Horses can have many types of white face markings. Owners need to know how to properly identify those white patches of a horse’s face not only for registration and other paperwork but also to describe the horse accurately.
Accurate descriptions of markings on a horse’s face are required for breed registration papers and certain veterinary certificates, such as for Coggins tests and rabies vaccinations.
Be aware that not all breed associations use the same terminology to describe markings and marking patterns.
List of Common White Face Markings
Below is a list of common white face markings on horses:
- Star
- Snip
- Stripe/Strip
- Faint Star
- Star, Stripe or Strip, Snip / Connected
- Star, Stripe or Strip, Snip / Not Connected
- Blaze
- Bald-Faced
- Apron-Faced
- Paper-Faced or Bonnet
Check out the accompanying illustration to help guide you in getting your horse’s white face markings identified properly.
This article was adapted from “Equine Science: Basic Knowledge for Horse People of All Ages,” By Jean T. Griffiths. Copyright Equine Network.
Further Reading
- White Leg Markings on Horses. MySeniorHorse.com
- FEI offers a downloadable document to guide you in identifying various markings on your horse. Check it out here.
