Collective nouns describe a group of animals, often reflecting their natural behavior or historical use. The most widely accepted collective noun for a group of horses is a herd. This term applies to horses in most settings, whether they are grazing in a pasture or roaming freely in the wild. While “herd” is the primary answer, specific circumstances can lead to the application of several different, more descriptive terms.
The Most Common Collective Noun
The term “herd” is the most common collective noun for horses, reflecting the species’ natural inclination toward social grouping. Horses are highly social animals that form groups for safety, utilizing multiple individuals to detect and deter predators. A domestic group of horses grazing together in a field is correctly referred to as a herd.
A smaller, more organized grouping, especially among wild horses like mustangs, is frequently called a band. This term describes the fundamental social unit, typically composed of a dominant stallion, several mares, and their foals. The stallion’s primary role is protection, often positioning himself at the rear of the group to fend off challengers and predators. The daily movement and decision-making within the band are often governed by a lead mare, who guides the group to resources.
A band’s structure is highly stable and family-oriented, contrasting with the looser aggregation that “herd” sometimes implies. Young male horses, or colts, are driven away from their natal band by the dominant stallion upon reaching maturity. These displaced males often form temporary bachelor bands. Bachelor bands are all-male groups that provide companionship and protection until they are strong and experienced enough to challenge a stallion for his own band.
Specialized Terms Based on Context and Purpose
The naming convention for horses changes when they are grouped for specific human activities or management purposes. One specialized term is a stud, which refers to a group of horses, including both males and females, kept for organized breeding. The term may also refer to the physical location or establishment where these breeding animals are kept.
When horses are used for competition or professional work, they are often referred to as a string. A string denotes a group of horses owned by a single individual or trainer, such as a set of racehorses or a collection of polo ponies. This term emphasizes ownership and functional grouping.
A team is a specific collective noun used when two or more horses are harnessed together to pull a carriage, wagon, or piece of farm equipment. The term describes the functional collaboration of the animals, and a team of only two horses is sometimes referred to as a span. The use of “team” highlights the synchronized effort required.
On large ranches, a remuda refers to a herd of saddle horses from which working animals are selected for the day’s tasks. The word comes from a Spanish term and describes a rotating pool of horses used by cowboys or ranch hands. Another term, harras, is used for a group of breeding horses kept in a specific establishment, similar to a stud farm.
Group Names for Related Equids
While “herd” is commonly applied to horses, it is also used for other animals within the Equidae family, such as ponies and donkeys. Ponies, which are genetically identical to horses but differ only in size, are generally referred to as a herd. This reflects their similar social instincts.
For donkeys, herd remains the most frequent collective noun, but other specific terms exist. A group of donkeys may also be called a pace or a drove, the latter often implying that the animals are being moved by a person.
Mules, which are hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, also have specialized collective nouns. A group of mules is often called a barren, a term that references the fact that mules are typically sterile. Other terms include a pack, emphasizing their traditional use as pack animals, or a rake.