100 Beautiful Horse Quotes To Inspire You to Take a Ride

By Nia Simone McLeod | Published April 8, 2023

Whether you own a horse or follow horse-related accounts on Instagram, horses are a common shared interest among many of us.

Today, we are going to take a look at some wise horse quotes from equestrians, philosophers, and overall animal lovers to learn more about these stunning creatures.

Have you ever ridden a horse before?

Ever since humans began domesticating horses in 4000 BC, humans have expressed a deep fascination for them.

From transportation to plowing fields to companionship, horses have benefited humanity in a variety of ways.

Through the transformation of modern society, horses have helped us at every step of the way.

In this article, we’re going to show our admiration for these beautiful creatures and all that they’ve done for us.

Check out the stunning horse quotes listed below!

And don’t forget to also read these funny dog quotes that will make you LOL with your furry friends.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

Our inspirational quote category page has even more inspirational and educational quotes.

Horse quotes about their beauty

1. “It is the horse’s gift to connect us with Heaven and our own footsteps.” – Ronni Sweet

You will also enjoy our article on Buck Brannaman quotes.

2. “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” – Sir Winston Churchill

horse quotes about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man

3. “A canter is a cure for every evil.” — Benjamin Disraeli

horse quotes about a canter is a cure for every evil

4. “God forbid that I should go to any Heaven in which there are no horses.” – R.B. Cunninghame Graham

horse quotes about God forbit that should go to any heaven

5. Whoever said a horse was dumb, was dumb.” – Will Rogers

horse quotes whoever said a horse was dumb, was dumb

You will also enjoy our article on motorcycle quotes.

6. “The horse, a creature that lives in a herd, reminds us that we are not alone and that we should not alienate others.” ― Lawren Leo

7. A man on a horse is spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot.” – John Steinbeck

horse quotes about spiritually as well as physically bigger than a man on foot

You will also enjoy our article on cowboy quotes.

8. “I can make a General in five minutes, but a good horse is hard to replace” — Abraham Lincoln

9. “When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have.” – Sir Winston Churchill

10. “A pony is a childhood dream; a horse is an adult treasure.” – Rebecca Carroll

horse quotes about a pony is a childhood dream

Eye-opening horse quotes

11. “A horse loves freedom, and the weariest old workhorse will roll on the ground or break into a lumbering gallop when he is turned loose into the open.” — Gerald Rafferty

12. “We will never have to tell our horse that we are sad, happy, confident, angry, or relaxed. He already knows – long before we do.” – Marijke de Jong

13. “In the end, we don’t know what horses can do. We only know that when, over the past thousands of years, we have asked something more of them, at least some of them have readily supplied it.” – Jane Smiley

14. “The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom.” – Sharon Ralls Lemon

horse quotes about the essential joy of being with horses

15. “A horse is worth more than riches” — Spanish proverb

horse quotes about a horse is worth more than riches

16. “I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a thoroughbred horse.” — John Galsworthy

17. “There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities.” – Herman Melville

18. Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.” – W.C. Fields

19. “If you are fearful, a horse will back off. If you are calm and confident, it will come forward. For those who are often flattered or feared, the horse can be a welcome mirror of the best in human nature.” – Claire Balding

20. Wherever man has left his footprints in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we find the hoofprints of a horse beside it.” – John Trotwood Moore

Also read these beautiful elephant quotes to celebrate animals and nature.

Horse quotes about horseback riding

21. “When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.” – William Shakespeare

22. “In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” – Helen Thomson

23. “I call my horses ‘divine mirrors’—they reflect back the emotions you put in. If you put in love and respect and kindness and curiosity, the horse will return that.” – Allan Hamilton

24. “I sit astride life like a bad rider on a horse. I only owe it to the horse’s good nature that I am not thrown off at this very moment.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein

25. “No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.” — Sir Winston Churchill

26. “A man in passion rides a horse that runs away with him.” – Thomas Fuller

27. “I don’t even like old cars. I’d rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God’s sake.” – J.D. Salinger

28. “The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back” — Amber Senti

29. “If you spend all day on horseback, and you hop off, you walk around like you still have a horse between your legs. And it affects your shoulders. They fall.” – Heath Ledger

30. “A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks – but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan.” – Pam Brown

31. “We have almost forgotten how strange a thing it is that so huge and powerful and intelligent an animal as a horse should allow another, and far more feeble animal, to ride upon its back.” – Peter Gray

32. “There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.” – R.S. Surtees

33. “Being on a horse is one of my most natural places to be.” – Sinbad

Inspirational horse quotes

34. “For one to fly, one needs only to take the reins.” – Melissa James

35. “Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider.” – Saint Augustine

36. “A good horse should be seldom spurred.” – Thomas Fuller

37. “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne

38. “Success is like a wild horse. If you do not know how to handle it, it will throw you off and look for another rider who can handle it well.” – Ajith Kumar

39. “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there aren’t enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress.” – Viggo Mortensen

40. “You try to do the best with what you’ve got and ignore everything else. That’s why horses get blinders in horse racing: You look at the horse next to you, and you lose a step.” – Jimmy Iovine

41. “A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace.” – Ovid

42. “It is be st not to swap hor ses while crossing the river.” — Abraham Lincoln

43. “Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” — Dale Taylor

Also check out these snake quotes and sayings to make your fears disappear.

Horse quotes about taking care of animals

44. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

45. “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber

46. “Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.” ― Colette

47. Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.” ― Arthur Schopenhauer

48. “Animals were once, for all of us, teachers. They instructed us in ways of being and perceiving that extended our imaginations, that were models for additional possibilities.” – Joan McIntyre

49. “Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.” – George Eliot

50. “Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.” ― A.A. Milne

Horse quotes that will inspire you

51. “It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.” – Adlai E. Stevenson

52. “You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.” – Stan Laurel

53. “Being born in a stable does not make one a horse.” – Duke of Wellington

54. “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife.” – Daniel Boone

55. “A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” – Pam Brown

56. “Remember that a painting – before it is a battle horse, a nude model, or some anecdote – is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order.” – Maurice Denis

57. “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick

58. “A horse is a thing of beauty… none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor.” – Xenophon

59. “You never know how a horse will pull until you hook him to a heavy load.” – Bear Bryant

60. “Every different horse has a different personality, like a human.” – Nikola Jokic

More horse quotes and sayings

61. “Of all animals kept for the recreation of mankind, the horse is alone capable of exciting a passion that shall be absolutely hopeless.” —Bret Harte

62. “I love the horse from hoof to head, From head to hoof and tail to mane. I love the horse as I have said, From head to hoof and back again.” —James Whitcomb Riley

63. “It is best not to swap horses while crossing the river.” —Abraham Lincoln

64. “The horse is an archetypal symbol which will always find ways to stir up deep and moving ancestral memories in every human being.” —Paul Mellon

65. “Whenever you observe a horse closely, you feel as if a hum being sitting inside were making fun of you.” —Elias Canetti

66. “My horses are my friends, not my slaves.” —Reiner Klimk

67. “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart and wins with his character.” —Frederico Tesio

68. “When I hear somebody talk about a horse or cow being stupid, I figure it’s a sure sign that the animal has outfoxed them.” —Tom Dorrance

69. “A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.” —Ian Flemming

70. “Horses lend us the wings we lack.” —Anonymous

Horse quotes that are life lessons

71. “I’ve often said there’s nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.” –Ronald Reagan

72. “We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.” –Marcus Aurelius

73. “Ride the horse in the direction that it’s going.” -Werner Erhard

74. “If an ass goes traveling he will not come home a horse.” -Thomas Fuller

75. “Take care to sell your horse before he dies. The art of life is passing losses on.” -Robert Frost

76. “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed…No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.” -Harry Emerson Fosdick

77. “A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.” -Samuel Johnson

78. “One time, I was given an essay topic: to describe a perfect horse, whom the mere sight of the rider’s whip would make obedient. I depicted this perfect horse throwing his rider at the sight of the whip.” -Marquis de Lafeyette

79. “You’re better off betting on a horse than betting on a man. A horse may not be able to hold you tight, but he doesn’t wanna wander from the stable at night.” -Betty Grable

80. “You fall off the horse, and you get back on. I had to go for it.” -Bethany Hamilton

Inspiring Horse Quotes To Help You Enjoy Horse Riding

Be sure to check out our article Kentucky Derby Quotes That Every Horse Racing Fan Will Love!

81. “What kind of a horse?” “A miraculous kind of horse.” ― Steven Spielberg

82. “No one can teach riding so well as a horse.” — C.S. Lewis

83. “If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.” — Pat Parelli

84. “If the horse does not enjoy his work, his rider will have no joy.” — H.H. Isenbart

85. “When you take care of your horse, your horse takes care of you. You can say that about no other creature on the planet.” ― Chloe Thurlow

86. “You cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper.” — Dagobert D. Runes

87. “Working horses is a little like being married. Sometimes you need to adjust and change your plan.” — Buck Brannaman

88. “When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.” ― Chloe Benjamin

89. “I would travel only by horse if I had the choice.” — Linda McCartney

90. “Every time a horse let you up onto its back, it’s giving you its life. Every time.” ― Matthew Stover

Horse Quotes About Your Admirable Partner

91. “Horses make a landscape look beautiful.” ― Alice Walker

92. “Horses are our silent partners. When we learn their language. This partnership grows strong.” — Monty Roberts

93. Four things greater than all things are—women and horses and power and war.” — Rudyard Kipling

94. “To me, horses and freedom are synonymous.” — Veryl Goodnight

95. “I don’t like people,” said Velvet. “… I only like horses.” ― Enid Bagnold

96. “Horses change lives. They give out young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls, they give us hope.” ― Toni Robinson

97. “There is no better place to heal a broken heart than on the back of a horse.” ― Missy Lyons

98. “From horses we may learn not only about the horse itself but also about animals in general, indeed about ourselves and about life as a whole.” ― George Gaylord Simpson

99. “Horses were never wrong. They always did what they did for a reason, and it was up to you to figure it out.” — Jeannette Walls

100. “Around the world your horse is often seen as a reflection of your character.” ― Lara Prior-Palmer