Horse Markings

I figured since my last post went over coat colors that it would be fitting to talk about markings next!  Markings are typically split into 2 different groups:

• Face Markings
• Leg Markings

Remember that, though these descriptions and pictures provide a great overview of markings, each marking is different.  Markings are unique on every horse and will not look exactly the same as the pictures below.  

I will probably go over different types of paint markings (tobiano, overo, etc) in a separate post.  

Face Markings

Face markings can be singular or can run together.  I will go over each type first and then provide a few examples of multiple face markings.  

Bald Face

This is a wide white strip of white on a horse's face.  While similar to a blaze, a bald face will be wider and will extend past the first corner of the eye in at least one place.  It also must go past the nostrils.  

Blaze

This is also a wide strip of white on the face (it extends past the nasal bones).  It is a blaze and not a bald face if it doesn't extend to the eyes. 

Snip

This marking is a small white mark located on the muzzle.  

Snip

Star and connected stripe
 and snip

Stripe/Strip

This is a narrow stripe of white down the horse's face.  Any white marking on the face that is below the forehead and above the nostrils is considered a stripe.  It stays withing the nostril bones (thinner than a blaze)  It may also be called a race if it is an crooked or wavy.   

Connected star, stripe, and snip

Connected star, stripe, and snip

Star

This is any white on the forehead.  It can vary from a small dot to a large portion of the forehead.  

Leg Markings

White on the legs.  Horses can have no leg markings or any combination on one or multiple of the legs.  

Coronet

A thin white band (on the coronet band).  

The black leg is a coronet

Pastern

White that extends over half of the pastern

Sock

White that covers the pastern and extends over the fetlock but does not touch the knee or hock

Half Stocking

White that extends past the fetlock and partway up the cannon bone, but not past the knees/hocks.  

Stocking

White that extends past the knees/hocks

Ermine Spot

Dark spots on the coronary band with a white marking