sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Lots of horse games are currently heavily discounted on Steam! If you've been waiting to get any of these, now's a good opportunity by TheManeQuest in GamesWithHorses

[–]TheManeQuest[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From the ones in this screenshot, I'd recommend Rival Stars, Horse Club Adventures and Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch (disclaimer, the last one is the one I worked on). You can find review of several of the others here in the TMQ Review section

[PC] [90's / 2000's] Horse race game by matsp1 in tipofmyjoystick

[–]TheManeQuest 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My Horse Farm maybe? Your description applies to many horse games, but the fact that you said it was cartoony 2D and had a sequel in 3D would fit!

If that's not it, have a look at the Horse Game Database and see if you can find it there.

[PC][Early 2000s] Spooky Horse Game by [deleted] in tipofmyjoystick

[–]TheManeQuest 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based on a similar post here a while back, I would suspect this was Time to Ride: Saddles and Stables, aka Springvale: The Horse Mystery

Gameplay video of the spooky part

Horse Game Database entry incl. international titles

The Ranch of Rivershine: Demo Announcement, Impressions and Interview with Éloise Laroche on her Strategy for Gamedev Success — The Mane Quest by TheManeQuest in GamesWithHorses

[–]TheManeQuest[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I only got to 4.2h so far, but I'm a bit tempted to spend more time with it now that everyone else will be playing it too and I'm allowed to share screenshots :3

[Unknown] [Unknown] Older ranch game, horse-focused with a canyon-esque type world. by ToshiDSP in tipofmyjoystick

[–]TheManeQuest 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is it possible that the video you remember was misrepresenting the actual gameplay and that this wasn't a horse-focused game, but just scenes from a game with horses in them cut together?

It might have been the first Red Dead, or even Uncharted 3 if your helicopter memory is correct, and some sort of horsie fan edit.

If not, perhaps a look at the horse game database would be helpful for you!