Filly - Definition and Overview

A filly is a female horse, specifically one which has not reached sexual maturity. This usually means it is under 24 months of age. After it reaches maturity it is known as a mare.

In Thoroughbred horse racing, the definitions of "filly" and "mare" are slightly different. In this context, female horses are not classified as "mares" until they are five-year-olds—more precisely, on the fifth January 1 (for horses born in the Northern Hemisphere) or July 1 (for horses born in the Southern Hemisphere) after their actual date of birth. Harness racing sets the cutoff age for "mares" as four years.

The equivalent male is a colt. When either are very young they can also be referred to as foals.