Skip to Content

Extremely Rare Filly Born with Native American Medicine Hat Symbol On Face

The most common patterns you see in horses are a stripe and a star.

One extremely rare pattern is called the medicine hat.

According to Equiworld, the horses with this marking pattern are mostly white but have color on their head and ears that make it look like they have a hat or bonnet on.

mare gives birth

Image Credit: N/A

The colored patch on their chest is called a shield.

Native Americans believed that the horses with that pattern had magical powers that protected them during battle.

mare gives birth

Image Credit: N/A

Only chiefs and medicine men were allowed to ride these horses.

Medicine Hat horses are immortalized in Marguerite Henry’s book “San Domingo.”

mare gives birth

Image Credit: N/A

The filly you see in these pictures is called Coconut – and she has the medicine hat pattern.

In the video below, Coconut is only two days old, and she is learning about being a horse from her momma, Poka.

Share away, people!