Zen Vibes

How to Draw a Horse

  • 12 steps
  • Ages 7 and up
  • About 20 minutes
  • medium

This horse is a good drawing for children who like animals and simple shapes. You start with light guide shapes, then add the head, ears, legs, face, mane, and tail one step at a time. Each new step uses the black lines in the picture, so it is easy to see what to draw next. At the end, go over the lines you want to keep and rub out the pale dotted guides.

What you need: a pencil, an eraser, black crayons or a black pen, paper.

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  1. A large black oval is drawn in the center for the horse's body, with pale dotted guides for the head, neck, legs, and tail around it.

    Step 1

    Draw the body oval

    Draw one large oval across the middle for the horse's body. Keep it smooth and wide.

  2. A black circle for the head appears at the upper left, while the body oval is now grey and the rest stays as pale dotted guides.

    Step 2

    Add the head circle

    Draw a round circle at the upper left for the head. Leave a gap between the head and the body.

  3. A black slanted neck line connects the head to the body, and a short black curve is added on the right side of the head.

    Step 3

    Draw the neck line

    Add a slanted line from the lower right side of the head down to the front of the body. Then add a short curved line on the right side of the head for the face edge.

  4. Two black pointed ears with inner ear lines are drawn on top of the head, while the rest of the horse remains in grey guides.

    Step 4

    Draw both ears

    At the top of the head, draw two tall pointed ears. Add a smaller line inside each ear.

  5. A full black front leg with a hoof is drawn under the left front of the body.

    Step 5

    Draw the front leg

    Draw the front leg that is closest to us. Start under the body, curve in at the ankle, and add the hoof with a straight band across it.

  6. A black back leg with a hoof is added on the right side below the body.

    Step 6

    Draw the back leg

    Draw the back leg on the right side. Let it bend a little at the middle and add the hoof at the bottom.

  7. A second black front leg is drawn behind the first front leg, with a small hoof showing beside it.

    Step 7

    Add the other front leg

    Draw the second front leg just behind the first one. Show part of the hoof peeking out beside the front hoof.

  8. A black inner back leg with a hoof is added between the horse's body and the outer back leg.

    Step 8

    Add the other back leg

    Draw the second back leg between the body and the back leg you already made. Curve it down and add a small hoof at the bottom.

  9. The horse's face now has a black eye, two black nostrils, and a curved mouth, with the front of the head shaped into a muzzle.

    Step 9

    Draw the face

    Add one round eye, two small nostrils, and a curved mouth. Make the front of the head a little bumpy for the nose and mouth shape.

  10. A black zigzag mane runs down the neck from behind the ears, and a short curved smile line is added on the muzzle.

    Step 10

    Draw the mane

    Draw a zigzag mane from behind the ears down the back of the neck. Add a short curved smile line on the muzzle.

  11. A black tail is added at the back of the horse, curving down and ending in pointed, jagged tips.

    Step 11

    Draw the tail

    Draw a long tail at the back with two curved lines. Make the end pointed and a little jagged.

  12. The finished horse drawing has dark clean outlines for the head, ears, mane, body, legs, hooves, and tail, with the dotted guides removed.

    Finished

    Finish and clean up

    Go over the horse outline, legs, head, mane, and tail with darker lines. Rub out the pale dotted guides you do not need.

Tips for this one

  • Keep the first guide shapes light so they are easy to rub out.
  • Make the legs a little narrower near the hooves.
  • If your horse looks different, that is fine. Real horses do too.

Now try this

  • Draw a baby foal beside the horse.
  • Add grass, a fence, or a barn in the background.
  • Give the horse spots or a long flowing mane.

Questions

My horse legs look uneven. What should I do?
Look at where each leg starts under the body and where each hoof ends. You can lightly adjust the leg lines before you darken them.
Do I have to copy the mane exactly?
No. You can make the mane more spiky, more wavy, or a little shorter. It will still look like a horse.
When should I rub out the dotted guides?
Wait until the main horse lines are all drawn and you are happy with the shape. Then rub out the pale guides slowly so you do not smudge the darker lines.

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