Horse Tattoos

A horse tattoo is mostly about movement: a mane thrown back, legs stretched mid-stride, an animal that won't stay put. Riders often choose horse tattoos to remember a horse they've loved.

Wild horses and riders

Among horse tattoos, the wild horse at full gallop is the big statement: loose ink wash in the spirit of sumi-e, with splashes flying off the hooves. It needs length, so give it the outer arm, the shoulder blade or the thigh.

Horse and rider is the other classic, often a rodeo scene with the horse rearing, all tension and dust. As a temporary horse tattoo, it reads well on a forearm or a calf.

Have a particular horse in mind? A horse head tattoo in one continuous line, a fine line horse among flowers, a silhouette with your horse's name lettered underneath: we'll draw whichever you like as a custom tattoo. The artwork is checked before anything is printed, orders start at 3 copies, and it's made in 3 to 4 weeks.

Every design is printed with a jagua-based ink that colors the upper layers of your skin. Right after application, which takes two minutes, the horse looks faint. That's expected. Over 24 to 36 hours it deepens to blue-black. Give it 8 hours away from water and rubbing; after that, showers and swims are fine.

Drawn to wilder company? Our wolf tattoos and stag tattoos share the same untamed streak, and the horned cousin has its own page: unicorn tattoos. Every other creature is in all our animal tattoos.

Meaning and placement

What does a horse tattoo symbolize?

People usually link it to freedom, strength and loyalty. Many riders also choose one to remember a particular horse.

Where should I put a horse tattoo?

Galloping horses need length: the forearm, the upper arm, the shoulder or the thigh. The forearm and shoulder are also where the ink tends to last longest, up to two weeks. Hands and fingers wear it off sooner.