It looks like an optical illusion but this chestnut foal was born with his own perfect white shadow.

The unique marking is the profile of another horse which runs up his left shoulder and neck.

It then merges seamlessly from white to black into his mane.

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Ever get the feeling you're being foal-lowed? This chestnut horse was born with his own perfect white shadow

You'd think it would be a bit of a 'white-mare' - but it's not so bad as I like the attention: The pattern is such a work of art, the foal's owners have called him Da Vinci, or Vinny for short

The pattern is such a work of art that the foal's owners have called him Da Vinci, or Vinny for short.

He was born at the start of May at Fyling Hall riding school at Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire.

Wendy Bulmer, who runs the riding school, said: 'I bought his mother at a sale and didn't know she was in foal [pregnant] so that was a bit of a surprise.

'I wasn't very happy at first but he is so friendly and the kids love him.

'The chestnut horses have irregular patches but they don't normally make something as recognisable.

'He's even got a little white heart shape on his bottom as well.'

I'm the mane attraction: Vinny was born at the start of May at Fyling Hall riding school at Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire