Chapter 1 | THE HORSE JUMP

Exercise: Draw the following steps in preparation for a good horse jump

Step 1: Draw this ‘model horse’ from the side (you can choose the one facing left or right). Start with the large square (for example 15 x 15 centimeters) and an assisting line through the middle (red here for clarity). Use a ruler for making the square.

Step 2: trace your model horse on a new piece of paper (see the lesson Handy drawing tips chapter 5, level 1) so that you can keep the original.

Step 3: cut the copy of your model horse into separate parts, in those places where the horse can move (image) and put the loose pieces on new piece of paper in a position that you like, for example a prancing horse.

Step 4: Carefully trace the outline of the horse in the position you’ve chosen.

A rearing horse, using cut out loose pieces

Step 5: In the next image a horse jump is shown. The skeleton is still visible in the take-off. The three red lines indicate the height of the breast during the jump. Try drawing one of these poses with or without the help of the loose pieces from the previous step. In the jump from left to right only a part of the left legs are visible here so you can draw these afterwards. Vice versa in the jump from right to left. Try to make the horse jump over something: a wall, houses, cars, ditches, chasms and so on. Of course you can give your horse a rider!

Horse jump to the right

Horse jump to the left

Some of us like to draw dangerous things, in this case very unpleasant for the horse. Fortunately, the horse is very strong and can still just say “AUCH!”. So he will be fine. The rider shouts all kinds of things, but of course he is not capable to ride at all. The wall is starting to give way due to the shock; there are already cracks in it and pieces of stone are loosening on the other side. The horse’s posture is very well drawn.

Failed horse jump

To prevent such a collision, you can also give your horse wings like the horse Pegasus from Greek mythology. Learn more about mythical creatures in the lesson Animals, chapter 1, level 3.

Pegasus (by Mary Hamilton Frye)