Stencil library
Horse tattoo stencil
Horse stencils share the mane problem with lions and add a long, smooth head where a single wobble in the outline shows. The eye, nostril and the line of the jaw carry the likeness, and the mane either flows or looks like straw. The stencil below keeps the head as one clean silhouette, marks the eye and nostril sharply, and draws the mane as a few dozen flowing strokes.
- Sample stencil, Stencify style
- Line work for thermal or hand transfer
- Prints on A4 or letter
- Updated Oct 4, 2026
What a good horse stencil needs
- One clean outline from the ears down the nose to the muzzle and back along the jaw. This line is the horse.
- Eye with the lid shape and a highlight, and the nostril as a clear curved shape.
- Mane and forelock as flowing strokes that show direction, heavier at the crest and lighter at the tips.
- Ears with the inner edge marked. Converted ears often lose the inside and look pinned back.
Styles and how the stencil changes
Realism
Head portrait with eye and nostril detail, mane as direction strokes. Four to seven inches.
Fine line
Outline and a few mane strokes, no shading. Small and clean, common on the inner arm.
Running horse
Full body in motion, outline only, with the legs as clear shapes. Convert a side-on photo with the legs extended.
Traditional and western
Bold outline, often with a horseshoe, rope or wildflowers. Convert line art.
Placement and size
- Inner forearm: head at four to six inches, vertical.
- Thigh: running horse at eight to twelve inches.
- Shoulder blade: head at five to eight inches with the mane flowing back.
- Ankle and wrist: fine-line head at two to three inches.
Make your own horse stencil from a reference
- Pick a side or three-quarter head photo against sky or a plain wall, with the mane not blowing across the face.
- Crop to the head and neck.
- Convert and raise contrast until the coat texture drops and only the outline, eye, nostril and mane strokes remain.
- Clean the outline by hand if the converter broke it where the coat colour changed.
- For a running horse, check that each leg is a separate closed shape before printing.
Stencify does the conversion step in about 30 seconds on iPhone, iPad or Android, with line weight and contrast controls, try-on at real size, and PNG or PDF export sized for stencil paper. The first two uses are free: get it on the App Store or on Google Play.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stencil a horse mane?
As flowing strokes that show direction, heavier at the crest. Raise contrast until individual hairs drop out and let the artist render the fill.
What size is a horse head stencil for a forearm?
Four to six inches tall for a portrait. Smaller than four inches, use the fine-line version with no eye detail.
Can I convert a photo of my own horse?
Yes, and it is the most common request. Photograph the head from the side or three-quarter in even light, against a plain background, and crop tight before converting.
More subjects
Related reading
- How to Make a Tattoo Stencil - the full method from reference to skin
- How to Make a Tattoo Stencil From a Picture - converting photos step by step
- Tattoo Stencil Designs - the full gallery with notes on line weight
Convert your own horse reference
Photo or sketch in, clean line work out in about 30 seconds. Two free uses, then $4.99 a week or $47.99 a year.
