Last week, Horse Illustrated reader Nicholas Lenahan sent us a photo of his horse with the comment that the pinto’s star looked like the state of Texas.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/texas-horse.jpg)
We shared the photo with our Facebook community, and asked if anyone else had a horse with an interesting marking that looked like something else. It turns out there are lots of hidden images in horse markings! In fact, Texas wasn’t the only state represented.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/west-virginia-horse.jpg)
Jul Cerinetti writes: “One of ours has a star in the shape of West Virginia”
Some horse owners saw other animals depicted on their horses.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/aflac-duck-horse.jpg)
Tammy Andrade writes: “Here is a photo of Raven, a Mustang/American Paint cross mare I got from a rescue agency in 2007. She has a “duck” marking on her shoulder. We call it her ‘Aflac Duck.'” Duck image by Tambako the Jaguar on flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/goose-horse.jpg)
Becky Welch shared her horse’s goose head face marking. Goose image: Stavros1 at English Wikipedia GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/seahorse-horse.jpg)
Hale Bruner writes: “My baby has a seahorse on his head.”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/panda-horse.jpg)
Felicia Stelpflug writes: “Tutti has a panda eye on one side.”
And then there were some other characters…
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/alien-horse.jpg)
Alli Schatzley writes: “It’s hard to tell in this picture but it looks like an alien waving.” I see it.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/fred-flintstone-horse.jpg)
Denise Murray writes: “Pops has Fred Flintstone’s profile on his side.” Fred Flintstone image via YouTube
There were a couple of well-defined letters. How can you not use these as an initial when naming a horse?
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/c-horse.jpg)
A shoulder C, from Vanessa Rae Fechko.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/s-horse.jpg)
Tracey Grunwald-Seyffert shared this photo of her horse with a distinct S on his forehead. His name is Sparty.
And finally, a potpourri of other shapes and symbols.
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/monkey-wrench-horse.jpg)
Eryn Mord Galloway writes: “Bliss has a monkey wrench, or artistic snake head, maybe a falcon?”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/bell-horse.jpg)
Jessica Gordon writes: “We think it looks like a bell. ”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/diamond-horse.jpg)
Jessica Erin Larner-o’Brien writes: “My horse is named Diamond because he has a perfect diamond right on the tip of his nose.”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/fleur-de-lis-horse.jpg)
Miranda Noyes writes: “Ebby has a Phoenix or fleur-de-lis on her back.”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/lightning-bolt-horse.jpg)
Lauren Madar Power writes: “Our 2010 Canadian foal had a lightning bolt.”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/racing-saddle-horse.jpg)
Diana Hammermeister writes: “Little Joe, my mom’s Arab/Paint mix, to me, looks like he has an English saddle or racing saddle on his withers.”
![Horse Markings](/images/horse-news-article-images/wishbone-horse.jpg)
Don Sandy Raven Neville writes: “My gal SYTARA (Morning Star) has a Wishbone on her nose”
some of these are pretty cool!