Age

Horses and ponies normally do not have very long lifespans.  Twenty-five years is the average for equines.  However, many horses pass away well before that age.  The oldest horse on record was 62, and the oldest pony on record was 56.  It is extremely rare for an equine to live into his 40s, but it does happen.

Different terms are used to describe horses of different ages. The following is a list of them:

• Foal: a horse of either sex less than one year old. 
• Yearling: a horse of either sex that is between one and two years old.
• Colt: a male horse under the age of four. Many people mistakenly call every young horse a "colt", when the term actually only refers to young male horses.
• Filly: a female horse under the age of four.
• Mare: a female horse four years old and older.
• Stallion: a non-castrated male horse four years old and older.
• Gelding: a castrated male horse of any age.

A Thoroughbred (a certain breed) is another year older on January 1st.  It does not matter if they were born in November; they are considered one year old on January 1st.  This simplifies the ages for horse racing.