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How to Draw a Horse Sleeping

14 steps · Medium · about 11 min

Draw a horse sleeping in 14 easy steps, about 11 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: drooping head.

Step 1: Drooping head
On the left draw a long head hanging down: round at the top and narrower at the nose.
Tip The nose end is at the bottom. It will rest on the ground.
Step 2: Closed eye
For the closed eye draw 1 deep curve like a smile. Start on the left, stop on the right.
Tip A sleeping eye is just one curved line, near the top of the head.
Step 3: Soft nose
Draw a curve across the nose, starting and stopping on the edges. Add a dot and a small smile.
Tip The curve bends up towards the eye.
Step 4: Two ears
On top of the head draw 2 leaf ears leaning apart. The far one peeks out behind.
Tip Relaxed ears lean away from each other.
Step 5: Arched mane
From the back of the head draw a mane arching up and over. Give it 3 soft bumps underneath.
Tip The top of the mane is the top of the neck.
Step 6: Long back
Start where the mane ends. Draw a long flat back, then curve down. Stop halfway to the ground.
Tip The back is low because the horse is lying down.
Step 7: Thigh and back hoof
Under the end of the back draw a big round thigh. Tuck a folded leg and hoof under it.
Tip The back leg is folded, so only the lower leg and hoof stick out.
Step 8: Folded front leg
Low down, right of the nose, draw a front leg folded flat: knee forward, hoof tucked back under it.
Tip The knee points at the nose.
Step 9: Chest line
Start on the head under the mane. Draw the neck front curving down. Stop on the front leg.
Tip Leave a gap of air between the head and the chest.
Step 10: Resting tail
From the thigh draw a tail drooping down, then lying flat to a soft tip.
Tip The tail is widest in the middle.
Step 11: Ground line
Draw a straight ground line under the horse. The nose, hooves and tail all rest on it.
Tip Go from one side of the page to the other.
Step 12: Cream nose
Colour the nose end of the head cream, up to the curve.
Step 13: Chestnut coat
Colour the head, ears, neck, body and legs orange-brown. Leave the mane, tail and hooves white.
Step 14: Mane, tail, hooves
Colour the mane and the tail brown. Colour the 2 hooves grey.