Happy days

I'm hoping you'll find a smile creep up on your face this morning as you read about this first Paint Horse's marking. Quolites Ice is a 16-year-old bay overo gelding owned by Todd and Shawna Whitehead of Maryville, Tennessee.

Todd writes, "If you look right above 'Iceman's' left front leg and below his shoulder, you will notice the darker spots make a smiley face. That suits him, because he is always happy and in a good mood."

I haven't seen many markings for my alphabet soup lately, but it's always a jovial time with the jazzy mare High Scootin Jasmine. Any guesses which letter she sports?

" 'Jaz' has what looks like a capital 'J' on her right shoulder," writes Shannon Anderson of Oracle, Arizona, who owns the 2009 buckskin tobiano mare.

Why Not Charly Fritz, a 2008 chestnut overo stallion, leaves his owner guessing with his marking. "My foal was born last year and we call him Why Not Charly Fritz because of the question mark on his neckline," writes owner Mylene Esnaud of Tremont, France.

March to the end

Ready for more Markings Madness? If you aren't caught up, check out the first and second seeds in this colorful group of Paint Horses! Otherwise, read on to see the Paints that round out the group as March comes to a close. Be sure to send your Paint markings in before the month ends!

Meet Uvaldes Nu Sassy Doll, a 2003 dun tobiano mare. Here's what her owner, Tricia Reed of Puyallup, Washington, has to say: "We've always thought that 'Zena' has a half of a prancing horse—with the right leg up and the left front leg extended—down her nose on her head."

How about this cute puppy dog?

"Pandas Chey A Summer is an 11-year-old mare I lease from a friend—Carolyn Jean Lincoln [of Norton, Massachusetts]," writes Wendy Palmer of Windsor, Pennsylvania. "I live in Pennsylvania, so I sent her this picture and she pointed out the perfect dog head on her side with the ear going down her leg."

Pandas Chey A Summer is a 1998 black tovero mare owned by Lincoln.

Have any questions about this last one? Meet Call Me Rerun, a 1996 black tovero mare. " 'Poco' has one very large question mark on her rump, curving above her tail and extending down her hind leg," writes Vanessa Green of Mobile, Alabama, who owns the mare.

Paint Cornucopia

As I've sifted through all the Paint markings submissions getting them ready for publication in APHA Connection, I've pulled a few extras to post on the blog. Ready for the herd?

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First up is Miss Dee Jet, a 1993 sorrel solid mare with only one thing on her mind.

"This is Miss Dee Jet from Canyon Country, California," writes owner Christine Glazier. "I always had some questions about my mare until I noticed that 'Snickers' had a question mark looking back at me."

This little city slicker is a cutie! Meet PJ All Star Dividend, owned by Larry Volkmar of Scottsdale, Arizona.

"His right hip has an obvious silhouette of a cowboy with his hat on and mouth open facing 'Levi's' flank," writes breeder Sandi Lamrouex about this 2008 bay overo stallion. "I think it looks like Curly from the movie City Slickers!"

Will this one be on the Paint marking blog? I don't know, Willy Be?

"This is [Willy Be An Irish Max]," writes owner Brandy Fithen of Rayland, Ohio, about the unregistered 2008 black overo stallion. "I think [the marking on his neck] looks like Italy, but my sister says a witch's boot. It could be either, you decide."

I guess 'Willy' will be!