There is no shortage of connections between football and horse racing, with notable stars from the pitch experiencing success as owners.
Most prominent of these include Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Owen, with the latter likely to target a number of high-profile juvenile races at the Breeders’ Cup 2026 at the end of October.
But the connection between football and equines extends beyond racing, with many clubs making the horse the key feature of their respective badges. But which football clubs include a horse on their logo?
Gillingham FC
Gillingham FC is one of the clubs in England with a horse included on their badge, with the white horse signifying the traditional White Horse of Kent. The Gils were founded in 1893 at New Brompton, before being renamed Gillingham in 1912.
After a period in the wilderness, they were eventually promoted to the Football League in 1950 when the competition was expanded to 92 clubs.
Their most notable achievements have come in the fourth tier of English football, winning the title on two occasions, most recently in 2012-13 under Martin Allen. Since the height of that success, it has been a mixed period for the Gills, as Gillingham was relegated back to League Two in 2021-22.
FC Twente
FC Twente have changed their logo on a number of occasions throughout their history, but the horse remains an iconic part of the Dutch club’s heritage. The white equine in the heart of the design makes the logo one of the most famous in Dutch football.
FC Twente was founded in July 1965, as part of the merger between Enschedese Boys and Sportclub Enschede. The most historic feat achieved by Twente came in 2009-10, as Steve McClaren guided the club to their only Eredivisie title.
That success also remains the most recent occasion that none of the big three Dutch teams won the title. Further success has since followed, as Twente have won the Eerste Divisie, KNVB Cup, and Johan Cruyff Shield on two occasions since 2010.
Le Mans FC
Le Mans FC features a horse in their logo to pay homage to the 24-hour endurance motorsport race, which is the prominent event on the regional calendar. The French club was founded in June 1985, and has achieved a period of unlikely success following back-to-back promotions to reach Ligue 1.
Le Mans has endured a bright modern period since building their new state-of-the-art stadium, the Stade Marie-Marvingt. However, one of the most controversial events in recent French football also involves the club, as they were shockingly relegated from Ligue 2 in 2019-20 after the campaign was terminated early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
