Facial whorls, those distinctive swirls of hair on a horse’s forehead, have long intrigued horse owners and trainers. Hair whorl patterns are sometimes used to predict equine laterality, temperament and reactions to various environmental stimuli. In fact, hair whorls have been debated for centuries. More recently, Linda Tellingtone-Jones and Temple Grandin shared thinking and experiences on the validity of swirlology <Link>.
Researchers explored the relationship between the number, position and direction of hair whorls across the entire body of horses and their temperament traits (affability, trainability, anxiety) and front leg preference. They found that the direction of head whorls was linked to front leg preference during a paddock test.
Source: Veterinary Sciences, MDPI, March 19, 2026. Link. The findings mean that observing hair whorl patterns, particularly their location, direction, and total count, might offer insights into a horse’s laterality and disposition regarding friendliness and ease of training.
No correlation between reported affability and trainability and total hair whorls on the body was found in the 81 horses studied. The association between the rotation of the whorls on the head and motor laterality has been proven.
Image: Link.
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