When Wendy Bulmer of North Yorkshire purchased a mare at auction to add to her riding school, she didn’t know the mare was in foal (pregnant). As the horse got fatter and fatter, it became obvious that a little one would soon join the stable. At first, Wendy was not thrilled. After all, she had bought the mare to be a riding horse for her students.
Nevertheless, when this special foal was born, Wendy and all her students promptly fell in love with him. And who wouldn’t? He’s a very special colt, indeed!
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Watching “Da Vinci,” otherwise known as “Vinnie,” you might think you’re seeing an optical illusion. His spectacular markings are no less impressive than his namesake’s works of art.
Traveling up his left shoulder and onto his neck is a perfect silhouette of a running horse. As though stamped with the image of another horse, Vinnie’s beautiful coat is a showstopper. As the "horse" travels up his shoulder and onto his neck, the mane seems to be flying out behind it, merging into Da Vinci’s mane, too.
He was born in May at Flying Hall riding school at Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire. Although he was unexpected, he has won the hearts of the children who ride there as well as that of his owner.
Lots of horses have white markings on their bodies; these horses are called pintos. But it’s unusual to have the spots resemble something recognizable.
Not only does Da Vinci have the gorgeous running horse with the flying mane on his shoulder, he has a perfect heart shape on his hindquarters, too.
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That’s one special foal, and he’s destined to make lots of friends and admirers.