pouliche

Pouliche is a term used in French to describe a young female horse, typically a female foal. In English-language contexts, the equivalent terms are usually filly or female foal, depending on the horse’s age. The male equivalent is poulain, meaning a male foal. The word is most often encountered in breeding, training, and equestrian literature.

A pouliche is usually the offspring of a mare and a stallion, born after a gestation period of about eleven months. She nurses from her dam and receives colostrum in the first hours of life. Weaning typically occurs around four to six months, though practices vary by farm. During the first year, growth is rapid and socialization with other horses and people is important. Veterinary care, vaccinations, dentistry as needed, and deworming follow standard equine guidelines. In common usage, a foal is a young horse (up to about one year old), and once a pouliche passes one year she is often referred to as a filly until reaching maturity around four years old, after which she is considered a mare.

In breeding and competition contexts, the pouliche represents genetic and economic value for future generations or performance careers. Registries and stud books may record foals by year of birth, including female foals destined for breeding or sport. The term itself is descriptive and does not imply a particular breed, color, or temperament.