Horses have a distinct and elegant profile, making them a great subject for drawing. If you want to learn how to draw a horse’s head side view, this step-by-step guide will help you break it down into simple, manageable steps. I’ll cover the proportions, facial features, and flowing mane to create a well-balanced sketch.

Understanding the Features of a Horse’s Head

• A strong and elongated head structure
• Large, expressive eyes positioned toward the side
• A well-defined muzzle with one visible nostril
• Long ears that taper at the tips
• A flowing mane that follows the head’s curvature
• Distinct jawline and cheekbone structure

Once you’ve completed this guide, you might want to try drawing other animals such as wolves, dogs, cats, or detailed lions.

Breaking Down the Drawing Process

To make the drawing process more intuitive, I use a color-coding system:

• Red Color: Highlights the current step
• Black Color: Represents previously drawn lines
• Grey Color: Shows the basic sketch foundation

These color codes will help you track your progress and understand which details to focus on as you refine the drawing.

Step 1: The first two steps will be dedicated to creating a basic sketch to help with proportions and placement of the horse’s facial features and neck. In the first step, draw a simple vertical oval as a base for the sketch.

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Step 2: Using simple lines, outline the shape of the horse’s muzzle and nose, indicating the eye’s position from our angle. Show where the ears will be and their shape. Add the neck outline to complete the basic sketch. Remember not to press too hard with your pencil, as these lines will be erased after finishing the drawing.

Step 3: Now we move on to the next stage in our guide on how to draw a horse’s head side view by adding details and shaping the drawing. Draw the upper part of the horse’s head, using three slightly curved lines to show the shape and mane. Also, draw the lower side of the head, which can be considered the cheek, with simple curved lines.

Step 4: Now draw the upper part of the muzzle and the mouth line. Refer to the attached image for guidance on capturing the curves and shape of this area.

Step 5: Complete the muzzle by adding the lower part, forming the horse’s chin and jaw.

Step 6: Draw the eye visible from our angle. It’s a black oval with a small unshaded area at the top for the highlight. Also, add the shape of the eye socket, which protrudes slightly outward and upward, giving the head a more recognizable form.

Step 7: In this step, add details around the eye to give it more shape. Also, draw the shape for the nostril, filling it in black as shown in the reference.

Step 8: Now draw the horse’s ears, based on the lines from the basic sketch.

Step 9: Add small details above the eye and on the side. Use simple lines to define the muzzle and side of the head, and add a few curved lines to emphasize the nostril’s shape. Also, draw the mane on top of the horse’s head with simple lines.

Step 10: In this step, define the horse’s neck by creating clearer lines based on the basic sketch.

Step 11: This is the final step for adding details. As shown in the reference, add simple lines to enhance the shape of the horse’s head. You can also add lines on the neck. Draw slightly wavy lines on the nape and back of the neck to depict the mane.

Step 12: At this stage, erase the basic sketch lines since we’ve added all the necessary details for this guide. You can add your own touches if you feel they enhance the drawing. Optionally, trace the final sketch with a pen or ink, and once it dries, erase the basic sketch and all remaining pencil lines for a clean, bold drawing.

Bravo on Completing the Steps!

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With the structure in place, you can go over the lines to refine the shape, add shading, and make the details stand out. Adjust the mane to create movement and depth, giving the horse’s head a more lifelike appearance.

I’d love to see your finished horse drawings! Share them in the comments of the pinned post on Pinterest, where other artists showcase their sketches.

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