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Leg and Hoof Markings

LEG MARKINGS

Be sure to draw all markings exactly as they appear on your horse (same shape, same location). If a leg marking is indicated, a hoof color must be checked. It is assumed that all markings originate from the coronet band.

Markings found on the legs can be described by one or more of the following:

FEW WHITE HAIRS, SCATTERED WHITE HAIRS, PATCH OF WHITE HAIRS - can be found on any portion of the legs. When present, they should be noted and their exact location described as white hairs which do not form any specific shape. The words "heavy" or "faint" can sometimes be used in describing scattered white hairs. A patch of white hairs can be large or small and is found on any portion of the legs, especially on the heels or coronet. The words "solid" or "mixed" can sometimes be used when describing a patch of white hairs.

INSIDE OR OUTSIDE HEEL WHITE - Only one of the heels on a leg is white.

HEEL WHITE - Both heels on a leg are white.

CORONET WHITE - The area immediately above the hoof (one inch or less in width) is white.

CORONET AND PART OF PASTERN WHITE - The white covers the coronet, extends up and includes part of the pastern.

HALF PASTERN WHITE, THREE-QUARTERS PASTERN WHITE, PASTERN WHITE, PASTERN AND PART OF ANKLE WHITE, AND ANKLE WHITE - phrases used to describe where the white covers what part of the lower leg.

WHITE TO ABOVE ANKLE - The white extends up to and includes the entire ankle and a small portion (less than one quarter) of the cannon bone.

QUARTER WHITE STOCKING, HALF STOCKING, THREE-QUARTERS STOCKING - describes how far the white extends up to and includes the cannon bone.

THREE-QUARTERS STOCKING - The white extends up to and includes the entire cannon bone. It extends to the bottom of the knee on the front leg and to the bottom of the hock on the hind leg. If any white extends onto or above the knee on the front leg or onto or above the hock on the hind leg it should be so described.

DARK OR CHESTNUT SPOTS IN WHITE LEG MARKINGS - Sometimes coat color spots are present in the white marking. Usually they are found on a white coronet, however, they can occasionally be found in other parts of the marking. These spots should be described as to their color and location. If only one spot is present its exact location should be noted.

Irregular Leg Markings

If a white leg marking is too irregular to fall into one of the previously described classifications then a combination must be used to describe that marking. Some markings could be described thus as a half pastern white, extending on ankle in back; dark spot on coronet on outside; or another may be described as ankle white, higher in back; large triangular dark patch on coronet on outside, extending on pastern; dark spot on coronet in front; and another may be described as pastern and part of ankle irregularly white, extending above ankle in back; line of white hairs on cannon on outside.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR DESCRIBING LEG MARKINGS:

Always check your horse's legs in the same order: Left Fore, Left Hind, Right Hind, Right Fore.

Examine each leg from all sides before determining what each major marking should be called.

Each leg is divided into eight imaginary areas for the purpose of locating disconnected markings, deviations to major markings (lower, higher, etc.) and coat color spots on a white coronet. These areas are identified as follows: Front, Back, Inside, Outside, Inside in Front, Inside in Back, Outside in Front, Outside in Back. When describing leg markings, remember that these terms refer to the horse's outside, the horse's inside, etc.

Once each major marking has been identified, describe any deviations to that marking using one or more of the following words or phrases:

LOWER - the marking dips slightly in one area.

HIGHER - the marking extends up slightly in one area.

EXCEPT - the marking is interrupted or does not appear in one area. (Example: coronet white, except on outside).

EXTENDING TO ANKLE, EXTENDING ON ANKLE, EXTENDING ABOVE ANKLE - phrases describe the white marking on ankle.

EXTENDING TO HALF STOCKING, EXTENDING TO THREE-QUARTERS STOCKING, EXTENDING TO FULL STOCKING - phrases describe how far the marking extends up the cannon bone in one area. The phrases "Extending to knee" and "Extending to hock" can sometimes be substituted.

EXTENDING ON KNEE/HOCK - the marking extends up and onto the knee on the front leg (the hock on the hind leg) in one area.


ACQUIRED MARKINGS

Markings that have been produced after birth are considered acquired markings with scars the most common example. Many scars are permanent and can be seen throughout the life of the horse; they should therefore be noted. Race horses will usually have tattoos and could also have firing pin marks.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
A majority of good, concise leg descriptions can be written by using only the terms as outlined in this section. Be sure to identify the major marking, use the descriptive phrases when necessary and state which area of the leg is being described.

CHESTNUTS (or night-eyes) are horny, irregular growths found on the inside of the legs. On the fore legs, they are just above the knees and on the hind legs, they are near the rear of the hock. No two horses have been found to have the same set of night-eyes and since they do not change in size and shape throughout the adult life of the horse they are found to be extremely useful in identification.

Occasionally a horse is found to have one or both hind chestnuts missing. When this condition exists it should be noted.

HOOF COLOR

For registration and identification purposes, hoof colors are to be recorded as follows:

Dark hoof - black or dark in color. Normally, there will not be a (white) marking above a dark hoof.

White hoof - white or light in color. Normally, there will be a marking above a white hoof.

Parti-colored hoof - a hoof that shows white and dark areas in stripes or larger areas. Normally, there will be a marking above a parti-colored hoof.