In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Horse running forward step-by-step.

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

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The Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

To draw this running Horse step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

The Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a circle near the middle of the page as a guide for the front part of the running horse's body. First make four marks to determine the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. If you're struggling to draw the circle, just trace the outer rim of a circular object like a coin or a lid. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

Step 2: Above the circle, off to the right, draw another circle as a guide for the horse's head. Use the four-marks method to draw this circle too. This circle should be about one-fourth the size of the first one. Don't draw the circles too close to each other. Leave a gap between them for the horse's muzzle and neck.

Step 3: Below the circle for the head, a bit off to the right, draw a smaller circle as a guide for the horse's muzzle. This circle should be about one-third the size of the head, and it should be pretty close to the body circle.

Step 4: Connect the circles at the top using two curved lines to complete the guide for the horse's head. Curve the line on the left to create the shape of the jaw.

Step 5: Draw a long, vertical line across the entire head as a guide to help you place the horse's facial features later. Draw a curved, horizontal line across the middle of the top circle for another construction guide.

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Step 6: Draw two small arcs on top of the head as guides for the horse's ears. The tops of the arcs should tilt outward. Don't make them too wide. They should be tall and narrow.

Step 7: Draw a long, curved line on the left side as a guide for the horse's neck. Add a smaller line on the right side.

Step 8: To the left of the big circle, draw a big arc as a guide for the back portion of the running horse's body. First make a small arc on the left side. Then connect the mark to the neck and circle using curved lines. On the left side, draw a long, vertical line as a guide for the horse's tail.

Step 9: Below the first circle, draw a long line that slopes to the right as a guide for the running horse's first front leg. At the bottom, bend the line back up to indicate where the joints and the hoof will be. To the right, draw a similar line for the horse's other front leg. Bend the line at the bottom but not as much.

Step 10: Under the body, on the left side, draw a long line that slopes to the right as a guide for the hind leg. At the bottom, bend the line downward to indicate the joint and hoof. Draw another line between the front legs as a guide for the horse's second hind leg. Pay attention to how this line bends.

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That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

Step 11: Lightly sketch the horse's eyes inside the head as two small ovals. Use the initial lines as guides for placement. When you get the position and size of the eyes right, darken the lines. Make the sides pointier for the corners of the eyes. Make the top part of the eyes thicker and longer for the eyelashes.

Step 12: Shade the inside of the horse's eyes using a dark value. As you shade, leave a tiny circle blank to represent a highlight in the eyes. Use a lighter value near the bottom of the eyes for a rounder shape. Draw a series of short lines around the eyes for extra detail. Draw curved lines above and below the horse's eyes to emphasize the structure.

Step 13: Inside the horse's muzzle, lightly sketch two small, oval-like shapes for the nostrils. The shapes should be like irregular ovals. When you get their size and placement right, darken the lines. Use a series of curved, broken lines to create the shapes of the horse's nostrils. The nostril on the right should be smaller. Draw a few curved lines around the shapes for the outer structure of the nostrils.

Step 14: Use the small initial circle at the bottom as a guide to draw the horse's muzzle. Draw the shape of the muzzle within the edges of the initial circle. Make the shape of the muzzle narrower than the nostrils and flatter at the bottom. Draw a curved line on the left for the lower lip. Add a few lines above the nostrils for extra detail. Draw the lines above the nostrils to give the horse's muzzle more shape and structure.

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Step 15: Draw a series of long, curved lines at the base of the ears for the front part of the horse's mane. Don't draw every individual hair strand. Instead, draw a thick, curved shape for a chunk of the mane sweeping to the left. Draw another chunk of the mane on the right side using a long line that slopes down to the bottom right.

Step 16: Darken the arcs on top of the head to create the horse's ears. Don't overlap the mane. Draw a few short strokes within each shape for a bit of fur found inside the ears.

Step 17: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the horse's head. On the right side, darken the outer edges of the guides but make the lines around the eyes curvier for more structure. The shape of the horse's head should be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, directly above the nostrils. Draw a curved line to the left of the eye to emphasize the structure of the bony brow. Make the line on the lower, left side curvier to create the shape of the big, powerful jaw. Add a series of lines within the head to give it more shape and for the veins.

Step 18: Use the second line from the left as a guide to draw the running horse's first front leg. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. Make the top part wide and the middle section narrow. Make the shape bulge out a bit where the leg bends back. Curve the bottom shape back. Add the hoof on the left side and make the bottom edge flat. When you get the shape of the horse's leg right, darken the lines. Be careful as you draw this leg so that you don't confuse the other guide lines. Make the shape of the leg rounder where the joints are. Curve the bottom section back. Make the horse's hoof blocky and add some short strokes along the bottom for the feathering.

Step 19: Use the line on the far right as a guide to draw the other front leg the same way. First sketch the shape of the leg lightly around the guide. Don't make the leg too wide. Draw the edges close to guide to keep the shape thin. Make the shape rounder and bulgier where the guide bends to indicate the joints. When you get the shape of the leg right, darken the lines. The bottom of the leg is bending forward as the horse runs, so curve the shape to the left. Make the top part of the leg that connects to the body wider than the bottom. Make the hoof at the bottom blocky and add some short strokes for feathering.

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Step 20: Darken the lines below the head to create the running horse's neck. Add an extra curved line on the lower, left side to make the neck thicker. Add a few curved, vertical lines and short strokes inside the neck to emphasize the muscle structure.

Step 21: Draw a series of long, curved strokes on the left side of the neck for the rest of the horse's mane. Just like with the front part of the mane, don't draw every individual hair strand. Draw big clumps instead. At the end of each clump, draw a series of short strokes for the tips of the hair strands. Make the clumps of hair have different widths. You can make the mane longer using longer lines.

Step 22: Use the shapes in the middle as guides to draw the rest of the running horse's body. Darken the outer edges of the guides to create the shape of the body. Leave a small gap on the lower, left side of the body where the hind leg will be. Don't overlap the shape of the first front leg as you draw the outer edges of the body. Add a series of lines and short strokes within the body for extra detail on the muscle structure.

Step 23: Use the long, sloping line on the left as a guide to draw the first hind leg. Just like with the front legs, first lightly sketch the shape of the leg around the guide. Make the top part of the leg wide. Use curved lines to indicate where the joints are. When you get the shape right, darken the lines. This leg isn't bending as much as the horse's front legs. The overall shape should be skinny. Add the blocky hoof at the bottom with short strokes for the feathering.

Step 24: Use the last line under the running horse's body as a guide to draw the other hind leg the same way. Draw the shape of the leg around the guide line. Make the joints bulgy and the hoof blocky. Keep the shape of the leg skinny. Don't overlap the shape of the other legs as you draw this leg.

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Step 25: Draw the shape of the horse's tail around the guide line on the far left side. Just like with the mane, draw a series of curved shapes for the clumps of hair on the tail flowing in the wind.

Step 26: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

Final Step: Add some shading to your running horse drawing for extra detail. Horses can have different coat patterns, so you can shade yours however you'd like! For this look, shade the body using a medium value except for areas that are white, like a stripe on the head. Use a dark value for the horse's mane and tail so that they stand out from the body. As you shade the mane and the tail, leave a few sections blank to represent shine. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Also use dark values to create shadows. This gives the figure more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Add the value lightly at first and gradually increase the darkness to a level that you like.

For a white horse, skip the medium value and just add a few shadows throughout the body. Continue slowly adding value until the entire drawing is shaded how you like. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

It's a good idea to use reference as you draw for a more accurate depiction of a running horse. Don't forget to pause the video to draw at your own pace. Add a shadow and some dirt being kicked up at the bottom to emphasize the running.

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