Yes, you can get a horse in Skyrim in many ways, including buying one, stealing one, taming a wild one, or using console commands on PC. Horses are vital companions for traveling across the vast lands of Tamriel. They speed up long journeys, especially when you are heavily loaded. This guide shows you all the simple methods for acquiring your very own steed in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
The Basics of Horse Ownership in Skyrim
Horses in Skyrim are more than just transport. They can carry extra gear. They can even help you fight, though they aren’t the best fighters. Knowing where to find horses and how to keep them safe is key to successful travel.
Where Can I Buy a Horse in Skyrim?
You can buy a horse in Whiterun and several other major cities. Buying a horse is the easiest and most reliable way to get one. You simply need gold.
| City | Stable Location | Price (Approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whiterun | Near the main gate | 1,000 Septims | Most common first purchase. |
| Solitude | By the main entrance | 1,000 Septims | Accessible early in the game. |
| Riften | Outside the city gates | 1,000 Septims | Near the bridge. |
| Markarth | Near the main gate area | 1,000 Septims | Check the main path in. |
| Windhelm | Near the main gate bridge | 1,000 Septims | Keep an eye out for patrols. |
Once you buy a horse, it is yours forever. If it dies, you can just get another one if you buy it. Stables are common, so checking Skyrim stable locations is a good idea when visiting a new city.
Free Horses: Finding Them in the Wild
If you are low on gold, you can find horses roaming the plains of Skyrim. These horses are generally wild. You need to learn how to tame wild horse Skyrim if you want to keep one.
Steps to Tame a Wild Horse
- Find a Wild Horse: Look in open areas like the plains near Whiterun or parts of the Pale.
- Approach Slowly: Do not draw your weapon. Walk towards the horse calmly.
- Mount the Horse: When close enough, a prompt will appear to mount the horse. Press the action button.
- Stay On: The horse will buck you off the first few times. Keep trying!
- Success: After a few attempts, the horse will accept you. It is now yours.
Remember, a tamed wild horse is free. However, if it dies, you cannot simply go back to a stable and buy a new one. You have to find and tame another wild horse.
Advanced Methods: Specialized and Magical Horses
Skyrim offers more than just the standard brown or white steeds. Players seeking variety or power can find unique mounts.
The Special Case of Shadowmere
If you play the Dark Brotherhood questline, you will eventually meet Shadowmere.
- Who is Shadowmere? Shadowmere is the loyal, black, spectral horse of the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood.
- How to Get Shadowmere: Complete the Dark Brotherhood quest “The Cure for Madness.” After this quest, Shadowmere will spawn near the sanctuary when you need him.
- Why Shadowmere is Great: Shadowmere is very tough. He has much higher health than standard horses. If he dies, he resurrects after about 10 in-game days. This makes him arguably the best horse in Skyrim for many players due to his durability.
The Spectral Horse Option
Some players look for the Skyrim spectral horse effect. This usually comes from mods, as the standard game only gives you Shadowmere, who looks spectral but is not a summonable item for the player early on. However, if you play the Dawnguard expansion, you can encounter other spectral-looking creatures, but not typically a player-owned spectral horse, apart from Shadowmere.
Horse Summoning Console Command (PC Only)
PC players have the quickest access to any horse. If you need a mount instantly, the Skyrim horse summoning console command is the tool for the job.
- Open the console by pressing the tilde key (~).
- Type the following command to summon a standard horse:
player.placeatme 0009151E - If you want Shadowmere specifically, the command is different:
player.placeatme 0004801D
This instantly drops the horse right next to you. This is excellent for testing or if you are stuck far from civilization.
Horse Management and Safety
Having a horse is great, but keeping it alive is the real challenge in a land full of dragons and bandits.
Traveling and Fast Travel with Your Horse
One common question is: Skyrim fast travel with horse enabled?
Yes, you can fast travel while mounted on a horse. When you select a location on the map to fast travel to, your horse will travel with you, appearing at the destination. This makes long trips much faster than walking.
Keeping Your Horse Alive
Horses have a fixed health pool. In combat, they can be easily killed by stray fireballs or a dragon’s breath.
- Dismount in Danger: If you are entering a dangerous ruin or a bandit camp, get off your horse first. Tell it to wait if necessary, or ride away from the fight zone.
- Using the Wait Command: When you tell your horse to wait, it will stand still until you return or dismiss it. Keep it away from heavy fighting.
- Horse Armor: Official DLC introduced Skyrim horse armor mod features in the Hearthfire DLC (though typically associated with Oblivion, the concept exists in Skyrim via mods or sometimes integrated features depending on the edition). While the base game doesn’t feature formal ‘armor’ shops in the way Oblivion did, mods can provide armor for aesthetic or minor defensive boosts.
Dealing with a Dead Horse
What happens if your favorite mount falls in battle? If you Skyrim getting dead horse back is on your mind, the answer depends on how you got the horse.
- Purchased or Tamed Horses: If a regular horse dies, it is gone for good. You must find a new one.
- Shadowmere: As mentioned, Shadowmere resurrects. Wait 10 days in-game, and he should reappear near the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary.
Exploring the Best Mounts and Mods
For dedicated players, standard horses might feel slow or dull. Many turn to mods to enhance their equine experience.
What is the Best Horse in Skyrim?
The best horse in Skyrim is subjective, but most veterans agree on these top contenders:
- Shadowmere: High health, fast resurrection. Excellent for rough play.
- Arvak (Dawnguard DLC): While technically a skeletal horse, Arvak is summoned instantly via a shout, so you never risk losing him. He is arguably the most convenient.
- Frost (Quest Reward): Frost is an unbreakable white horse found during the “Promises to Keep” quest. He cannot be killed. This makes him a top choice for players who hate losing mounts.
The Convenience of Arvak
If you own the Dawnguard expansion, you can get Arvak, the skeletal horse.
- Location: Travel to the Soul Cairn.
- Quest: Find Arvak’s skeleton. Talk to his spirit.
- Reward: He gives you the “Summon Arvak” shout.
This shout lets you summon Arvak anywhere, anytime, instantly. Since he is a summon, he disappears after a while, but you can call him again. You never have to worry about him dying or leaving him at a stable. This level of convenience makes Arvak the favorite for many.
Exploring Skyrim Legendary Horse Mods
PC and console players can drastically change their horses using mods. There are many Skyrim legendary horse mods available on Nexus Mods and the Bethesda Modding service.
These mods can offer:
- Enhanced Speed and Stamina: Horses that run faster or never tire.
- Combat Abilities: Some mods give horses unique attacks or improved defenses.
- Cosmetic Changes: Allowing you to ride unicorns, nightmare beasts, or warhorses with detailed armor.
- Better AI: Ensuring your horse actually follows you and stays near.
If you want a truly unique travel experience, searching for popular Skyrim legendary horse mods will yield many exciting options. Always check the compatibility of mods with your current game version.
Utilizing Horses Strategically
Horses are not just for show. Use them wisely to improve gameplay, especially during long treks between cities or while gathering materials.
Increasing Carry Weight
A major benefit of having a horse is managing your inventory. When you are overloaded, you move very slowly.
- The Horse as a Mule: Mount your horse. You can now carry far more weight without suffering the movement penalty. You can fill your inventory completely, mount up, and ride back to town to sell goods. This saves countless trips.
Horse Combat Tactics
While horses are fragile, they can sometimes be used to your advantage in battle, especially against certain enemies.
- Ranged Advantage: If you are an archer, mounting your horse and riding in circles around melee enemies can let you fire shots easily while remaining out of reach of their slower swings.
- Distraction: A horse can draw the initial agro (aggro) from a group of enemies, giving you a moment to prepare your spells or heavy attacks before engaging them directly.
Locating Stables and Companions
If you are deep in a dungeon or miles from civilization, you might forget where you left your mount.
- Check Your Map: If you have a specific horse (bought or tamed), sometimes its icon appears on the compass or the main map, though this is inconsistent, especially with tamed horses.
- Return Path: If you leave a horse somewhere, simply travel back to that general area. If you called it, it might meet you. If it was left near a town, you can always check the nearest Skyrim stable locations first.
Final Thoughts on Equine Companionship
Getting a horse in Skyrim is straightforward. Whether you use your hard-earned gold to buy a horse in Whiterun, brave the wilds to tame wild horse Skyrim, or employ console tricks like the Skyrim horse summoning console command, a reliable steed greatly enhances your adventures across the province. For the ultimate power-users, finding Shadowmere or mastering the Arvak summon ensures you always have a ride ready when you need to escape a tough spot or quickly get back to town to offload loot. Experiment with finding the best horse in Skyrim for your playstyle, perhaps even trying out some exciting Skyrim legendary horse mods for a visual upgrade!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Skyrim Horses
Q: Can I have more than one horse at a time in vanilla Skyrim?
A: Generally, no. If you own a horse and try to ride another one (even a stolen one), the game will usually default your ownership to the new horse, and the old one will wander off or stay put. The exceptions are summoned mounts like Arvak, which don’t permanently occupy a stable slot.
Q: Do horses die permanently?
A: Yes, most purchased or tamed horses die permanently if their health hits zero, unless they are Shadowmere, who respawns after 10 days. Frost, obtained via a quest, is also unkillable.
Q: How do I dismiss my horse?
A: Simply mount a different horse or use the appropriate summon command to dismiss a summoned horse like Arvak. If you leave a purchased horse somewhere and ride away, it will eventually return to the stable where you last bought it, or just stay where you left it until it dies.
Q: Is there a way to see my horse on the map?
A: In the base game, tracking purchased or tamed horses on the map is unreliable. However, summoned horses like Arvak often display a temporary map marker while summoned. Mods can significantly improve map tracking.
Q: Do horses share my inventory weight?
A: No. Horses do not automatically share your inventory weight. You must manually place items into their inventory by interacting with them while dismounted to use them as extra storage.