Researchers said respondents had 'contradictory logic' regarding stallions, with 82% of them saying intact males were difficult, 80% saying they were bossy, 95% saying they were trainable, and 80% saying they had a good attitude. | Photo: iStock

Your 13-year-old neighbor, an energetic girl with six years of riding experience, asks your advice before buying her first horse. What do you recommend: a mare, a gelding, or a stallion? And why?

If you showed a preference for any of those three choices for your young neighbor, it’s possible that you’ve been influenced by a culture of sex stereotypes in horses. Australian and British researchers say many people involved in the horse industry have “preconceived ideas” about behaviors they specifically associate with sex, and such stereotyping could have serious consequences for training and welfare.

“This could have profound implications because horses regarded as difficult, dangerous, or bossy are likely to be treated differently from those regarded as calm, reliable, and easygoing,” said Kate Fenner, BEqSci Hons, of Kandoo Equine, in Towrang, Australia