Horse Face Markings: Photos Of Common Horse Face Markings

Horse Face Markings

Face markings on horses are described and shown in photos below. Face markings are usually white in color and can run together or appear in separated combinations. For example, a horse can have a star and a strip that run together, or a star and a strip that don't touch. Not everyone agrees on what certain markings should be called, and this will be noted in some of the descriptions.

While the descriptions on this page can be considered reliable, it is very important that if you are registering a horse that you consult with the registering organization for their definitions of facial markings. Definitions can differ from one organization to another, and may also be different than the descriptions we've used here.

Descriptions Of Face Markings On Horses

Bald Face - A bald face is a very broad blaze that, for all or part of its length, extends to or past the inside corner of one or both eyes. A bald face typically is also a long marking running from the top of the face down to the nostrils, and often includes the nostrils. A horse with a bald face also frequently has a wide snip (a snip is defined below). An especially wide bald face is sometimes called an apron face.

Photo of a horse marking known as a bald face

This marking might be called a blaze OR a bald face

A bald faced horse.

Another bald face.

This facial marking may be the source of disagreement among some horse people. Some folks will call it a blaze, while others will argue it is a bald face. The disagreement arises from where the white extends past the inside corner of the eyes: Even though the white extending past the eyes is ABOVE the eyes, some folks will call this a bald face, but many people will describe it as a blaze unless the white extends past the corner of the eyes BELOW the eyes.

Blaze - A blaze is a wide white marking that runs for all or most of the length of the horse's face.

A good example of a blaze.

Another blaze.

The horse on the left has a blaze. The horse on the right has a star, a strip, and a snip that all run together.

Snip - A snip is a small white marking between the nostrils. The pink skin beneath the hair of the snip is often easily seen. Snips often extend down onto the upper lip where there isn't any hair, so they show up as pink skin.

Photo of a horse's face showing a star and a snip

This horse is marked with a star, strip, and snip

This horse has a star (the white marking between the eyes) and a snip (the white marking between the nostrils).

A star (the white marking between the eyes), a strip (the white marking that is low on the front of the face), and a snip (the white / pink marking between the nostrils).

Star - A star is a white marking on the forehead, usually defined as between or above the eyes. Stars can be large or small, and can come in any shape: Round, oval, crescent, half-moon, heart, or in any variety of irregular or hard to describe shapes.

Strip - A strip is a white marking in the middle of the face. It is very narrow compared to a blaze. A strip may run for all or only part of the length of the horse's face. A strip is also sometimes called a stripe. If a strip is not straight but is instead crooked or wavy, it may be called a "race."

A very round, classic shaped star.

An elongated star.

A star, a strip, and a snip. The star and strip run together, but the snip is separate.

A star, a strip, and a snip (the snip is barely visible in the photo). Like the photo on the left, the star and strip run together while the snip is separate.