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A question that has been bothering me for a very long time

That depends heavily on the language you are thinking in.

In English, it's genderless. If you only have one gender there is no point in making a distinction.

In German, it's obviously neuter since all diminutives are neuter.
Fun fact: Girls are neuter in German. Mädchen is technically a diminutive.

In Russian? ... don't ask! Way too difficult to explain.
But you might want to read this article.
www.researchgate.net/publication/42335703_The_Role_of_Diminutives_in_the_Acquisition_of_Russian_Gender_Can_Elements_of_Child-Directed_Speech_Aid_in_Learning_Morphology
horsie is none. horsie is all. to say that it must be one is like saying a dice can only have one number. if it did, it wouldn't be a dice.
therefor, a singe-gender horsie is not a horsie at all.
https://i.imgur.com/xKGCv0A.jpg
(i love this picture)

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