What Makes a Horse a Filly

What is a filly? This is just one of several words used to describe a horse's age and gender. The word is used to differentiate between a young male and female horse. All baby horses are called foals, but a filly or filly foal means that the foal is female. 

Definition of Filly 

A female horse under four years of age is called a filly. A female horse over the age of four years is called a mare. The plural of filly is fillies.

Characteristics of Fillies

Many people feel that fillies are born with a bit more intelligence than colts. Some believe they’re quicker to gain their feet and start to nurse. Whether this is true or not is debatable.

Colts, however, may mature faster than fillies physically, especially if gelded at a young age. Some also believe that fillies are easier to sell than colts, largely because when buying a young horse that is un-gelded, the new owner must commit to the extra expense of castration. Fillies and mares can be spayed, but it is very unusual and a far more complicated procedure than gelding.

Incorrect Usages of Foal, Colt, and Filly

It is common for non-horse people to call all baby horses colts, but this is incorrect. A female baby is a filly and a male is a colt. Using the word "foal" is the correct way to refer to a young horse of unknown gender still with its mother. A young horse can be referred to as a filly foal or colt foal.

Once a filly is weaned, it may be called a weanling filly, and when it reaches the age of one, it may be called a yearling filly. After that age of