Mares

Mares are adult female horses. In common usage, a mare is a female horse four years of age or older; younger females are typically called fillies. The male equivalent is the stallion, while a castrated male is a gelding. Mares may be kept as riding horses, for work, or for breeding, and many contribute to sport, leisure, and agriculture.

In breeding contexts, a mare kept for offspring is often called a broodmare. The mare’s reproductive cycle is roughly monthly during the breeding season, averaging about 21 days, with ovulation typically occurring late in the cycle. Gestation lasts about 11 months (roughly 340 days). Many mares foal once a year or every other year under good management. After foaling, mares nurse the foal and gradually regain fertility, depending on age, health, and care. Regular veterinary checks, vaccinations, dental care, parasite control, and proper nutrition support pregnancy and foaling.

Behavior and management: Mares vary widely in temperament. Some are calm and cooperative, others more spirited. Hormonal fluctuations related to estrus or pregnancy can influence behavior, but consistent handling, training, and humane care reduce risk and improve safety. As with all horses, mares require regular hoof care, dental checks, vaccinations, parasite control, and appropriate nutrition throughout life.

Mares may also refer to lunar maria, the dark basaltic plains on the Moon. The term mare (plural maria) comes from Latin for sea; these features are not oceans but solidified lava plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. They are prominent on the lunar surface and are named for seas, such as Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) and Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains). Collectively, maria cover about a significant portion of the Moon and are visible from Earth with the naked eye.