What Is a Male Horse Called?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 31, 2020

There are several terms for male horses depending on their age and whether they have been gelded. The most common terms are colt, gelding and stallion.

A colt is a young male horse. The exact age the term stops being applied varies, but four years old is the latest a male horse is deemed a colt. After that, the horse is called a stallion when left intact, or a gelding when it is castrated. Stallions are sometimes called studs, especially if they are used for breeding. Although it is not a common term, some male horses are called ridglings. This means they have cryptorchidism.