Are you writing a Western fiction novel? Do you need some direction on how to describe a horse in a story? Below are 10 words you need to know about!
1. Sleek
Definition
- So silky and shiny that it’s as if someone had waxed or polished the surface.
- Gleaming from good health.
Examples
“I ran my hand along the sleek horse, marveling at the way the sun bounced off its coat.”
“She could tell which horse was hers by the way its sleek coat shined in the daylight.”
How it Adds Description
If you want to show what a horse looks like, use sleek to describe its coat. A soft, shiny coat described as sleek suggests that a horse has been well groomed and had lots of attention paid to it in order for its coat to be so conditioned and soft as to reflect the sun.
2. Agile
Definition
- The ability to move with simplicity and grace.
- Sharp, keen mind with the ability to think critically.
Examples
“The horse was agile as it leapt over the different gates.”
“The agile horse easily darted around the flames and falling roof beams of the burning farm.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a horse as agile is good if you want to describe the way it moves easily and quickly. Since horses are intelligent creatures, an agile horse could move well simply because it can think on its feet and make good snap decisions, adding to the reader’s understanding of its intelligence as well as its ability to move.
3. Thoroughbred
Definition
Examples
“He knew he had a thoroughbred stallion on his hands; he just didn’t know what kind of breed it was yet.”
“The jockey trotted the Thoroughbred horse up to the racing blocks with plenty of time to spare.”
How it Adds Description
It’s important to note describing a horse as thoroughbred can mean different things depending on whether you capitalize it or not. Using it as a common adjective just means that the horse has ancestry all from the same breed (i.e. every ancestor was a Mustang). Capitalizing the word means the horse of the Thoroughbred breed, which is a particular line of horses specifically bred for horseracing.
4. Strong
Definition
- Having great physical or intellectual prowess.
- Remarkable or grander of its kind.
- Not feeble or slight.
- Not easily wounded or cowed.
Examples
“We could not believe how strong the horse was when he pulled an entirely boat of children from the water.”
“The horse flexed its strong hind quarters as it moved from a trot to a gallop.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a horse as strong reinforces to the reader the impression that the horse should not be taken lightly as it can use its strength to overpower almost any human.
5. Skittish
Definition
- Energetic or spirited.
- Easily startled.
- Timid, reserved, suspicious.
Examples
“You have to watch how you approach the new horse; it’s quite skittish and might lash out.”
“Don’t make any loud sounds around the skittish horse if you want to stay out of the hospital!”
How it Adds Description
Using skittish to describe a horse’s personality suggests that the horse is easily scared or frightened. This is an especially good adjective if you want your character to be afraid of the horse or if you want the horse’s fear to create some action in your plot.
6. Handy
Definition
- Smaller horses that are sprightly and easy to maneuver despite their size.
- In horseracing, a horse that is running at their predicted pace.
Examples
“I much preferred riding my handy mare Rosebud for the competitions than Bullwhip, the larger, stronger stallion.”
“Bullwhip was known for being handy on the track, though; he ran the same speed every time.”
How it Adds Description
Handy is a good word to describe a horse that is either easy to ride or easy to follow in terms of performance. Using handy to describe your horse also shows your reader that you know the ins-and-outs of the horse-riding world and can use the terminology appropriately.
7. Unbroken
Definition
- Untouched, pure.
- Undomesticated.
Examples
“He left the taming ring with many a bruise and nearly a broken bone or two from trying to tame the unbroken mare.”
“I knew I had to watch myself around the new, unbroken filly in the yard.”
How it Adds Description
Unbroken, when describing a horse, specifically refers to a horse that hasn’t been tamed or trained, either for riding or farming. If you use unbroken to describe a horse, your reader will immediately picture a horse that is quite spirited and energetic and attempt to harm or attack those trying to tame them.
8. Beastly
Definition
- Animalistic.
- Harsh, ruthless, unpleasant.
- Shockingly big or powerful.
Examples
“The untamed horse responded in a beastly manner, rearing up on its hind legs and huffing heartily through its nostrils.”
“I was frightened of the beastly horse; it stood a full two heads taller than me and could clobber me with one kick of its hoof.”
How it Adds Description
If your character is afraid of or intimidated by horses, then it might be good to describe their physical size in more negative terms. Use beastly to show the horse as huge and domineering. Beastly also capitalizes on the animal element and adds a level unpredictability to the horse and leaves the reader wondering if it will attack or not.
9. Nag
Definition
An old horse or one in poor, rundown condition.
Examples
“The old nag stooped over in the field, slowly munching on the grass.”
“I wish I could save the nag from the knockers, but he’s in too much pain to save.”
How it Adds Description
Using nag to describe a horse forth a very specific image: that of a horse who is so worn-out that it can’t really move its limbs as it well as it could. Maybe it’s had an injury or just has arthritis, but calling a horse a nag shows a horse well past its prime and one just living out its days without work or worry.
10. Stallion
Definition
A male horse of an age and capability for breeding.
Examples
“We just got a new stallion in that we hope can help birth some racing colts.”
“I preferred to ride the mare as the stallion was too big and difficult to control.”
How it Adds Description
Since stallion is the official name for adult males, readers are more familiar with them as they are often the more visually present horses used for hard farming and racing. Describing a horse as a stallion suggests that it is of a breeding age and maybe a bit more spirited than a mare or foal might be.