Quote Originally Posted by SSSS
Конь ussually is male, and лошадь is female
It is not quite true. Word "лошадь" contain no semantix of female, its syntax is female. If you mean "female horse", you should use "кобыла". "лошадь" can be any horse.

It is like word "обезьяна" - it contain no semantix of female, but its syntax is female. There is no word "обезьян" (in declarative form) to note male, so you shoul use female "обезьяна" regardless male or female is it really existing.

But russians know this very selom (now-a-days).