A Star Is Any White Marking on the Forehead of the Horse

Horse Markings

Star A star is any white marking on the forehead of the horse. A star can be small, large, regular or irregular in shape, in the center of the forehead or off to the left or right side of the forehead. Some horses have only a few discernable white hairs on the forehead that do not have white or pink skin underneath and these can be described as a few white hairs on the forehead.

Stripe (Strip) A stripe or strip is a white marking on the bridge of the horse's nose, below the level of the eyes and above the level of the nostrils. A stripe or strip can be long, short, wide, narrow, centered on the face of the horse or off to the left or right side.

Connected Star and Stripe A star is often connected to a stripe and is described as a connected star and stripe. A stripe or strip can be long, short, wide, narrow, centered on the face of the horse or off to the left or right side.

Snip A snip is any white mark that is located between the nostrils of the horse. A snip may be small, large, centered or extend into one or both nostrils. A snip is often connected to a stripe, and many times with a star and stripe.

Blaze A blaze is a wider white marking that usually covers the region of a star, stripe and snip, but extends to the width of the bridge of the horse's nose.

Bald A bald face is a very wide blaze that extends to and may cover the eyes, nostrils, and upper lip. Horses with bald faces often have white that extends to the lower lip as well, and this should be listed in a description of the face markings.

Heel Horses will commonly have a white marking that covers one or both heels. This is described as white inside, outside, or both heels.

Coronet White covering the coronary band or coronet. Half Pastern White extending approximately half way up the pastern.

Pastern A white marking which includes the entire pastern.

Fetlock or Ankle A white marking that extends to and covers the fetlock

Sock A white marking that extends half way up the front or rear cannon. Often called a Half Stocking

Stocking A white marking that extends from the coronet to the knee or hock.

Distal Spots Distal spots or Ermine Spots are dark spots within a white marking around the coronet. When distal spots are present, the hoof wall is often vertically striped beneath the spot.