Hair Whorls - The Prophet's Thumb Mark

We all have lovely little attributes that make us who we are - from the colour of your hair, your hair line, moles, birthmarks, eye colour and even fingertips, we each possess little differences that make us special, and it is no different in horses! 

Of course you own horse is special in its own right, but there are little physical differences that tend to share a common thread in some horses that have been known for their cultural significance, particularly 'Hair Whorls'.

A hair whorl is a patch of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the hair on a horses body. Locations where whorls are found in equines include the stomach area, the face, stifle areas, and sometimes on the hocks.

Hair whorls in horses are also known as crowns, swirls, trichoglyphs, or cowlicks and can be either clockwise or counterclockwise in direction of growth. Whorls, like many marks or blemishes on humans, such as moles or birthmarks, have been known throughout the centuries for their spiritual or mythical significance.

One legend of whorls is the ‘Prophet’s Thumbmark’, a small indentation in the horse’s neck. The legend reads: “Prophet Mohammed tested his horses by depriving them of water for several days. He then released them near a waterhole but before they reached it, he sounded his trumpet to summon them. Only five mares responded and returned to him, and these were kept for breeding. He pressed him thumb into their necks, leaving an indentation which they passed onto their offspring.” 

It has since been said that if you ever have a horse that has the marking, they are blessed, and if that person’s thumb fits exactly in the indentation then you are the horse’s true owner!

So, if you find something similar upon your horse, why not try and see if you're a perfect fit! 

Prophet's thumb mark