Horse Face Markings
Learn about horse & pony face markings
What are Face Markings?
Face markings are the white hairs that appear on a horse's face and head.
Why is it important to know the names of face markings?
The names of face markings are important for identifying horses in a group, describing them to others, and for registration with breed societies.
Do all horses have face markings?
No, some horses have no white markings at all and have a dark base color without any white.
Horse & Pony Face Markings Examples
Some Well Known Face Markings Include:
Bald Face
A bald face is a wide white marking that extends past the eyes, down the face, and beyond the nostrils.
Strip
A Strip is a long, narrow marking that runs that occurs below the eye line and above the top of the nostrils, but within the nasal bones. Also referred to as a stripe or if it is crooked, it may be called a race.
Blaze
A blaze is a medium to wide white face marking that runs down the length of the horse’s face.
Snip
A white marking that occurs between the top and the bottom of the nostrils.
Star
A white marking that occurs above the eye line.
Faint Star
Horses can have a very tiny marking on their forehead that is made up of just a few hairs. This is called a Faint Star.
Face Markings Can Be Combined
Different Combinations of Face Markings can include:
Horses can have a Star on their forehead and a Snip on their muzzle.
Horses can have a star that is combined with a strip that goes down the face.
Horses can even have a star, strip, and snip combination that can be all one marking, or broken up into separate markings.
Guide to Horse Face Markings Locations
Bald Face:
A bald face is a wide white marking that extends past the eyes, down the face, and beyond the nostrils.
Blaze:
A blaze is a medium to wide white face marking that runs down the length of the horse's face.
Star:
A white marking that occurs above the eye line.
Strip:
A white marking that occurs below the eye line and above the top of the nostrils, but within the nasal bones. Also referred to as a stripe or race.
Snip:
A white marking that occurs between the top and the bottom of the nostrils.
Other Marks
Brand
A design burned into the horse that is usually used to identify the animal with a breed.
Freeze Brand
A brand made by freezing instead of burning, usually on the neck. Numbers and letters are usually used, and the hair grows back in white.