Equestrian life has its own terminology, much like any hobby or career. If you’re new to the world of horses, check out this glossary of horse terms that differentiate among the genders and ages of horses.
A mare is a female horse.
A filly is a young female horse. Filly is usually used to refer to a young female horse that hasn’t been ridden, but in the more technical sense a filly is a female horse under 4 years of age that has not been bred.
A stallion is a male horse that has not been castrated. Stallions can also be referred to as studs, especially if they’re used for breeding.
A colt is a male horse under 4 years that has not been castrated but has not yet been used for breeding.
A gelding is a male horse that has been castrated.
If a young horse has been weaned from its mother, which usually occurs between 3 and 6 months of age, it is called a weanling.
A foal is a horse of either sex under one year of age.
A horse between 1 and 2 years old, usually not broken for riding, is a yearling.
There’s even more! Learn more about how these terms are used here:
Creekmore, M.D. “Horse Terminology for Beginners.” The Survivalist Blog. July 4 2012. Web. March 4 2014.
<http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/horse-terminology>
