How to Draw a Horse: Easy Step by Step Tutorial with Free Printable

Easy Step By Step Horse Drawing Tutorial

Learn how to draw a horse easily with these steps. Begin with the Horse Body Guidelines (Steps 1-9)

Lightly sketch these lines with a pencil.

Step 1: Draw a circle (shoulder/chest guide) – little tip: think of the circle as the face of a clock.

Step 2: Draw a second slightly smaller circle to the right (back/behind guide).

Step 3: Draw a third much smaller circle to the left and above circle 1 (head guide).

Step 4: Add a long inverted/upside down trapeze shape at the bottom of circle 3 – at about 5:30 and 8 o’clock.

Step 5: Add a slightly curved line for the neck connecting circle 1 and 3 – start at 1 o’clock on circle 3 and end at about 11 o’clock on circle 1.

Step 6-7: Create the front leg guides – at the bottom of circle 1, draw each leg in three parts with two bends, bend the leg back at the knee and forward at the fetlock joint. We drew a standing and a bent leg (at 6 and 7:30 o’clock, respectively).

Step 8-9: Add the back leg guides – similar to the front legs, draw each guide in three parts with two bends, but here you will draw the bend for the hook forward as well as the bend for the fetlock joint. We drew two similar legs, one in front of the other (at 6 and 5 o’clock – circle 2).

Let’s start drawing. You can make this drawing your own by changing the position of the head, tail or legs, or the distance between the guides, or the facial features. (You could now change to a pen or colored pencil)

Step 10: Start with the neck and horse’s back – draw a curved/ arched line parallel to the neck guide (start slightly above circle 3 at nearly 12 o’clock, end at 1 o’clock on circle 1). Continue the line towards circle 2 to 11 o’clock, and draw along the circle till 5 o’clock.

Step 13: Draw the first front leg – similar to step 12, draw around the leg guide. Add bumps at the knee, fetlock joint, and hoof. Continue the line into the body as well. This helps to show which leg is facing us.

Step 14: Draw a horse head and snout- similar to the legs, draw around the head guides and add bumps around the bottom of the trapeze to indicate the chin, mouth, and nostrils. (Make an outline around the guides, start at 2 o’clock on circle 3, around the trapeze, end at 11 o’clock).

Step 15-16: Add the first ear – in the space to the left of circle 3, draw a forward bent ear. Add details – draw a curved line inside the ear (from its point to where it meets the headline). This will show the inside of the horse’s ears.

Step 17: Add the forelocks – draw a curved line from the ear to the middle of the face (or as long as you like).

Step 18: With the forelocks in place, add the second ear – draw it behind the first in the same shape and style.

Step 19: Add the mane – draw a curved line along the neck. This will make it look like the mane is on the other side. For a long mane – see step 21.

Step 20: Continue the neck and add the horse’s chest – draw an arched line parallel to the neck guide connecting the circle 3 (at 3 – 4 o’clock) and circle 1 at 10 o’clock, continue along the circle to the leg.

Step 21: Add the mane – draw strands of hair or a few curved spikes.

Step 22: Add the second front leg – just as in step 13, draw around the leg guide, adding bumps at the knee, fetlock joint, and hoof. This time, do not draw inside the body.

Step 23: Add the tail – draw a long, waved tail.

Step 24-26: With the tail in place, add the second hind leg – behind the tail, draw around the leg guide, adding bumps at the knee hook, fetlock joints, and hoof.

Step 27: Add the eye – place the eye inside circle 3, at around 8 o’clock.

Step 28: Add the nostril – draw an inverted 6 or bean shape at the left bottom corner of the trapeze.

Step 29: Draw a simple line for the mouth. Step 30: erase the guidelines and add any finishing touches you like (e.g. lines for the hooves or horseshoes, texture for fur, strands for the mane and tail, saddle and reins, etc.) You are now all done with your first drawing of a majestic horse, ready to be colored or decorated!

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