How To... Recognize Horse Face Markings
Face markings on horses are described and shown in photos below. Face markings are usually white in color and can run together or appear in separated combinations. For example, a horse can have a star and a strip that run together, or a star and a strip that don't touch.
Not everyone agrees on what certain face markings should be called, and describing face markings is sometimes the cause of disagreement among horse people. While the descriptions on this page can be considered reliable, it is very important that if you are registering a horse that you consult with the registering organization for their definitions of facial markings. Definitions can differ from one organization to another, and may be different than the descriptions we've used here.
Descriptions Of Face Markings On Horses
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Bald Face - A bald face is a very broad blaze that, for all or part of its length, extends to or past the inside corner of one or both eyes. A bald face typically is also a long marking running from the top of the face down to the nostrils, and often includes the nostrils. An especially wide bald face is sometimes called an apron face. |
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| A bald faced horse. | Another bald face. |
| Blaze - A blaze is a wide white marking that runs for all or most of the length of the horse's face. | ||
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| A good example of a blaze. | Another blaze...... | ......and another. |
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Snip - A snip is a white or flesh colored marking between the nostrils. The pink skin beneath the hair of the snip is often easily seen. According to some breed registries snips can run together with other markings, but other breed registries only call a snip a snip if it is disconnected from other markings. |
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This horse has a star (the white |
A star (the white marking between |
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Star - A star is a white marking on the forehead, usually defined as between or above the eyes. Stars can be large or small, and can come in any shape: Round, oval, crescent, half-moon, heart, or in any variety of irregular or hard to describe shapes. Strip / Stripe - A strip is a white marking in the middle of the face. It is very narrow compared to a blaze. A strip may run for all or only part of the length of the horse's face. A strip is also sometimes called a stripe. If a strip is not straight but is instead crooked or wavy, it may be called a "race." |
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| A very round, classic shaped star. | An elongated star. | A star, a strip, and a snip. | Another star, strip, and snip (the snip is just above the grass). |
