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Tina Bjerre Nielsen
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Often it creates a lot of attention when horse owners show their horses white markings - and for good reason. It is fun to see how many special colors, spots and patterns a horse can actually have. Although there is not much scientific information on the matter, there is a bit of research that points to why these particular white markings actually appear. Let us take a closer look.
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Most of us have probably found ourselves being fascinated when seeing a horse with unique markings. It can be different types on the horse's legs, maybe a different kind of blaze or a variegated color, where the marks actually look like something familiar for example an animal or an object. It can really become the talk of the town in the stable when a horse has a special expression because of markings.
Research also indicates that an increase in the incidence of several different colors has appeared, and the actual taming of the horse is most likely the reason for the markings. This could make sense, as breeders both now and in the past have focused on certain colors and markings, which are preferred within breeds. At the same time, the researchers also believe that the white markings depend on the general coat color of the horse, and the environment, in which the horse is raised.
There is an incredible number of variations of especially white markings. You can see some of the examples here:
This article was originally published in September, 2020 and has since been revised and edited.
