This is all 100% correct information on all 4 of my horses!

My old boy, I had him 17 years, had two tight swirls very close, side by side right obove the eyes. I had to let him go with 27 due to a bad front knee. He never complained, ever, but I didn't want to stretch it until he could not rise after a napp. He didn't deserve that. He was the best horse ever, for me he did what I ask, and told me over the years if I was unreasonable by sending me flying once or twice. But when realy shit happens, he took care off me, saving my life. He was very special and save as you can get them. I could lounge my 2 year old cantering and he would never make a wrong step. BUT it seems he had another side as well, rearing up until the rider who was looking after him, refuced to ride him again. I travel for work so my horses are without me for around 2 weeks, then I'm back for 4 weeks. Every time I'm gone my horse got messy in the box and had this episodes where he scared people. I think he was choosing to be nice to me, but I would have liked if he would tell me when he had issues earlier. One day he was not eating his lunch 😮 so I called the vet for colic. The went told me, na, is just a mild one, I'm overreacting. But when she started emptying his intestence with bone dry, hard poop, she got very serious. He never showed how sick he was. Now I have a boring, one swirl between the eyes colt. He is somehow very different, and somehow very similar. I guess one makes their own horses to a degree. He was a fabulous jumper and didn't do to bad in dressage either. 😉 Love your videos by the way, and the book I'm currently reading 😊

"They probably also have a high tolerance to alcohol" 🤣😂🤣

Those old timers knew something. I’ve heard some of these things over the years. Love this series you’ve done. I’m horse shopping again so believe me I’m paying attention now!! Thank you ever so much for sharing your experience.

Interesting observations. Boy to I have pictures to send to you! This year's foal crop has whorls I have never seen before in 60 years of breeding. Not only did we get strange whorls, we got snips on many of the foals. An interesting year! I personally love the little higher double whorls as I find them to be smart, clever and lots of fun to work with! Your comments about the donkeys has made me go looking for ours to take note! I'm looking forward to your second installment of this discussion!

I have a double whorl mare, vertical. She fits more of your description of a horizontal double whorl. She is definitely fractious and if she gets overwhelmed, I have to just stop and let her stand for a minute. But, she is super confident, adventurous, gritty, and she has that laser focus. She is also never the one to show up with dings or scrapes, so not at all accident prone. However, she's a mare, so not stupid, and has been raised in a forest (her "pasture" is just thinned out forest). She's always had to step over windfall, and glacial rubble (Canadian Shield area). She's the horse that has challenged me the most but man is she ever worth it. Interesting that you mention about not wanting to be pet on. She really only wants me to pet on her when it's fly season and I can itch her udder and belly. I got an old grey mare with a center swirl for hanging out with, so it's all good. But when I want an adventure and to cover ground, my double swirl girl is who I want under me.

Always get me thinking. Thanks so much Brett

Great video. Got me thinking about my past horses and go look at the ones I have now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Brett.

It’s a lot of fun! And I’ve been paying more attention 👌

Thanks so much for sharing I was taking notes on everything you said

Super interesting + all ur experience 👍👍thx

Two whorls, high up, side by side, right under the forelock. Medicine hat paint, one blue eye, welsh stallion... wish you could see him. Fascinating video.

totally relate to what you are talking about on whorls. have a mini with a double side by side that are really tight. and one day he's fine easy to work and next day just all scatter brained. but tough as nails. like your presentation look forward to hearing more

fascinating thank you

Enjoyed this video! My 2 rescued seniors are single whorled, high on the forehead. What you said is very true of them. Tho the older one came from a kill pen and while his weight and health are back, he’s got pain even with daily Equioxx. He gets a bit grumpy and sometimes I think he wonders why on earth I touch him so much! He’s come a long way. I like your comment about making things his idea….definitely respects me more as I respect him more.

My one mare has a double side by side whorl. In young years she had a difficult attitude but I always got along with her and love her to death, she is just wonderful. She would and has done anything for me in the last 13 years. A real friend. My other mare has a double whorl one above the other and man, she is a machine. She doesn't like to cuddle that much. If you want anything from her, put a halter on, than she is immediately in "work mode" and anything becomes possible. She works as hard as you can imagine, she is brave as a lion and intelligent as a mule. This horse in the wrong hands would be a nightmare, but I really love her. I would buy her again in a heartbeat.

Lol my gelding is a stacked double whirl high at a a slight diagonal Walker gelding but he is also a Gemini and he is exactly what you said. He was my first horse too. Honestly though maybe because of his breed he is a sweetheart, though when he decides he is done working he will stop and nothing I do will make him go. He is also lookey and can be spookey, but luckily his breed is very easy going and goofy so other than being spooky sometimes and lookey (spooking himself because his looking around) he is very tolerant of my shenanigans and mistakes. He’s sort of like a big, stubborn black Lab.

Interesting, thanks! 👍

You've got me thinking . Study continued

I picked up a 3 year old filly this spring with the double horizontal whorls, didn't think much about it. My wife said that means she's really smart. So I did the right thing and didn't believe her....we shall see. But I must admit she is very willing to learn and seems to pickup on things very quickly. I hope my wife is correct, but of course I won't tell her if she is. Great video, very glad you did it and I'm looking forward to the next one. Thanks Brett.

Thanks!

Only thing I know about whirls is what you just taught me. Going out to the barn to take a look. Heard of them before but never paid it any mind. Interesting topic.

I’ve always watched mane whorls more than forehead. Gonna go look thru them. Good info.

I’m a retired veterinarian. Have 19:39 heard old timers talk about whorls didn’t put much store in it. But immediately went out and looked at my horses after listening to this. Don’t have any double whorls in the 8 I have. But my main show horse does have a slightly looser whorl quite high on his head midline. He is pretty quick and always alert. Very sensitive. I’ll have to check more horses. Maybe something to it as another layer on top of their base personality. The others are all single tight whorl in center b/t eyes

I really appreciate your perspective on this subject. I've paid attention to whorls on the forehead for years, but most of the information about them relates to disposition. That is certainly helpful, but hearing your perspective from more of a performance aspect is really interesting. My daughter is a body worker, she started documenting body whorls to see if patterns of soreness are related to whorls. I have a morgan gelding with a huge whorl on his right shoulder that just happens to have chronic soreness there that we can not get to the root of.

good

I have been picking up brood mares this summer those woralls mean more to me than names on paper. Have 11 all double tight side by side and the neck is almost to ears. Nice breeding helps but that's second. Damn skipper Ws will teach about those double tight at a angles.

Temple Grandin talks about this as well.

I pay more attention to the ancestors than whorls. Each horse carries so many possibilities its by pure chance which ancestor you are going to get. So a serious breeder will identify a problem horse from 60 to 100 years ago and try to minus that individual from the pedigree. Most people are not aware of those horses from long ago that are causing problems and don't know where their problems is coming from. Hats off to those people who have researched and published which horses were a problem in the breed magazines.

What about whorls under the mane mid neck right below where mane starts ????

I have a registered paint with very little coloring to indicate his breed. He pretty much looks like a sorrel qtr horse. He has 3 whorls on his forehead, one big one on his left side where the cinch goes, a couple on the side of his neck. Don't know what they all mean but I know that 2 yrs I could wrap him in a tarp and he played with it without care. I was riding him when on the trail came a team of 10 sled dogs pulling small 4 wheeler and he wanted to chase them! I had a Coyote in my paddock and he was chasing it, head down and ears laid back. I wanted to shoot but didn't dare for fear of hitting the horse.

I have a diagonal double whorl. You're not wrong Brett.

I find that paint horses are somewhat goofy and are quick learners for tricks.

Ok, Brett, I just looked at a pretty blue roan filly that has 3 whorls on her forehead, what would you say could be expected? A friend bought her but I’m pretty leery .

Apparently most of the cowboys I have known were diagonal double whorls.

Interesting topic! I think you meant IN UTERO, not in Vitro, which means in a test tube

What about a horse with whorls behind both eyes

Hi there! so after watching this....what would be the best type for an intermediate western rider? suggestions anybody! thx!

How can I send you a pic of my mustang that has 3 whorls on her forehead. I'd like to hear what you think her personality is

I had a double whorl Arab. He was a bit of a goof.

Well this confirmed a lot. My horse’s whorl is higher. Definitely sensitive and notices plenty.