Animal Farm, part seven

Feeling a little down this Tuesday afternoon? Well it's time to brighten up with another edition of Animal Farm with Paint Horses and their fluffy, fishy and just plain funny companions. See the past six versions here: I, II, III, IV, V, VI.

First to show his markings is 2009 bay tobiano stallion "Hoof," who is not yet registered but is owned by Chuck and Georgina Love of Fort Pierce, Florida. "We were thrilled to find our Paint colt on Easter morning," writes Georgina. "As we looked him over, we realized that there is a horse profile on each side of his neck!"

This 2004 bay tobiano gelding, owned by Shayne Jenkerson of Hillsboro, Oregon, is a bit of a big spender! "The white on his side looks like a large cat or maybe a lion, with its mouth open facing his hip," writes Kaitlyn Jenkerson about Spendinmydaddysassets.

Showing off his red-hot skills in the show ring is Rapidfires Red Hot, a 2002 sorrel overo gelding. "On his left side, 'Levi' has a distinct fish marking," writes owner Savannah Davis of Aledo, Texas. "To go with the ocean theme, he has a crab on his shoulder."

Owned by John and Ginia Koons, Sevens Treasured Mojo is another friend of sea creatures with her marking. "We nicknamed her 'Angel' because of her angelfish," writes Ginia of Romoland, California. "We lost her mom when she was 14 hours old, and she is an angel."

Angel is a 2003 bay tobiano mare.

Owner Barbara Mestemaker thinks her 2003 chestnut tobiano stallion, Copper Calahan, is a foxy one with the animal shape on his back. "I think his marking looks like a fox with a flowing tail," writes Barbara of Eagle, Michigan.

"Eighteen years old and still a star in the reining, he has a pig kissing a horse on his neck," writes Leslie Temple about 1989 brown tobiano gelding Vics School Boy H. Luba Hunt of Sebastopol, California, owns the gelding.

Animal Farm, part six

It's time for edition six of Animal Farm on this Monday morning. If you're behind, read parts one, two, three, four and five.

Soaring through the clouds with an eagle by her side is Pokeys Dun Smoken, a 1998 dun overo mare owned by Lori Sundberg of Galesburg, Illinois. "I bought 'Fancy Pants' about 18 months ago and hadn't really noticed that her markings looked like anything special," writes Lori, "but inevitably children will say, 'She has an eagle on her side!' when they see her. In fact, the markings do look like an eagle or hawk with its wings spread."

Sir Jack Wiggles also likes to fly. "Sir Jack Wiggles was born on Easter Sunday in 2008," writes Ernest Alcon of Farmington, New Mexico. "That is when we noticed the bird shape on his hindquarter area."

Sir Jack Wiggles is a 2008 bay tobiano stallion.

Cheyenn Ginger, a 2007 sorrel tobiano mare, is a bit of a trickster with her markings! She resides in Westerdeichstrich, Germany, with owner Angela Schmidt. Angela writes, "My 2-year-old Paint Horse mare has a hampster or cat on her left side. What do you think?"

I think it kind of looks like a puppy or something flying on a broomstick, but I tend to have a wild imagination.

This next marking is an animal of the hoofed kind. " 'Steson' has a mountain goat on his side," writes Laurie Salzer of Derby, New York, about her 2001 bay tobiano gelding Nite Time Obsession.

Animal Farm, part five

It's time for another round of Animal Farm! If you've missed out on past editions of Animal Farm markings, check out versions one, two, three and four.

Sonny Cool Youre Jets, a 2007 chestnut tobiano mare, has gone to the dogs with her marking!

"One day we were standing out with the horse and I saw a dog shape on her right side," writes owner Crystal Vogel of Apple Hill, Ontario, Canada. "She is 2-years-old and the dog hasn't moved or changed one bit."

(If you can't see it, the dog's head is facing the horse's rear and the dog looks like a poodle.)

Following the dog (or maybe running away from) is 1996 bay overo gelding Commander Cat Bird from Laurel, Delaware. Take a guess at his markings!

"He has a picture of a cat on his side, with the cat's tail running up his hip, and a picture of a bird on his neck," writes his owner, Heather Holloway. "Hence his name, Commander Cat Bird."

Today's Animal Farm post is a real cat-and-mouse chase! Impressive Whispers, owned by Nicole Gray of Belleville, Michigan, sports a mouse on her side—Mickey Mouse, to be exact.

"This is my 3-year-old filly and you can clearly see Mickey Mouse's head on her right side," writes Nicole about her 2006 sorrel tobiano mare.

Animal Farm, part four

Sorry the Paint Markings blog has taken a hiatus in recent weeks, but I've got good news! It's back! Enjoy the next round of Animal Farm, or to catch up, read parts one, two and three.

"My 8-year-old Paint gelding [We Bingo On Ten] has a white mark on his mid-back that resembles a chicken looking to the left," writes Lori Fleagle of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, about her 2000 bay tobiano gelding 'Lobo.'

Next up is Perfect Nicole, a 2000 chestnut tobiano mare owned by Laura Athey of Danville, Virginia.

" 'Nikki' has a bucking bull on her left side," writes Laura. "The head is facing back towards her left flank."

Can you see it? If not, imagine the bull's head and horns are angled as if the bull is about to spear Nikki in her hindquarters.

Aflaaaaaccc!! (or Animal Farm, part three)

(See Parts One and Two here.)

Exceeds Image, a 2000 chestnut overo gelding, trots around his pasture with an interesting bird, commonly seen getting into sticky situations for insurance commercials, on his side.

And now, time for a message from Amber Kostrub of Lowville, New York.

"There is a marking of a duck on his side, and he's been given the name 'Aflac' by some people," she writes about her gelding.

"He also has the marking of a Scottie dog on the other side."

Animal Farm, part two

Hi everyone! If you missed the first installment of Animal Farm, go check it out now before reading this. Otherwise, get ready for some Paints that truly take flight!

Cooss Painted Cookie might just fly away someday with the lengthy wings found on her side. This 2007 bay tobiano mare resides in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, with owner Kim Johnston.

Kim writes, "On her forehead, it looks like she has an emu or a goose head with a long neck. And on her side, she has a seagull-type bird flying with wings spread!"

Up, up and away!

This little fella might not fly away just yet, but wait until his feathered companion grows along side him before making any permanent assumptions.

"To us, this looks like a duck in flight," writes Shelly Hood of Sneads, Florida, who owns the 2008 chestnut tobiano stallion Lucky Paint By Number with Kenneth Hood.

This last guy may not be much of a flyer himself, but his buddy sure is! See if you can find who's hanging out with Skip The Obvious, a 1999 sorrel tobiano gelding.

Any ideas? Hint: The marking's friend is a flying squirrel from a TV show in the 1960s. Still no luck?

"It looks like Bullwinkle is on 'Rowdy's' right flank," writes owners Ed and Mardi Messia of Blanchard, Idaho.

Animal farm

Happy early New Year to all of you reading this blog! Have you sent in your Paint markings yet? If you add it to your list of resolutions, I bet you'll be able to check it off! And for those of you with mares expecting a visit from the stork this year, feel free to email (mlarson@apha.com) or mail (Megan Larson, 2800 Meacham, Fort Worth TX 76137) photos of the new bundle of joy and it's fancy markings!

Until I receive those wonderful pictures of yours, I'll share a page full of markings fit to fill a zoo!

First up is Noti, Oregon, resident Christabeth Voss' 2006 chestnut tobiano mare Zips Two Chess, with her best friend tagging right along her side! "I was delighted to see the puppy on [Jewel Of Chex's] filly when she was born," writes breeder Kay Pynch. "We named her Zip Two Chess, but thought it should have been Doggie In The Window."

Maybe it's not only a man's best friend after all!

Now for an animal that spends a little more of its time in frigid temperatures. Here is Miss Gorgeous In Gold, a 2007 black tobiano mare. Can you tell what animal she hangs out with?

" 'Gorgeous' has a penguin on her face," writes owner Cheryl Birch of Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada. "The tail is by her nose, the head is up by her eye and the beak is over Gorgeous' eye. Everyone said I should have named her Happy Feet after the penguin movie!"

Another cool fact about this mare: Several months later she was on the set of the TV show "Smallville."

If you're looking for a Paint Horse with some international appeal, check out Sonnys King, owned by Alexandra Giacalone of Haunwang, Germany! "My Paint Horse gelding 'King' has a puma on his left side, I found!" writes Alexandra of her 1998 sorrel tobiano gelding.

I don't know if there are large puma populations in Europe, but I know I can find at least one!

Have you ever heard of the 'bunny hop,' or maybe you've done it yourself? I'm thinking this little tyke hasn't, but he sure has a friend to teach him how! This is Tabus Classy Rab, a 2008 chestnut tobiano gelding owned by Kathy Callahan of Medford, Oregon. Kathy writes, "The marking on his hip and flank area looks like a rabbit sitting down."

Of course, we can't forget this little field mouse! See if you can find it on Lady Billing NFB, a 2004 sorrel overo mare owned by Kimberly Mallmann of Montello, Wisonsin.

Give up?

" 'Bella' has a mouse under the brand on her hip," writes Kimberly. "The barn cats sleep in her stall all night. I think it may have something to do with the fact that she always has a mouse on her!"