US Arabian Registry

Face and Body Markings

US Arabian Horse Registry defines markings as configurations of solid white hairs contrasting with the surrounding coat color. "True" white markings grow from pink skin. Markings which grow from dark skin are described as "faint" markings. This distinction is particularly important on grey horses which grow lighter in coat color as they age, often disguising white markings. Pink skin is a permanent identifying mark.

All white markings should be recorded on the registration application form, and on grey horses a distinction must be made between "true" and "faint" markings. If your horse is grey you must complete boxes for underlying pink skin on the markings form. Pink skin is easier to identify if the coat is wet or shaved.

When you draw markings, secure your horse in front of you so that you can get all of the details. Don't try to do it from memory. Draw only (do not color in) the outline of the white markings. Do not draw black points on a bay horse. Remember, your drawing will become a part of the horse's permanent record. Be precise!

Body Markings:

A written description of any unusual body markings, noting color, size, shape, and location should be included on the application form. Draw only white markings on the form. While the written descriptions may not appear on the Certificate of Registration, they will become a part of the horse's permanent record, and may be helpful should questions of identify arise.

Body markings usually fall into four categories: 1) dark patches on a bay or chestnut; 2) grey or roan patches; 3) white marks (these should be drawn in); and 4) any discernible scars.

Brands, tattoos, or freeze marks should also be recorded, noting design and location.

This section provides basic language and examples of common markings that simplify the identification procedure. The use of terminology found in this document will standardize horse markings and expedite processing by US Arabian Horse Registry.

Odd body markings should be described as to color, size and location. Examples of this include DARK SPOTS in the horse's coat, a large DARK PATCH on the body or a large WHITE PATCH on the body.
Sometimes scattered white hairs can be found on the horse's body. Examples of this include scattered white hairs on barrel, in flanks, at root of tail or throughout coat.

Remember that each marking should always be described in terms of its size, shape and location.

Facial Markings:
For purposes of registration, facial markings will be described as follows:

Few White Hairs, Scattered white hairs, Patch of white hairs - 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. As a general guideline, a patch of white hairs in the forehead is small enough that it can be covered by a person's thumbnail.

STAR - any major white marking found in the forehead. The horse's forehead is defined as the area above the imaginary line connecting the top of both eyes.

The following terms can be used when describing STARS:

Small Star, Large Star - small star measures less than one and one-half inches in diameter; a large star measures three inches or more in diameter.

Diamond Shaped Star, Oval Star, Heart Shaped Star, and Triangular Star - described by their shape as a diamond, oval, heart or triangle.

Diagonal Star Pointed to Left (Pointed to Right) - usually narrow in shape, the top of which points toward the horse's left or right ear. The direction of the upper point should always be noted.

Horizontal Star or Vertical Star - horizontal is usually narrow in shape and lies parallel to the imaginary line connecting the top of both eyes and vertical is a star whose general shape is "up and down."

Curved Star Open to Left (Open to Right, Open to Top, Open to Bottom) - usually narrow and shaped like the letter "C" or a crescent moon. The "open" side of the star should always be noted.

Irregular Star - this term should be used when the star does not conform to any specific shape.

Pointed Star - a star which contains two or more distinct points. — If a star contains only one distinct point, then the direction of the point should be noted (pointed to left, pointed to right, etc.).

Mixed Star - a mixture of white and coat color hairs in the shape of a star. Sometimes these stars can be difficult to distinguish, and in this case, should be described as a faint star.

Bald Face - The star and stripe cover both eyes, both nostrils and the muzzle.

STRIPE - a continuous vertical marking which can begin anywhere from the area between the eyes to just above the imaginary horizontal line connecting the top of the nostrils, if it ends above nostrils,or to upper lip if it is continuous.

The following terms can be used when describing STRIPES:

Thin Stripe/Narrow Stripe or Wide Stripe/Broad Stripe - in a thin stripe/narrow stripe the lower portion is about a half inch in width. If the stripe is very thin it should be described as a Line of White Hairs; a wide stripe/broad stripe is about two or three inches in width.

Mixed Stripe - contains a mixture of white and coat color hairs. Can be narrow, wide, etc.

Bordered Stripe - the outer edge of the stripe is a mixture of white and coat color hairs. Can be narrow, wide, etc.

Broken Stripe - The stripe is disconnected from itself at one or more points.

Tapering Stripe - a stripe which narrows continuously and ends in a point.

Irregular Stripe - a stripe whose width, direction and course vary.

HELPFUL HINTS FOR DESCRIBING STRIPES:

Always describe where the stripe begins. If connected to a star, use the phrase "AND CONNECTED." Example: Large star and connected broad stripe... If the stripe is a separate marking, describe its beginning point using one of the following phrases: at eye level, at bottom of eye level, below eye level, in center of face, on bridge of nose, above nostrils.

Always describe where the stripe ends. Use one of the following phrases: at eye level, at bottom of eye level, below eye level, in center of face, on bridge of nose, above nostrils, between nostrils, on upper lip.
Use any of the following words to describe the stripe as it travels from beginning to end: beginning, widening, narrowing, extending, becoming, ending. When using any of these words, make sure to note what part of the horse's head is being described: center of face, bridge of nose, etc.

Whenever a stripe extends or ends between the nostrils, state whether the marking is TOUCHING, extends INTO or is COVERING the LEFT NOSTRIL, the RIGHT NOSTRIL or BOTH NOSTRILS. The same guideline applies when describing any SNIP BETWEEN NOSTRILS.

SNIP - any disconnected marking found BETWEEN THE NOSTRILS. A snip can be solid white, flesh colored or bordered. (See above for the definition of "bordered" and other terms used to describe markings).

PATCH - any separate marking found on the upper lip, lower lip or under lip. A patch can be solid white, flesh colored or mixed.

Upper lip - any white marking occurring below the nostrils, but still on the upper lip.
Lower lip and chin - any white marking occurring on the lower lip and/or chin.

Whorls (Cowlicks):

Whorls are the center of a hair formation known commonly as a cowlick. They are permanent and cannot be brushed away or clipped out. Whorls on the head and neck area are a very useful means of identification and should be described on all horses.

There is at least one whorl in the forehead, not counting the one at the foretop. The foretop whorl is not useful in identification as it has been found that all horses have a whorl in this area.

Whorls at or near eye level should be described in relation to the eye level (above eye level, at top of eye level, at eye level, at bottom of eye level, below eye level) and also in relation to the midline (left of midline, right of midline, or "median" whorl). Whorls can also be described in relation to white markings found in the head (for example: median whorl in star; whorl to left at bottom of star, etc.).When two or more whorls are found in the forehead they should be described as being a double horizontal whorl, a double diagonal whorl or a double vertical whorl. These whorls should also be described in terms of their relation to eye level and to the midline.

The presence of a whorl on the side of the neck near the mane should always be noted. This becomes even more important on solid-colored horses (horses with no white markings). There is at least one whorl on each side of the neck near the mane. Each neck whorl should be described in terms of its location on the neck, (behind the poll, high at crest of neck, middle of crest of neck, low at crest of neck), and on which side of the neck they lie (left side, right side, both sides).Other whorls which aid in the identification process can be found at the throat latch, in one or both jugular grooves and on the front of the neck.

Sometimes whorls feather outward from the point of origin, and the word "feathered" can be used to describe such a whorl.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: A majority of good, concise head and body markings can be written using only the terms as outlined in this section. Be sure to identify each major marking and use the descriptive words and phrases whenever necessary.