5 Common Horse Markings: An Overview (With Pictures)
A majority of people who are familiar with horses can identify the differences between buckskin and cream, palomino or bay in a herd. It is not difficult to recognize the horse’s coat color. Spend some time with a large group of buckskins and you will see that there are many different colors. It is rare for two horses to have the exact same coat color.
Horse markings can be used to distinguish horses from each other and there are many types. Horse markings can be seen in white areas on horses’ coats. These markings help identify individual horses.
The markings on a horse’s birth certificate will not change over time if the markings are still present. A horse’s growth and maturation can make it appear that a mark is changing in size and shape. This is simply due to the horse’s changing coat length. The underlying markings remain the same.
There are two types of horse markings: those on the legs (leg marks) and the ones on the face (facial). Horses can also have non-white markings. This overview will help you to distinguish horses.
The 5 Common Horse Face Markings
White areas on the horse’s skin are called facial markings. One or more facial markings can be applied to a horse’s face. A horse can have one or more facial markings. Each marking is called separately. These are the most common facial markings:
1-Star Marking
A “star” is a white mark on the forehead located between or above your eyes. These markings come in many sizes, and may not look exactly like stars. Stars can have irregular shapes; they can be round, have the shape of a heart, a crescent, or a half moon.
2-Snip Marking
A snip is another white marking that varies in size and shape. This marking is located on the lower part of the nose.
3-Strip Marking
This is a vertical strip of white that runs horizontally across the horse’s forehead. The strips are not always straight and do not always cover the horse’s entire face. A “race” refers to a strip that isn’t straight.
4-Blaze Marking
A blaze is a wide, prominent vertical line that runs down a horse’s face. A blaze can stop partway down the forehead or go all the way to the muzzle.
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5-Bald Marking
This horse marking is a large, white area on the horse’s forehead that extends beyond a blaze. Blue eyes are common in bald-faced horses. This is a common marking among paint horses.
Leg Markings on Horses
Many horses have white areas on their legs that people use to identify the individual animals. The most common leg markings include:
