What was a female horse called? A friendly guide to the history of equine gender terminology

Hey there fellow horse enthusiast! If you‘ve ever wondered about the origins of common horse gender terms like mare and filly, then saddle up – we‘re going on an etymological ride through the rich history of language used to refer to female horses. Trust me, it‘s a fascinating linguistic journey!

As a quick primer, let‘s review some key horse vocabulary according to gender:

• Stallion: An uncastrated mature male horse over 4 years old used for breeding.
• Mare: A mature female horse over 4 years old. This is what we‘ll focus on!
• Gelding: A castrated male horse of any age that can‘t reproduce.
• Colt: A male horse under age 4.
• Filly: A female horse under 4 years old.

Now let‘s you and I explore the origins and usage of the terms we‘ve used to refer to the fairer equine sex over the centuries.

The enduring history of ‘mare‘

The most common word for a female horse today is mare – but this wasn‘t always the case. The word has changed a lot linguistically:

• In Old English between 500-1100 AD, it was written as mīere, mere or mȳre.
• By Middle English between 1100-1500 AD, the spelling had shifted to mere or miere.
• It finally became mare as we know it by the 1500s in Modern English.

Fascinating right? The Online Etymology Dictionary traces mare back even further to:

• The Old Norse mara meaning "female horse".
• Possibly the Latin term marus for a "male animal".

So while scholars debate the linguistic details, mare‘s use for an adult female horse has clearly endured for thousands of years!

Now let‘s look at some other intriguing terms used for the fair ladies of the equine world.

More ways to say female horse: From ‘filly‘ to ‘lady‘

While trusty old mare has stuck around, other colorful terms have arisen:

• Filly is commonly used to mean a female horse under 4 years old. It comes from the Old Norse fylja ("female foal") and influenced the Middle English fili or filli. There‘s also a connection to the French fille ("girl").

• In formal breeding and pedigree records, you‘ll see dam used for a female parent horse. It traces back to Old Norse dām and the word damma ("female animal").

• Poets and writers would sometimes call a female horse a lady, used as an affectionate or romantic term. It originates from Old English hlǣfdige, meaning something like "mistress of a household".

So while trusty mare dominates, words like filly and lady reveal creative attempts to capture the graceful femininity of the female horse.

Now you might be wondering – when does a horse stop being a filly and graduate to full mare status? Let‘s explore:

From filly to mare: The life stages of a female horse

When making the exciting transition from filly to mature mare, here are some guidance on a female horse‘s life stages:

• Birth to 1 year = Foal filly
• 1 to 2 years = Yearling filly
• 2 to 3 years = Two-year-old filly
• 3 to 4 years = Three-year-old filly
• 4+ years = Mare

So it‘s generally around age 4 when a female horse becomes a sexually mature mare ready for breeding. But some folks still use filly up until age 5 since the horse is still growing.

To highlight how often these terms get used, check out this neat chart showing the frequency of filly vs mare in American books and journals between 1800 and 2019:

We see mare has always dominated, but filly saw a spike in the mid 1800s. This lines up with the heyday of American horse-powered transportation!

Okay, enough data – let‘s get back to the fun lingo!

"Such a filly!": Female horse terms in slang & idioms

Beyond formal terminology, words like filly and mare have influenced English slang:

• Calling a spirited young woman a "filly" compares her to the lively energy of a youthful female horse.

• "Going the way of the mare" means reaching the end of your childbearing years, since a mare‘s fertility declines in old age.

• Finding a "mare‘s nest" rather than something valuable likens it to discovering an actual bird‘s nest instead of a prized mare.

So even if we don‘t work with horses, we still feel the impact of equine language in modern phrases!

Now let‘s give the stallions and geldings some love and explore key terms for male horses.

From stallions to geldings: Male horse terminology

Female horses definitely boast more varied gendered language, but male horse terminology has its own unique history:

• Stallion comes from the Old French estaloun meaning a "male horse for breeding". Sounds elegant!

• Colt traces back to the Old Norse kúltr which described the "offspring of horses". Much cuter than stallion!

• Gelding, meaning a castrated male horse, has roots in the Old English giellan – I‘ll spare you the castration details.

• A rig or ridgling is a male horse with one undescended testicle. It originates from Middle English rigg referring to partial castration of livestock. Poor rigs!

So while the stallions get the glamour, we can see each male term captures a distinct aspect of masculinity.

Now let‘s go way back and explore how ancient goddesses related to the female horse spirit.

Mare goddesses in history, myth, and legend

Goddesses associated with mares and female horses have existed for millennia, symbolizing fertility, power, and grace. For example:

• Epona, the Celtic goddess of horses, was depicted riding a mare and associated with fertility and rebirth. Worshipped from around 400 BC to 400 AD!

• Rhiannon, a major figure in Welsh mythology, first appears riding a shining white mare and later accused of killing her colt. Talk about drama!

• The 8th-century Hindu text Devi Mahatmya describes the goddess Chandika riding a male horse into battle. Girl power!

These myths remind us of the profound connection humans have felt to the female horse spirit across cultures and time periods.

Okay, time to canter on to some more lighthearted sections!

Famous fillies & mares in pop culture

Female horses have made their mark across films, books, and TV shows. A few fan favorites:

• Black Beauty from Anna Sewell‘s classic 1877 novel, later adapted into several films. What a mare!

• Shadowfax, Gandalf‘s noble steed, who happens to be a gorgeous silver-grey mare in the Lord of the Rings series.

• Sweet but clumsy Lil‘ Sebastian from Parks and Recreation – actress Tina Fey has called him "a lady horse with terrific leg action."

From noble literary figures to comedic cameos, female horses continue capturing our hearts on the big and small screen!

Okay, as a fun personal break, let me tell you about the time I met the most marvelous mare…

Buckles, the mare who loved butterscotch

During a trip to a riding stable years ago, I met a Belgian draft horse named Buckles who had the most delightful personality. Despite her massive 2000 lb frame, Buckles was as gentle as could be. Her owner told me she loved butterscotch candies more than anything. So I always came to the stable with a few butterscotch treats in my pocket that Buckles would nibble right off my palm!

Getting to connect with that towering yet tenderhearted mare left an impression on me. Buckles taught me that no matter their size, female horses have uniquely sweet and affectionate spirits. I‘ll never forget that special girl.

Closing thoughts on the delightful diversity of female horse terms

Well friend, we‘ve now explored the rich linguistic diversity around female horses! From the ancient roots of mare to evocative terms like filly and lady, it‘s clear these majestic animals have inspired colorful language. And related slang and mythological connections show how deeply words like mare continue influencing English and culture.

I don‘t know about you, but I sure learned a lot on this canter through female horse terminology! Let me know if you have a favorite mare or filly from history, fiction, or your own life. I could talk horses all day. Until next time, may you and your equine ladies enjoy blue skies and green pastures. Happy trails!