A mare is an adult female horse or other equine animal, typically over the age of three years. Female horses younger than three years are called fillies. In some contexts, such as Thoroughbred racing, a mare is defined as a female horse over four years old
. Mares are used in all equestrian sports and often compete equally with male horses, although some competitions have specific classes for mares. They are also used for breeding, known as broodmares, and in some cultures, mares are used for dairy purposes, producing mare's milk (kumis)
. The reproductive cycle of mares is influenced by the length of daylight, with mares cycling from early spring to autumn and entering a non-receptive phase (anestrus) during winter. Mares typically carry their foals for about 11 months, usually giving birth to a single foal
. Etymologically, the word "mare" for a female horse comes from Old English and Proto-Germanic roots related to the word for horse, and is unrelated to the Latin word "mare," meaning sea
. In summary, a mare is simply an adult female horse, important both for riding and breeding purposes.
