Yearling (horse)

A yearling is a young horse that is between one and two years old. At this age, a yearling is similar to a very early adolescent, not yet fully grown or mature. Although they might be starting to develop, yearlings are still too young to be used for breeding.

Yearlings can also be described by their sex. A male horse under the age of four is called a "colt," while a female horse under four is known as a "filly." These terms help people talk about young horses more specifically. Yearlings are an important stage in a horse's life as they grow and develop into adults.

Development and training

The training of yearlings usually starts with basic gentling on the ground, as they are typically too young to be ridden or driven. Yearlings are full of energy and can be unpredictable. Even though they are not fully grown, they are stronger than a human and need careful handling. Some male yearlings that will not be used for breeding are gelded at this age to help improve their behavior.

Ideally, a yearling will already be used to basic care like being led, having its hooves handled, being groomed, and getting into a horse trailer. If not, these skills are often taught during the yearling year to prepare the horse for adulthood. Different horse breeds grow and mature at different speeds, leading to various training approaches. Some yearlings are gently put under saddle with light riders, while others are not until they are older. Yearlings are often sold at famous auctions like the Keeneland yearling sale in Kentucky, where they can fetch high prices.