Yes, you can definitely get horses in Skyrim! There are several ways to acquire a mount, including buying one, taming a wild horse, or even summoning one if you have the right magic. This guide will show you all the best methods to get your own loyal steed in the vast lands of Tamriel.
Methods for Acquiring a Horse in Skyrim
Getting a horse is vital for quicker travel across the massive map of Skyrim. You have multiple paths available. Some cost Septims, some require a bit of stealth, and others depend on your magic skills.
Buying a Horse in Skyrim
The most straightforward way to acquire a horse is by purchasing one. Skyrim buy horse options are available in major Holds. These purchased horses are usually reliable and ready to go immediately.
Where to Find Horse Merchants
Every major city that supports a stable usually has a merchant selling horses. Look for the stables just outside the city walls.
- Whiterun Stables: One of the easiest to access early on.
- Markarth Stables: Located just outside the city gates.
- Windhelm Stables: Found near the main entrance to the city.
- Solitude Stables: Situated near the main entrance to the city.
- Riften Stables: Located near the bridge leading into Riften.
Each horse purchased usually costs around 1,000 gold. They are reliable companions, though they are often the standard brown or black variety.
Taming Wild Horses
If you prefer a challenge and want to save your gold, you can try to Skyrim tame horse specimens found roaming the wilderness. This is a fun, organic way to get a mount.
Skyrim Wild Horse Locations
Skyrim wild horse locations are scattered across the plains, but there is one specific, reliable herd.
The best place to find wild horses is typically in the northern plains of The Pale, near the border of Hjaalmarch. Look for small groups roaming free.
Steps to Tame a Wild Horse:
- Approach Slowly: Sneak toward the horse if possible, though it’s not strictly required.
- Mount the Horse: Once close enough, a prompt will appear allowing you to mount it.
- Hold On: The horse will usually buck you off. You must immediately try to mount it again. Keep mounting until the horse stops bucking and accepts you as its rider. This might take several tries.
- Register the Horse: Once tamed, ride the horse to the nearest town stable and speak to the stable master. They will register the horse in your name, making it a permanent, safe mount you can fast-travel with.
Stealing a Horse
If you see a horse tied up near an enemy camp or a town, you can technically ride it away. This is known as Skyrim stealing a horse.
Be warned: If you ride a stolen horse into a major city or if the original owner sees you riding it, you might incur a bounty. If you ride it far enough away and register it at a stable outside that Hold, it usually becomes yours without consequence, similar to taming.
Exploring Unique and Powerful Horses
While standard horses are fine, some players seek out mounts with special abilities or unique appearances. These Skyrim unique horses often offer more than just speed.
Arvak: The Best Summonable Steed
If you own the Dawnguard DLC, you gain access to the most convenient horse in the game: Arvak.
How to Get Arvak
Arvak is obtained during the Dawnguard questline in the Soul Cairn. After completing the quest “Beyond Death,” you meet the spirit of Arvak’s former owner, who offers you the ability to summon him.
Once unlocked, you can summon Arvak anywhere outside, anytime, using the Conjuration spell “Summon Arvak.” This means you never have to worry about losing him, making him the most practical choice for many players.
Shadowmere: The Unkillable Nightmare
Shadowmere is perhaps the most famous horse in Skyrim lore. He is the personal steed of the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood.
Acquiring Shadowmere
You acquire Shadowmere by joining the Dark Brotherhood and completing the questline. After becoming the Listener, Shadowmere will be available for you to ride.
Key Features of Shadowmere:
- High Health Pool: Shadowmere has significantly more health than any standard horse.
- Fast Regeneration: If he is defeated in combat, he will respawn at the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary after about 10 in-game days.
- Combat Prowess: Shadowmere is aggressive and will attack enemies, making him arguably the Skyrim best horse for combat.
Frost: The Legendary White Horse
Frost is another unique horse tied to a specific quest.
How to Obtain Frost
Frost is found near the city of Windhelm. You get involved in the quest “Promises to Keep.” At the end of this quest, you are forced to choose between keeping the horse (Frost) or taking the gold reward.
Frost is known for his distinctive white coat and decent stats. However, unlike Shadowmere, Frost can be permanently killed.
The Pale Horses of the Reach
In the Reach area, sometimes you can encounter spectral white horses, often associated with the Reachfolk or Draugr. These are generally not permanent mounts unless you manage to register them successfully, which can be tricky as they often disappear or despawn.
Speed and Combat Performance Comparison
When choosing a mount, many players care about performance. How fast is the mount, and how well does it fight?
| Horse Name | Acquisition Method | Key Trait | Can Be Lost? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Buy Horse | Purchase (1000g) | Reliable, easily replaced | No (once registered) |
| Wild Horse | Tame/Steal | Free, requires effort | No (once registered) |
| Arvak (DLC) | Dawnguard Spell | Summonable anywhere | No (always respawns) |
| Shadowmere | Dark Brotherhood | Highest durability, fast respawn | No (respawns after 10 days) |
| Frost | Quest Reward | Unique appearance | Yes (can be permanently killed) |
Determining the Skyrim Fastest Horse
Generally, all standard horses (purchased or tamed) have similar top speeds. The difference in perceived speed often comes down to terrain and stamina management.
However, some players report that specific wild horses, particularly those found early in the game, sometimes exhibit slightly higher base speed before registration. This is often anecdotal.
Arvak and Shadowmere are generally considered the fastest due to their superior stamina and resilience, allowing them to maintain a gallop longer without tiring or dying in minor skirmishes. If sheer speed is your goal without DLC, experiment with various wild horses.
Advanced Horse Management
Once you have your horse, you need to know how to keep it safe and utilize it fully.
Horse Stamina and Combat
Horses in Skyrim do not have a traditional stamina bar that limits galloping. They can gallop indefinitely unless they take damage.
When a horse takes damage, they enter a “danger” state. If their health drops too low, they will flee the battle and return to the last stable they were registered at. This is crucial for ensuring your favorite steed doesn’t die permanently (unless it’s Frost!).
To minimize risk when riding into a fight:
- Dismount before initiating close combat.
- Send the horse away using the whistle command if you know a tough fight is coming.
Skyrim Summoning Horse Spells
Aside from Arvak, you can use standard Conjuration spells to create temporary undead mounts.
- Conjure Familiar: Does not summon a horse.
- Conjure Ward/Flame Atronach: Does not summon a mount.
The only true Skyrim summoning horse ability comes from the Summon Arvak spell found in the Dawnguard DLC. There are no vanilla spells that allow you to summon a living, permanent horse.
The Unicorn Question: Skyrim Can You Get a Unicorn in Skyrim?
This is a very common query among fans! Skyrim can you get a unicorn in Skyrim? The direct answer is generally no, not in the base game or official DLCs. Unicorns are creatures from folklore that do not typically appear as rideable mounts.
However, there is a twist:
The Creation Club Unicorn
If you play on modern versions of Skyrim (Special Edition or Anniversary Edition), the Creation Club content is often bundled. One of the Creation Club additions is the Pets of Skyrim pack, which sometimes includes a spectral unicorn mount.
This spectral unicorn functions much like Arvak or Shadowmere but looks like a unicorn. If you have access to Creation Club content, this is your only way to officially ride a unicorn. It functions as a unique, powerful horse.
Horse Gear and Customization
Do horses need gear? Yes, to some extent, though customization is limited compared to the player character.
Skyrim Horse Armor
Yes, Skyrim horse armor exists, but it is tied to the Dawnguard DLC or the Creation Club content.
In the base game, you cannot buy or craft aesthetic armor for your horses. However, the Creation Club content offers several types of horse armor, which often provide minor defensive buffs to the horse. If you want your horse to look tougher, check the Creation Club menus if you own the relevant packs.
Steeds and Combat Roles
Which horse is best suited for fighting? It depends on your playstyle.
Skyrim Best Horse for Combat
For pure survivability in combat, Shadowmere is the undisputed king. His massive health pool and quick regeneration mean he can take a beating and return ready to fight again quickly. If you use him near the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, you never truly lose him.
For players avoiding DLC or Creation Club content, a Tamed Wild Horse or a Purchased Horse is fine for light skirmishes, but they should be kept clear of dragon breath or concentrated heavy melee attacks. They are best used for transportation rather than direct engagement.
Practical Tips for Traveling with Horses
Horses are great, but they can sometimes be a hindrance in tight dungeon corridors.
Whistling for Your Horse
If your horse wanders off or you leave it outside a cave or ruin, you can call it back.
- Approach the horse.
- A prompt should appear, allowing you to mount it.
- If you already own the horse and it’s registered, it will typically follow you around nearby areas until you travel too far or enter a space it cannot navigate.
If you are far away, riding another horse, or if the current one is stuck, the best method is often to fast travel to the stable where the horse is registered. It should reappear there, ready for your next journey.
Riding vs. Walking
Using a horse saves significant real-world time when crossing vast distances like the plains between Whiterun and Markarth. However, horses can sometimes be cumbersome in cities or very tight dungeons.
When to Dismount:
- Entering any building, ruin, or city gate.
- Approaching combat zones where the horse might get stuck on geometry.
- Navigating narrow mountain paths where clipping issues occur.
Always dismount before engaging enemies, especially dragons, to ensure your primary mount doesn’t absorb unnecessary damage.
Final Thoughts on Your Skyrim Steed
Whether you Skyrim tame horse you found wandering, spend 1,000 gold at the stables, or unlock the magical powers of Arvak, having a horse dramatically improves your experience in Skyrim. Choose your companion based on your play style—utility (Arvak), brute force (Shadowmere), or pure aesthetics (Frost or a Creation Club Unicorn). Safe travels across Tamriel!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I have more than one horse at a time in Skyrim?
No, generally you can only have one actively registered horse at a time. If you buy a second horse, it replaces the first one as your active mount. The old horse will return to its original stable. Arvak is an exception because he is summoned, not registered like a standard horse.
Do horses level up in Skyrim?
Horses do not level up in the traditional sense (gaining better stats based on your level). However, some unique horses like Shadowmere have inherently high stats, and their combat effectiveness is more tied to the durability of their health bar.
How do I make my horse follow me?
If your horse is nearby, simply riding away for a short distance usually prompts it to follow you. For long distances, you must rely on fast travel to the stable where it is registered, or use the Summon Arvak spell if you have Dawnguard.
Can I put armor on the horse I bought?
Only if you have the relevant Creation Club content installed. Standard purchased or tamed horses in the vanilla game or standard DLCs cannot be equipped with Skyrim horse armor.
What happens if my horse dies permanently?
If a standard horse (purchased or tamed) dies, it is gone forever unless you are using a mod. If you reload a previous save is the only way to bring it back. Shadowmere respawns after 10 days. Arvak can always be re-summoned.