How I Paint reasonable tabletop standard horses reasonably quickly

I know there is no right way and no wrong way to paint horses (R34 artists please do not interpret this as a challenge) but if you are keen to know how to paint horses well, and also learn more traditional layer painting techniques I highly recommend “Painting Wargames Figures” by Javier Gomez. (All colour recipes in this book are in Vallejo colours, just FYI for other brand users).

There’s no need to stress about mixing exact quantities, horses are all going to be different colours so if there is some variation between your batches this will look more realistic. Stronger differentiation between highlight layer colours will create more defined layering and look better at a distance on the tabletop, whereas more gradual increases will make for smoother transitions and look better up close. As always, your call. Don’t let me or anybody else tell you how to run your life, I mean, do I look qualified to give life advice? Nah… You got this OP!

Please note that all colours are from the Vallejo Model Colour range unless otherwise stated.

Prime all horsies in the white primer of your choice

Horse Tack – Cover with Games Workshop Contrast colour ‘Snakebite Leather’

Mahogany horses - Initial layer is a mix of Black with a greater quantity of Hull Red. Highlight 1 adds Cavalry Brown to the initial mix and highlight 2 adds more Cavalry Brown to the residual mix.

Brown Horses – Initial layer is a mix of Chocolate Brown with an approximately equal quantity of Beige Brown. Highlight 1 adds Beige Brown to the initial mix and highlight 2 adds more Beige Brown to the remaining mix.

Black horses – First layer is formed from a mix of Black with Dark Grey added (maybe in a 60/40%ish ratio? 1:1 would be fine too...) with Dark Grey added to the mix for the first highlight and then more Dark Grey into the mix for the final zenithal highlight.

White Horses – First Layer is German Cam Beige WW2 and Deck Tan, mixed in roughly equal proportions. White is added into the mix for the first highlight stage with more white being added to the remaining mix for the second highlight pass.

Light Brown Horses – base mix is made from roughly equal parts Chocolate Brown and Yellow Ochre. First highlight colour is made by adding more Yellow Ochre to the initial mix, and the final highlight is more Yellow Ochre added to the first highlight mix.

Points, Stockings and Hoofs – Glazed with Games Workshop Contrast Basilicanum Grey.

Blaze and socks – done in White with a smaller brush.