You can buy a horse in The Sims 4 if you have the Horse Ranch Expansion Pack installed. There are two main ways to get a horse: purchasing one directly from another Sim or adopting one from the wild.
The introduction of horses into The Sims 4 via the Horse Ranch Expansion Pack brought a whole new dimension to gameplay. No longer are players limited to dogs and cats; now, their Sims can bond with, train, and even show off majestic equines. If you dream of a life filled with Sims 4 equestrian life adventures, you need to know the best ways to acquire your first four-legged friend. This guide breaks down every step for Sims 4 horse purchase options simply and clearly.
Getting Started with Horses in The Sims 4
Before you can even think about buying a horse, you must have the right ingredients for the recipe.
Essential Requirements for Horse Ownership
To engage in Sims 4 horse ownership, you must first own the correct game content.
- The Horse Ranch Expansion Pack: This is mandatory. Without it, horses simply do not exist in your game.
- A Suitable Home: Horses need space. While you can buy them right away, you need land to keep them.
Preparing Your Home for New Arrivals
Horses do not live inside your Sim’s house (unless you use mods, which we won’t cover here). They need special housing.
Building Horse Stalls
You must build Sims 4 horse stalls on your lot. These are essential for keeping your horses safe, happy, and clean.
- Go into Build/Buy Mode.
- Search for “Stalls.”
- Place at least one stall. It is best to have one stall per horse you plan to acquire.
- You will also need a trough for water and a feeder for food. These items are found near the stalls in the Build/Buy catalog.
These preparations ensure you are ready for your first Sims 4 horse care guide needs right away.
Methods for Acquiring Your First Horse
There are several clear paths to welcome a horse into your Sim’s life. You can buy them, adopt them, or even raise them from foals.
Option 1: Buying a Horse Directly (The Quick Route)
The easiest and most straightforward way is purchasing a fully grown horse. This involves interacting with an existing horse owner.
Finding a Seller
You need to find a Sim who already owns a horse and is willing to part with one.
- Visiting Neighbors: Travel to another active Sim’s lot in Chestnut Ridge (the world introduced with the pack) that has horses.
- Ranch Hand Interaction: If you hire a Ranch Hand (a new NPC job), they might occasionally offer a horse for sale.
The Purchase Interaction
Once you find a Sim with a horse, the process is simple:
- Click on the Sim who owns the horse.
- Look for the interaction menu labeled “Horse.”
- Select the option: “Ask about buying a horse.”
If the owner agrees, you will see a list of their horses available for sale. You can negotiate the price, which varies based on the horse’s skills and traits.
This is a great way to instantly jump into Sims 4 ranch gameplay with a trained animal.
Option 2: Adopting a Wild Horse (The Adventurous Route)
If you prefer forging a bond from scratch, you can tame and adopt a wild horse roaming the world.
Locating Wild Horses
Wild horses often wander the open spaces in Chestnut Ridge. Keep an eye out near:
- The open fields in Nimble Notch.
- Areas near the community gathering spots.
Building Trust and Friendship
You cannot just click and adopt a wild horse. You must earn its trust first. This is where your Sim’s relationship skills come into play.
- Approach Carefully: Click on the wild horse and select friendly social interactions. Start with simple greetings.
- Build the Relationship: Continue building the relationship bar until it is high enough. You will notice the horse becoming more comfortable around your Sim.
- Taming the Horse: Once the friendship is strong, you will unlock the interaction: “Tame Horse.” Click this.
- Success: If the taming attempt is successful, the horse will become “Friendly” towards your Sim.
Making the Adoption Official
After taming, you can invite the horse to live on your lot.
- Click on the now-tamed horse.
- Select the interaction: “Ask to Move In.”
This horse is now officially yours and requires full Sims 4 horse care guide attention.
Option 3: Breeding Horses (The Long-Term Investment)
If you already own at least one horse, you can breed them to create foals. This is how you get horses without immediate purchase or adoption.
Requirements for Breeding
- You need at least two adult horses on your property.
- The horses must have a high enough relationship to breed.
The Breeding Process
- Click on one of your adult horses.
- Look for the “Breeding” menu.
- Select “Ask to Breed With…” and choose the partner horse.
- A gestation period follows. The mare will eventually give birth to a foal on your lot.
Foals take time to mature into riding-age horses, offering a slow but rewarding start to Sims 4 ranch gameplay.
Creating Your Perfect Horse: Sims 4 Create a Horse (CAH)
When you adopt or buy a horse, you can customize its appearance. If you are creating a horse from scratch (which happens when you breed them, or sometimes when adopting a wild one), you enter Sims 4 Create a Horse (CAH) mode.
Entering Create-A-Horse
You enter CAH when you use the “Create a New Horse” option when adding a new animal to your household, or when a foal ages up.
Customization Options
CAH is similar to Create-A-Sim but focuses solely on equine features.
| Feature Category | Customization Details |
|---|---|
| Body Structure | Adjust muscle mass, height, and overall build. |
| Coat Color & Pattern | Select from various base colors and apply complex patterns (like appaloosa spots). |
| Mane & Tail | Choose styles, length, and color for both the mane and tail. |
| Face Details | Modify eye shape, muzzle, and facial markings (blazes, socks). |
| Personality Traits | Assign traits like “Skittish” or “Good Natured.” These affect behavior. |
Naming Your Equine Friend
Make sure to give your horse a memorable name. A well-named horse contributes greatly to your immersive Sims 4 equestrian life.
Integrating Horses into Your Sim’s Life
Once you have secured your horse, the real gameplay begins. Your Sim now has new responsibilities and opportunities.
Horse Skills and Training
Horses are not just decorations; they have skills that need development, just like Sims. Sims 4 horse training is a key part of ownership.
The Horse Riding Skill
Horses do not have a separate riding skill; rather, the Sim develops the Sims 4 horse riding skill. This skill unlocks better control and performance during competitive events.
- Training Activities: This skill improves by riding the horse frequently and giving focused training commands (e.g., “Practice Jumps”).
- Level Benefits: Higher levels allow your Sim to handle faster speeds and more complex maneuvers.
Horse Training for Better Behavior
Horses also gain levels in their own hidden training track. This improves their ability to follow commands.
- Direct Training: Click on the horse and use the “Train” options to practice specific maneuvers like stopping or turning.
- Riding for Bonding: Simply spending quality time riding also builds the horse’s training level passively.
Horse Care Essentials
A neglected horse will become sad, dirty, and uncooperative. Following a good Sims 4 horse care guide is vital.
- Feeding: Ensure the trough is always full of hay, or feed them specialty horse treats.
- Grooming: Use a brush on the horse daily to keep its coat shiny. Happy horses glow!
- Cleaning Stalls: Sims 4 horse stalls must be cleaned regularly. Dirty stalls lead to unhappy horses and potential illness.
- Social Needs: Horses need interaction. Talk to them, pet them, and ride them often.
Advanced Horse Ownership: Competitions and Fame
Owning horses opens doors to competition, especially if you link your ranch to the fame system if you have Get Famous.
Entering Competitions
Competitions are the primary way to earn money and prestige with your horses.
- Prerequisites: Your horse must be an adult, and your Sim must have a decent Sims 4 horse riding skill.
- Finding Events: Competitions usually appear on the calendar in the lower right corner of the screen, or you can travel to the competition venue in Chestnut Ridge.
- Event Types: Events usually include obstacle courses, barrel racing, and show jumping.
Success in these events validates your hard work in Sims 4 horse training.
Horses and Celebrity Status
If you are pursuing fame, your horses can contribute to your celebrity status, especially if you have Sims 4 get famous horses.
- Performing: Highly skilled horses can participate in skill challenges that generate fame points for your Sim.
- Riding in Public: Simply showing off a perfectly trained, well-groomed horse in public spaces can draw attention and boost your Sim’s recognition.
Managing Your Ranch: Beyond Just One Horse
Once you master caring for one animal, you might expand your operation into a full-fledged ranch. This involves managing multiple Sims 4 horse stalls and potentially hiring help.
The Ranch Hand System
If you have too many chores, hire a Ranch Hand.
- Duties: Ranch Hands help feed, groom, and clean stalls. This frees up your Sim to focus on training or other careers.
- Hiring: Use the phone or computer to hire help, similar to hiring a maid or gardener.
The Economy of the Ranch
Successful Sims 4 ranch gameplay can become lucrative. You can sell:
- Excess hay or nectar (if you get into juice making).
- Well-trained horses that command high prices.
- Competition winnings.
This circular economy keeps the ranch self-sufficient and fun.
Troubleshooting Common Horse Issues
Even with the best guide, problems can arise when dealing with new features like horses.
My Horse Won’t Move!
If your horse seems stuck, try these fixes:
- Check the Mood: Is the horse “Sad” or “Angry”? They might refuse commands if unhappy. Tend to their needs first (food, water, grooming).
- Pathing Issues: Sometimes fences or objects block their way. Check the area around the Sims 4 horse stalls.
- Is Your Sim Competent? If the Sim’s riding skill is very low, the horse might ignore clumsy attempts to direct it.
I Can’t Find the Purchase Option!
If you click on a Sim and do not see the horse option:
- The Sim may not own a horse.
- The Sim might not be an adult or elder; child Sims cannot sell horses.
- You might be too far away for the interaction prompt to appear.
My Foal Isn’t Growing Up
Foals take time. They must reach young adulthood before becoming ready for riding. Patience is key in Sims 4 horse training; you cannot rush nature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I have more than one horse per stall?
No. Each horse needs its own dedicated Sims 4 horse stalls for optimal happiness and care. The game enforces one horse per stall structure.
Do horses need to eat grass off the ground?
While they can graze if there is open field space, relying only on grazing is risky. You must maintain food in the trough as part of your Sims 4 horse care guide.
Are there special careers related to horses?
While there isn’t a specific ‘Equestrian’ career, Sims build skills that support careers like Veterinarian (if you have Cats & Dogs) or they can focus on becoming famous through competitions (Sims 4 get famous horses aspect).
How long does it take for a foal to grow up?
Foals take about 12 in-game Sim days to mature into an adult horse ready for riding and Sims 4 horse training.
Can I teach my horse tricks like dogs?
Yes, horses have unique tricks and commands they learn through dedicated training sessions, improving their overall skill level.
What happens if I don’t clean the stalls?
If Sims 4 horse stalls become filthy, the horse’s mood will drop quickly. A very dirty environment can even lead to illness, requiring veterinary care.