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

Make You Own Horse Hair Jewellery

At Tic Tac Equestrian, we love jewellery, especially beautifully hand-crafted pieces you can make yourself. Horse hair jewellery in particular is a great gift for equestrians, especially at Christmas time, and not to mention, a fun and beautiful way to honour your horse.

Bracelets and necklaces can be tricky to make but with a bit of practice you can make gifts for your friends and yourself. Which is why we've scoured to net for the best ideas on how to make y

So, how do you start? Well, decide what type of bracelet you would like to make and it's worthwhile making a visit to your local craft shop to pick up the right findings/beads/charms you want to add. After that, the basic steps are fairly simple. 

You'll need: 

• Horse Hair
• Rubber Bands
• Metal beads
• Silk cord, same colour as hair
• Silver cap end
• Toggle clasp

Instructions:

• Collect horse hairs that are about a foot in length. Continue collecting them until you have small bundle--as wide as your thumb.

• Wrap an elastic band at the far end of the horse hair. Insert the thin metal wire into the centre of the bundle. Make sure the elastic band is wrapped tightly, as to hold the hairs and wire in place.

• Comb the hair gently to remove any tangles.

• Separate the small bundle of hair into three equal sections. Keep the wire in the centre of the middle section of hair. Braid the hair, concealing the metal wire, until you reach the bottom of the bundle.

• Bind the end of the braid with silk cord in the same colour of the horse hair. Repeat this process for the beginning of the braid, binding the silk cord in front of the elastic band (where the braid begins). Remove elastic band. Trim off excess hair.

• Pull the silk cord through the cap end and secure it to the end of your bracelet. The hair slips into the cap end, providing a neat appearance. Repeat this process for the other end of your bracelet.

• Slip the metal beads over the hair and position where desired. You may choose to have an attractive bead or charm in the centre of your bracelet, as a focal point.

We'd love to hear what wonderful creations you've pulled together, so feel free to get in touch here, or at the Tic Tac site! Good Luck!