How to draw a horse running

Step 1 of 43Guide lines

Line of action

Bramble is grown now, and racing across the moor. Start with the line of action: one long, fast curve from her forehead, over her back and out to the tip of her tail.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 27.

Step 2 of 43Guide lines

Body guides

Hang the body on it: a circle for the chest, another for the hindquarters, the back line joining them. Then a wedge for the head and a curve for the neck, stretched forward.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 27.

Step 3 of 43Guide lines

Leg and tail guides

Now the legs at the gathered moment: forelegs folded up, hind legs reaching under her. A line for each bone, a small circle at each joint, and a curve for the tail.

Draw these lightly: they’re only there to help, and you’ll rub them out in step 27.

Step 4 of 43

The head and ears

Now the ink. Down the cheek and along the jaw, round the chin and muzzle, then up the long front of the face. Then two ears pricked forward: she is loving this.

Step 5 of 43

The eye

The eye: the brow above it first, then the almond of the lids and the iris ring round the pupil. Leave the glint white; we fill the pupil last.

Step 6 of 43

Muzzle and face

A curled nostril and the soft lines round the muzzle, the mouth's corner, then puffs of snorted breath, and faint lines for the blaze and cheekbone.

Step 7 of 43

The forelock

The forelock tumbles between her ears: locks sweeping back and to the side, each one a curve that tapers to a point.

Step 8 of 43

Throat, back and belly

The body's big lines: round the deep chest and up the throat, then the back, from its lowest point down over the rump and forward to the withers. Then the belly.

Step 9 of 43

The near hind leg

The near hind leg reaches under her. Up the back of the thigh to the rump, then down the front of the leg and round the hoof. Then the back of the leg, the hock and the feathering.

Step 10 of 43

The far hind leg

The far hind leg, just behind: down its front edge and round the hoof, then up its back edge. Watch the gap between the two legs; it is what separates them.

Step 11 of 43

The far foreleg

The far foreleg is folded right up. Along the underside of the forearm to the knee, round the hoof tucked back beneath it, then up the front to the elbow.

Step 12 of 43

The near foreleg

The near foreleg, folding as it swings forward. The long front edge from the hoof up to the chest, then the back edge from the elbow to the knee, the feathering and the hoof.

Step 13 of 43

The mane at the top

Now the mane, lock by lock. At the top the wind lifts it straight back: long curves from the crest that flick up at the ends.

Step 14 of 43

The middle of the mane

Further down, the locks stream back in S curves. Vary their lengths and let a few overlap, so it looks like moving hair, not a comb.

Step 15 of 43

The mane on the neck

The last locks fall over the neck and shoulder, shorter and heavier. Their tips point back, the way she is moving away from them.

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The top of the tail

The tail streams out behind. From the root by the rump, the upper locks sweep out and down in long S curves.

Step 17 of 43

The rest of the tail

Then the lower locks, fanning out to the tip. Keep each lock a flowing curve that thins to nothing.

Step 18 of 43

Muscles in motion

Lightly, the muscles at work: the curve of the hip and stifle first, then the shoulder and forearm, and the creases down the neck and chest.

Step 19 of 43

Clods and dust

Now the moor, kept lighter. Clods fly up from her hooves in lumpy little shapes, and behind her a puff of dust and quick speed lines.

Step 20 of 43

Ground and grass

The ground line on the left, then tufts of grass between and around her, drawn in short, quick flicks upward.

Step 21 of 43

The heather

On the right, a clump of heather: lots of small upright twigs and bumpy tops. Keep it loose.

Step 22 of 43

More heather and a low rock

The low, flat rock under the heather: a straight base and a rounded top. Then more heather twigs growing up over it.

Step 23 of 43

The big rock

Beside it, a big rock: a long, rounded top sloping down to the ground, a crack across its face, and tufts of grass at its foot.

Step 24 of 43

The bush and rocks on the left

Over on the left, the ground line, then a small heather bush with a bumpy top and twigs, and two low rocks behind it. Loose and light, like the rest of the moor.

Step 25 of 43

Hills on the left

Behind her, the hills: soft rolling lines, with little marks of heather. Further away means lighter and simpler.

Step 26 of 43

Hills on the right

Then the hills on the right, rising gently away to the horizon, with small clumps of heather along their slopes.

Step 27 of 43

Erase the guides

Rub out the guides. Bramble and the moor stay.

Step 28 of 43

Go over the head

Now press harder round Bramble. Over the ears and forelock, down the face, round the muzzle and back along the jaw. Her eye and face lines stay light.

Step 29 of 43

Go over the body

Down the throat and chest, along the back and over the rump, then the belly. One firm, even line.

Step 30 of 43

Go over the hind legs

Round the hind legs and hooves, keeping the gap between them crisp.

Step 31 of 43

Go over the forelegs

Then the folded forelegs: round each knee and hoof. Bold edges here make the tuck read clearly.

Step 32 of 43

Go over the top of the mane

The mane's outer edge at the top, where the wind lifts it. Press only on the outside; the locks inside stay light.

Step 33 of 43

Go over the middle of the mane

Then the middle of the mane, round the tips of the streaming locks as they flick out behind her.

Step 34 of 43

Go over the mane on the neck

And the last locks over her neck and shoulder, down to their points.

Step 35 of 43

Go over the tail

And the tail's outer edge, out to its tip. Only Bramble is bold; the moor stays light.

Step 36 of 43

Shading the head and mane

Shading now, with the light from the top left. Shade the side of the face and the mane's underside, the strokes following the locks.

Step 37 of 43

Shading the tail

Shade the tail's inner locks the same way, darker towards the root, so the light locks stand out.

Step 38 of 43

The body

The body: the shadow side of the rump and barrel, and under the chest. Curve the strokes round the form.

Step 39 of 43

The legs

The legs: the backs and insides away from the light. Contrast between near and far legs gives depth.

Step 40 of 43

Deep shadows

Press harder in the deepest places: under the jaw, inside the elbows and between the hind legs.

Step 41 of 43

Shading the rock

Then the moor, lightly. The big rock's shadow side first, away from the light, so it sits solid on the ground.

Step 42 of 43

The heather

A soft tone in the heather clump and under the low rock. Leave the hills as bare lines: the furthest things stay lightest.

Step 43 of 43

The darks

Last of all, fill the pupil, leaving its glint white. That spark of light makes her eye bright with the joy of the race.