A colt is a young male horse, notable for energy, awkwardness, curiosity, and the promise of adult strength. On farms, colts may be raised for riding, breeding, or draught work, linking them to both labour and freedom. Poets use the colt as an image of youth, untamed vitality, and developing power. Its running across pasture can embody exhilaration and natural grace, while training or harnessing it may symbolise discipline, maturity, or the social restraint imposed upon instinct.

A colt is specifically a young male horse, usually under four years old; a young female is a filly, while foal is the general term for either sex in the first year. In poetry, a colt often represents youth, restless energy, developing strength, and resistance to control. Training or harnessing it can symbolise maturation and discipline. Students should avoid treating colt as a general word for every young horse. Related terms include foal, stallion, mare, paddock, stable, bridle, and grazing.