Whorls & Cowlicks

[email protected] · Postby **[email protected]** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:03 pm

Went to the JC just now, to see if I could pull up the proper description of a whorl...also check websters on-line, which didn't seem to fit a hair or coat.

Does anyone have the description of a whorl?

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking it is where hair from two directions comes together, pushing up the end of the follicles, hair/coat does not lie flat.

Thanks, Pat

Postby **Roguelet** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:23 pm

From the Jockey Club Registration site: "A cowlick is the center of a hair whorl."

Sounds like they're pretty much the same thing... I guess...

CA Michael · Postby **CA Michael** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:39 am

Many owners and breeders in India believe that a horse with a whorl below eye level, or on the underside of the neck, is tainted by the Devil. That's why very few offspring of Sadler's Wells, who often throws this condition, ever make it into that country.

[email protected] · Postby **[email protected]** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:16 am

Roguelet and CA Michael...Thanks so much. I guess I didn't look in the right place at the JC site. This particular "hair pattern" is on the underside of the neck of none other than SILVER CHIEF (who was the first Movie "Hi-Ho Silver" 1938, 1940 serials). There seems to be NO cowlick involved in this particular "hair pattern", which I called a whorl. Hope I'm not wrong on this. Pat

DerbyDude · Postby **DerbyDude** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:18 am

I find that hard to believe since Hindus do not believe in the devil.

since Hindus do not even acknowledge the concept of a devil, so commonly preached in Christianity. Many modern Christians are beginning to have second thoughts about a devil, seeing the personification of evil as the devil as nothing but a metaphor used by Jesus for conveying some of his messages. For most Hindus, all is God and of God, with good as well as bad being functions or Deities of God. For Hindus, man is a microcosm of the universe with Godhead as man's potential. Jesus referred to this principle as the Kingdom of God within.

CA Michael · Postby **CA Michael** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:09 am

Hindi is but one of many religions in India. I find it hard to believe you don't know that!

DerbyDude · Postby **DerbyDude** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:04 pm

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are the main religions in India and their concept of the Devil or evil isn't as you discribed.

CA Michael · Postby **CA Michael** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:05 pm

I have been to India on half a dozen occasions, visiting their breeding farms and attending races in Mumbai. The placement of whirls and cowlicks are extremely important to many owners and breeders there, and for those of us who export horses to India, it is the very first thing we check before selling them there.

Nessa · Postby **Nessa** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:07 pm

It's not just India but in many eastern countries the placement of the cowlicks, whorls, wheat ears and white and dark marks all have a special meaning. Some placements are seen as more conducive to good or misfortune and so are avoided.

Just think about the story of the Godolphin Arabian(I know the author took some artistic liberties). He had a wheat ear on his chest it was thought to bring misfortune(the death of his dam etc...), but he also had the white marking on his off hind heel that was thought to bring good fortune, so the two things balanced out so he wasn't destroyed as a foal and you know the rest of that story.

Prairie · Postby **Prairie** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:36 am

There is a quite a bit of info on whorls and cowlicks, and how they affect a horse's personality, in Linda Tellingon-Jones' book on TTOUCH.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:43 am

Some people also place some weight on "dimples" or depressions, sometimes called angel's thumbprints.

surprisewind · Postby **surprisewind** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:35 pm

I've always heard those referred to as "prophet's thumbs."