Horse Coloring Page (1 of 4)

The horse has long been treasured - a mount fit for the gods and the most trusted of partners at a person's side. There is an old turn of phrase, umaku iku, that everything goes well, and the horse carries that sense of things moving briskly forward. With its strong, graceful build it is a fine subject to color. The lines here are broad and open, an easy first sheet.

About the Horse

Horses have walked alongside people for thousands of years, carrying riders and loads, working the fields and running in races, and few animals have been such steady partners through human history. Powerful yet graceful, with a long flowing mane and tail, the horse is built for speed and endurance, and it forms close, trusting bonds with the people who care for it.

In Japan the horse has been honored as a sacred animal - the votive ema tablets at shrines take their name and origin from offerings of horses - and the word for things going smoothly, umaku iku, echoes its name, so the horse carries a bright sense of forward motion and good fortune. As one of the twelve zodiac signs it is familiar to every generation, which makes it an encouraging subject to color.

Benefits as a Coloring & Brain Training Activity

For coloring, the horse offers wide freedom of color, from chestnut to grey to white, and the flowing mane and tail give long, sweeping lines that are satisfying to follow. Shading the muscles to bring out their strength is good, gentle practice in light and shade, and the bold, spirited result makes a hopeful page to keep or display.