Whorls on horses. Do you believe they mean anything?

[walktrot]

I have a sabino Paint gelding with a bald face. He has sorrel around his eyes which is good because the skin is black. He has a whorl in the center above his eyes. I don’t know what this is supposed to mean, but he is smart, quiet, licks every person within range, but he is spooky.

He also has two whorls about a foot apart on both sides of his neck just below the crest. The only problem they create is if I cut his mane too short (there isn’t enough to pull) he has cowlicks.

Who knows what it all means? All I know is that he is a very special guy and drop-dead gorgeous.

[SnortyPants]

Sounds like horse phrenology. If there IS a scientific angle to this, it’s confirmation bias, as in people remember horses with whorls that correspond to a preconceived notion of said whorls. Same dynamic as chestnut mares being hot.

[Guilherme]

@Frostbitten

Guilherme, shouldn’t those be horse licks? I mean, let’s keep it accurate.

Well, in that case Denis the Menace had a “humanlick.” Right?!?!?!

If humans can have “cowlicks” why not horses? Unlike Parelli I don’t need to invent a new language, just apply the The Queen’s English and all will be well!!! :lol:

All Hail Dr. Hackenbush!!!

G.

[xeroxchick]

@Frostbitten

J-Lu, I stumbled across something scientific and of course now can’t find it again! I think there is now proof that whorls are formed at the same time as skin and they may also have to do with the way the fetus is lying at some point in their development. Something about neural pathways and whorls being connected which may be at least somewhat reflected in behaviour. Tellington-Jones also discusses body whorls and conformation, especially ears, eyes, muzzle, as being indicative to some degree of personality. Certainly the analysis of whorls goes way back into ancient cultures such as the Bedouin. Nothing new under the sun, I guess.

wasn’t there a study on whorls on calf faces? Something to do with neural development?

[Beck]

The white facial markings as related to neural development is mentioned in ‘Animals in Translation’ by Temple Grandin. She was also involved in an observational study of the behaviour of cattle with differing facial whorl locations when they were placed in a cattle press. Pretty sure that one was deemed inconclusive at the time.

[Scribbler]

@Arelle

There have been huge studies on it - whorls not only on the face but also on the body. Pretty interesting stuff: https://www.foxpointfarm.com/swirlology---the-study-of-whorls-and-swirls-in-horses.html

I won’t totally discredit it. But I won’t bet my life’s savings being 100% correct 100% of the time either.

I went to this foxpoint farm link and I would not dignify this article with the descriptor “study.” It’s just personal anecdote.

[Foxtrot_s]

For now I’ll stick with the same opinion I have of the “chestnut mare beware” thing.

[Rallycairn]

@Arelle

There have been huge studies on it - whorls not only on the face but also on the body. Pretty interesting stuff: https://www.foxpointfarm.com/swirlol…in-horses.html

I won’t totally discredit it. But I won’t bet my life’s savings being 100% correct 100% of the time either.

Wait, what? The linked article is pretty far from a study, scientific or otherwise. Just anecdotes from someone who can’t even spell fascinate correctly.

eta: Scribbler beat me to it.

[ecileh]

@Rallycairn

Wait, what? The linked article is pretty far from a study, scientific or otherwise. Just anecdotes from someone who can’t even spell fascinate correctly.

eta: Scribbler beat me to it.

Here’s a gem from the article: Swirls are hair rooted in brain cells; the rest of the hair is developed from hair follicles in the skin.

No wonder horses get frisky in spring. They’re literally shedding out brain cells.

[Arelle]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

My bad, y’all. I wasn’t implying that link was a study. My brain must’ve shut off due to foal watch. The thought process was - I know there have been studies on it. Additionally, there are a bunch of people on this thread asking what the whorls supposedly mean so here’s a link outlining the basic principles. Did NOT mean for that to be a congruent thought. Bad writing on my part.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Guilherme]

@Arelle

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

My bad, y’all. I wasn’t implying that link was a study. My brain must’ve shut off due to foal watch. The thought process was - I know there have been studies on it. Additionally, there are a bunch of people on this thread asking what the whorls supposedly mean so here’s a link outlining the basic principles. Did NOT mean for that to be a congruent thought. Bad writing on my part.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Don’t worry about it; you are hardly the first “oops” in these waters!!!

G.

[Palm_Beach]

@J-Lu

I just can’t wrap my head around how a whorl on the face indicates anything about personality or reactiveness. The brain is developing ALL THROUGHOUT gestation and personality is greatly influenced during the later part of pregnancy, post-natally and as a youngster. “Skin” develops pretty early in gestation. I just don’t see the science link, but would love to hear people’s thoughts or links to scientific publication on this. I know of Temple Grandin’s association of face whorls and cows, but I don’t see the mechanism.

People will go to great lengths to avoid blaming themselves for their horse’s behavior.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

My boy has two whorls in the center of his forehead, at eye level. One goes clockwise and the other counterclockwise. And he can be a moody boy–great one day, no play the next. We joke about which whorl is working on a given day.