The most important part of a horses face is the eyes. As a horse artist it is essential that you take time to draw the eyes well. They must be big enough to see, but not too big to look like a cartoon. It is also important to draw the brow correctly. This will create a more expressive and stoic look for the animal. The mouth and nose are another key area to pay attention to when drawing a horse. The nose should be shaped to fit the individual breed.
To begin drawing a horses head, start with a light pencil and sketch out the basic shapes of the head. Then, lightly sketch a long oval-like shape for the nose and connect this to the main circle for the head. Draw a line that is the same length as the diameter of the circle you drew for the head. This will serve as a guide for the rest of the body.
As you work on the head, gradually add in the other major features of the animal. Refine the outline, indicate the ears and the eyes, and sketch in a mane. Keep checking the proportions against your reference photo to make sure everything is in place. This process is similar to a sculptor reworking a piece of clay until it is correct.
When you come to the neck, remember that horses have very thick and powerful necks. This is especially true if you are drawing a wild or fantasy horse. If you draw the neck too thin, it will ruin the overall look of the creature.
Once you have the neck in place, add in a bridle path which is a small space where the bridle would sit. You can draw this freehand or for more precise lines, use a ruler.
You can now begin adding in the limbs. This is a bit tricky, but the main idea is to draw a simple stick figure that has the right shape. As you sketch out the limbs, remember to add in the joints. This will help to give the limbs movement and life.
After you have added in the limbs, it is time to draw the hooves. Again, it is important to refer back to the reference photo for the best results. The limbs should be large and rounded. It is also a good idea to make the feet appear as if they are pressed together to show the musculature.
A final touch that will make the horse even more realistic is to draw the blaze, stripe, and snip. The blaze is a patch of white hair found on the forehead above the nostrils. It can be connected, disconnected or broken, and is a great way to distinguish one horse from another. The stripe is a pattern of white fur along the neck and can be straight, diagonal, or slanted. The snip is a small tuft of hair on the top of the muzzle.