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Are Birdcatcher spots rare?
Birdcatcher spots are a rare genetic trait in horses. Birdcatcher spots are named for the Irish-born Thoroughbred stallion Birdcatcher (1833), who had these markings on his flank and above his tail. So, it’s basically a genetic thing, that randomly appears in horses of all kinds.
What are spots on a horse called?
Bend-Or spots (also called Ben d’Or spots, smuts, or grease spots) are a type of spotted marking found on horses. They range in color from dark red to black. These random spots are most commonly seen on palominos, chestnuts, and darker horses, and may not appear until the horse is several years old.
Why has my horse got white spots?
Vitiligo is a quite unusual skin condition that causes a lot of consternation to the owners but thankfully is not at all distressing to the horse or pony. It presents as small, focal and generally well-circumscribed white spots as a result of pigment loss.
What are white or roan appearing spots that appear on gray horses called?
A: Your mare fits the description for a classic case of “birdcatcher spots.” These small, random white spots, no larger than an inch across, pop up spontaneously on the body of horses of practically any solid color and usually appear later in life.
Are bend or spots rare?
This is a rare and random spotting that is most often found on chestnut & palomino animals. The spots can range from slightly darker than coat color to almost black and vary in size from silver dollar size to the size of an outspread hand.
Why are horses pin fired?
Pin firing, also known as thermocautery, is the treatment of an injury to a horse’s leg, by burning, freezing, or dousing it with acid or caustic chemicals. This is supposed to induce a counter-irritation and speed and/or improve healing. This treatment is used more often on racehorses than on other performance horses.
What causes pigment loss in horses?
With that said, in general, pigment loss in horse’s coats, especially around the eyelids, is caused by a condition called equine vitiligo. It is an auto-immune disorder associated with nutritional deficiencies, including zinc, copper and/or selenium/vitamin E.