The term 'KNIGHT mares' is a combination of two words: 'KNIGHT' and 'mares'. The first word, 'KNIGHT', refers to a mounted warrior in the service of a king or lord in the Middle Ages. The second word, 'mares', is a plural form of the word 'MARE', which is a female horse. Therefore, the crossword solution for the term 'KNIGHT mares' is 'steeds', which is a plural form of the word 'STEED', meaning a horse, especially a spirited one.