What Is A Female Horse Called - Names For Equine Ladies

Prof. Geoffrey Macejkovic Sr. 15 Jul 2025

Ever wondered what to call a female horse? It's a question many folks have, and the answer, you know, can be a little bit more detailed than you might first think.

We often use general terms for these wonderful animals, but there are actually specific words that help us tell them apart based on their age, their gender, and whether they've had certain procedures. It's really quite interesting to learn the different ways we refer to these creatures.

This piece will help clear up any confusion you might have, giving you the correct names for female horses at various stages of their lives, and maybe even a few other horse-related terms, too it's almost like learning a secret code for horse enthusiasts.

What Do We Call an Adult Female Horse?
What is a Young Female Horse Called?
What About Male Horses and Their Names?
What is a Neutered Male Horse Called?
Are Wild Female Horses Called Something Different?
Why Are There More Female Wild Horses and What is a Female Horse Called in the Wild?
How Do Other Animals Compare to What is a Female Horse Called?
What Happens if a Female Horse is Fixed?

What Do We Call an Adult Female Horse?

When we talk about an adult female horse, you know, the proper term for her is a mare. This word is pretty common in the horse world, and it helps us tell apart the ladies of the horse family from the boys. A mare, you see, is typically a horse that has reached a certain age, usually around four years old or older, and is fully grown. They can be quite majestic animals, actually, with their own unique personalities and traits, much like any grown animal, you might say.

This naming convention applies across the board, whether you're talking about a grand show horse or just a friendly pony. So, if you see a full-grown female horse, you can confidently refer to her as a mare, and people who know horses will instantly understand what kind of animal you're speaking about. It's a straightforward term that everyone in the equine community uses, more or less, to identify these magnificent creatures.

The term "mare" isn't just about age, but also about the horse's biological identity as a female. She could be a horse that has had foals, or one that has not; the term still fits. It's really just the standard way to refer to a mature female horse, regardless of her breeding status or any other specific characteristics. People often find mares to be rather calm and intelligent, though of course, individual personalities vary, as a matter of fact.

What is a Young Female Horse Called?

Now, if the female horse you're thinking about is still quite young, her name changes a bit. A baby female horse, or one that is four years old or younger, is typically known as a filly. This is a very specific term that helps distinguish the younger girls from the older mares. You'll often hear this word used when people are talking about horses that are still growing and learning, which is pretty common.

It's interesting how these age-based names help us keep track of a horse's stage in life. A filly is, in essence, a female horse that hasn't yet reached her full adult size or maturity. She's still got a lot of growing to do, and her body is still developing. So, when you encounter a horse that looks like a youngster and is clearly female, calling her a filly is the correct way to go, you know.

And speaking of young horses, there's another general term you might hear. All young horses, regardless of their gender, can sometimes be called foals. So, a filly is a female foal, and a colt is a male foal. It's a bit like how we have different words for human children depending on their age and gender, but also a general term for all children, too it's almost the same idea. This helps simplify things when you're just referring to a young horse without needing to specify if it's a boy or a girl just yet, you might say.

What About Male Horses and Their Names?

Just as female horses have their own special names, male horses do too, of course. A male horse that has not been neutered is called a stallion. These are the boys of the horse world who are capable of reproduction, and they tend to be quite powerful animals, often with a strong presence. They are typically mature males, usually over the age of two, who retain their natural breeding capabilities, basically.

Stallions are known for their strength and sometimes for their spirited nature. They often have a very distinct look and way of carrying themselves, which sets them apart. When you're talking about a male horse that is still intact and able to sire foals, the term "stallion" is the one you would use. It's a pretty well-known term, actually, especially among people who work with horses for breeding or competitive events.

So, to be clear, if it's a boy horse and he hasn't been gelded, he's a stallion. This is true whether he's a large draft horse or a smaller pony. The term refers specifically to his biological status and his ability to reproduce. It's an important distinction to make when discussing horse populations or particular bloodlines, as a matter of fact, because stallions play a big role in those areas.

What is a Neutered Male Horse Called?

Things change for a male horse once he has been neutered, or "gelded" as it's called in the horse world. A horse who has gone through this procedure is then known as a gelding. This is a very common practice for male horses, as it often makes them calmer and easier to handle, which is pretty useful for many owners.

Geldings are generally known for their more even temperaments and reliability compared to stallions. Because they don't have the hormones that stallions do, they are often less distracted and more focused, making them great for riding, showing, or just being a companion animal. So, if you hear someone talking about a gelding, you know they are referring to a male horse that has been fixed, more or less.

This term applies to any male horse, whether he was a colt or a stallion before the procedure. Once gelded, he becomes a gelding for the rest of his life. It's a permanent change, and the name reflects that. Many horse owners prefer geldings for everyday use because of their typically good behavior and steady nature, which is just a little bit different from an intact male.

Are Wild Female Horses Called Something Different?

When we think about horses living freely in natural settings, like out on wide open plains, you might wonder if they have different names. Interestingly, the basic terms for female horses, like mare and filly, still apply to wild horses, too it's almost universal. However, the groups of wild horses themselves often have unique names depending on where they live, which is pretty cool.

For example, in the United States, those untamed horses roaming the lands are famously called mustangs. These are horses with a rich history, often descendants of horses brought over centuries ago. So, a female wild horse in the US would be a mustang mare or a mustang filly, depending on her age, naturally.

Travel across the globe, and you find other special names. In Australia, the wild horses are known as brumbies. These horses are also quite legendary in their own right, adapting to the diverse Australian landscapes. And over in New Zealand, the wild horse populations are called kaimanawa wild horses. So, while the general terms for female horses remain the same, the regional names for the wild herds themselves add a bit of local flavor, you know.

Why Are There More Female Wild Horses and What is a Female Horse Called in the Wild?

It's an interesting observation that in many wild horse and burro populations, there are actually far more female animals than there are male ones. This imbalance can be due to various factors, sometimes related to how these herds are managed or how nature itself balances the population. It's a natural phenomenon that has been observed in many places, basically.

Despite this difference in numbers, the names for the female horses remain consistent. A mature female wild horse is still called a mare, and a young female wild horse is still called a filly. Their wild status doesn't change their fundamental identity as a female horse. So, whether they're running free in the American West or grazing in the Australian outback, a female horse is still a mare or a filly, depending on her age, you might say.

This population dynamic is something that those who study wild animal groups pay close attention to. Understanding the ratio of males to females helps in managing these populations and ensuring their health and sustainability. But for us, the main thing to remember is that the terms we use for female horses, whether they are living in a stable or running wild, are the same, which is pretty straightforward, you know.

How Do Other Animals Compare to What is a Female Horse Called?

It's helpful to look at how we name other animals to see how horse naming fits in. For instance, if you think about a lion, the feminine form is a lioness. The term "lioness" is used specifically to refer to a female lion, which is pretty clear. This shows that in English, while we don't have masculine or feminine forms for most nouns like some other languages do, we often have specific words for the male and female of many animal species, so.

Another example is a turkey. A mature female turkey is called a hen. This is similar to how a mature female chicken is also called a hen. These distinct names help us immediately identify the gender of the animal we are talking about, which is useful for farmers, animal keepers, and just general conversation, actually. It's a common way our language works when it comes to animals.

So, when we say a female horse is called a mare, it fits right in with this pattern. It's not a grammatical gender like in some languages where every noun is either masculine or feminine. Instead, it's a specific, unique word that points directly to the gender of that particular animal. It's a simpler system, perhaps, in some respects, just giving us a direct label for the female of the species.

What Happens if a Female Horse is Fixed?

This is where things get a little bit different for female horses compared to male horses. When a male horse is castrated, he changes his name from a stallion or colt to a gelding. But for a female horse, even if she is spayed, or "fixed" as some people might say, she is still called a mare or a filly, depending on her age. Her name doesn't change, which is pretty interesting, you know.

Generally speaking, female horses are not fixed as often as male horses are. The procedure for spaying a mare is a bit more involved than castrating a male, and it's typically only done for specific reasons. For example, it might be done if there's a need to control the population of horses, or if a mare has certain health issues that make spaying a good option. It's not a routine thing for most female horses, as a matter of fact.

So, whether a female horse is able to have foals or not, her fundamental name remains the same. A mature female horse is a mare, and a young female horse is a filly. This consistency helps keep the terminology straightforward, meaning you don't have to learn a whole new word just because a mare has had a surgical procedure. It's just how the naming conventions work in the horse world, more or less, which is quite simple.

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What Is A Female Horse Called - Names For Equine Ladies

Table of Contents

What Do We Call an Adult Female Horse?

What is a Young Female Horse Called?

What About Male Horses and Their Names?

What is a Neutered Male Horse Called?

Are Wild Female Horses Called Something Different?

Why Are There More Female Wild Horses and What is a Female Horse Called in the Wild?

How Do Other Animals Compare to What is a Female Horse Called?

What Happens if a Female Horse is Fixed?

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