares will be one or two inches smaller than a male of the same breeding.
Due to their huge size and muscular build as horses, mares are also considered for racing and for commuting. They are also ideal for domestication.
While fully grown horses can weigh anywhere from 1500 to 2000 pounds, mares typically weigh around 1200 pounds. This indicates that their sizes are not significantly different.
Stallion vs Mare Racing
People often assume all racehorses are male when they see them running 40 mph down a race track. But is this true? Are all race horses male? Can mares run faster than stallions?
The world’s best racehorses can be either male or female. In fact they have competed against their male counterparts and often win. But, the majority of the horses on tracks are mares.
Mares make up the majority of the world’s top racehorses. Still, there are only a few instances when you can see mares competing in a race. This is because there are only a few mares that can run faster than stallions.
For instance Maskette Disguise and mare Adore Me are considered as world’s fastest mares that are typically used for competing in racing competitions.
Are Stallions Faster than Mares?
While we know that both stallions and mares can compete in races, the speed at which they can run has yet to be determined. Find out which is fastest among them.
Due to their huge size, stallions are usually faster than mares by 30%. But, there are few recorded instances when female horses overpowered the male horse in a race.
Most likely, this is the reason why only 20% of mares compete in British flat racing. As mares have relatively slower maximum speed than horses.
However, speed at which mares run also depends upon various factors, including its age, its training level and gender. But it is certain that a stallion with a higher degree of aggression is faster than a mare.
Stallion and Mare : Which is the better Horse?
Since stallions are better during racing, are they better in every way? Are they ideal for riding? Or domesticating? Let’s find out which is the better horse.
A mare would be a far better choice for most riders. As stallions can be aggressive and territorial, especially in the presence of another stallion. It is not recommended to ride on them, especially if you are a beginner.
However, during the heat cycles mares can often be temperamental or moody. This is most apparent during the springtime, when mares are entering their natural breeding season.
Many mares during this time, will not care about their rider or handlers at all. Despite the fact, they are still better than stallions due to their cooperative and less aggressive nature around humans.
Although sometimes you can’t go against nature with how a horse wants to act, good training will always assist you in having the best possible experience with a horse.
Stallion vs Mare Lifespan
It is usually said that stallions live for longer than mares due to their muscular body and huge size. However, this is untrue.
Stallions and mares usually have the same life expectancy rate of around 25 to 30 years. However, some domesticated horses can live up to their 50’s as well.
But, the life expectancy rate can vary according to their health conditions, type of horse: wild or domesticated, and other factors. To illustrate, domesticated horses live longer than wild horses.
Stallion vs Mare Herd Behavior
It is a common perception that horses usually enjoy being accompanied by other horses. But considering the temperament of stallions, is this really true? Let’s examine their herd behavior.
Being aggressive by nature stallions react rudely with other stallions. Whereas mares are cooperative and calm by nature; they love to be around different animals, and particularly in herds.
In addition to being aggressive towards humans, stallions dislike being around other stallions. There are instances when they even bite, kick or fight with each other. As a result, they are usually set free and not kept in herds.
Which Is Best For Racing?
If you want the strongest and most capable horse to race, then a stallion is your best pick. Although they do have a tendency to bite the handlers but when handled properly they are ideal for various racing events.
