You can get new horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 by buying them from stables, taming wild horses found in the world, or receiving them as quest rewards. This guide will show you all the best ways to add new steeds to your stable.
Arthur Morgan needs a trusty horse. A good horse means faster travel and better protection. You have many choices, from fast racers to strong workhorses. This guide helps you find, catch, and care for the best horses in RDR2.
Finding New Horses: Where to Look
There are three main ways to get a horse. You can shop, you can hunt, or you can earn one. Knowing where to buy horses RDR2 and where to look for wild ones is the first step.
Buying Horses at Stables
Stables are the safest and most reliable way to get a quality horse. You will find stables in major towns. Each stable sells horses based on their class and breed.
Major Stable Locations
Go to these towns to find a full selection:
- Valentine: Good selection of common and mid-tier horses.
- Saint Denis: Offers more specialized or refined breeds.
- Strawberry: Focuses on reliable, all-around horses.
- Blackwater (Epilogue Only): Has high-end breeds available later in the game.
Horse Breeds RDR2: What You Can Buy
Horses fall into different categories based on their stats (Speed, Acceleration, Health, Stamina). Higher-tier breeds cost more but offer better performance.
| Horse Class | Key Traits | Common Breeds Found |
|---|---|---|
| Superior (Arabian, Turkoman) | High overall stats, great handling. | Arabian, Turkoman, Missouri Fox Trotter |
| Good (Tennessee Walker, Mustang) | Solid performance, good value. | Tennessee Walker, Mustang, Morgan |
| Workhorse (Drafts) | High Health, slow top speed. | Shire, Belgian Draft |
When you buy a horse, it comes with basic stats and zero bond level. You must start bonding with horse RDR2 immediately to unlock its full potential.
Catching and Taming Wild Horses
If you prefer a free mount, look to the wilderness. This is the primary way to find RDR2 wild horse locations. Taming these requires patience and skill.
The Process of Taming Wild Horses RDR2
Catching a wild horse is a mini-game. You must sneak up, calm the horse, and then ride it until it settles.
- Spotting the Horse: Look in open plains or remote mountain areas.
- Sneaking Up: Crouch and move slowly. Hold the calming prompt (usually ‘D’ on PC or a specific button on console) as you approach.
- Mounting: Once close enough, hold the prompt to mount.
- Breaking the Horse: The horse will buck. You must constantly adjust your left stick (or mouse movement) to stay balanced against its direction of travel. Keep calming it while riding.
- Success: Once the horse stops bucking violently and allows you to ride normally, the initial tame is complete.
You still need to take this newly tamed horse to a stable to officially register it and give it a name.
Best RDR2 Wild Horse Locations
Certain areas hold better wild horses than others. Keep an eye out in these zones for higher-tier wild steeds:
- Roan or Black Ardennes: Often found near the Grizzlies East.
- Mustangs: Common in the Heartlands, especially near Emerald Ranch.
- Wild Arabians: These are rare. Look in the snowy region north of Lake Isabella—a key spot for the legendary horse RDR2 encounters if you count the white one.
Seeking Out Unique and Special Horses
Some horses are not found in standard stables or general wild areas. These unique horses RDR2 often have special coat colors or unique abilities.
The Legendary White Arabian
This is perhaps the most famous wild horse. It is a superior breed, comparable to many purchased Arabians.
- Location: North shore of Lake Isabella, in the cold region of Ambarino.
- Note: This horse spawns reliably and is an excellent early-game purchase replacement. You must calm it like any other wild horse.
Quest-Related and Story Horses
Some horses are given to you through the story or side missions.
- Your First Horse: Given early in Chapter 2. This horse is special because it shares an early bond with Arthur, but its stats are average.
- John Marston’s Epilogue Horse: John gets a different horse early in the Epilogue.
The Black Chestnut Thoroughbred (Unique Coat)
This horse is excellent for speed. It appears as a potential wild horse but is sometimes found near specific ranches or stables later in the game. Its coat makes it stand out.
Making Your Horse Perform Better: Bonding and Care
A new horse is just a starting point. To make it one of the best horses in RDR2, you must invest time in it. This involves horse care RDR2 and building a strong bond.
The Horse Bonding System
The bond level goes from 1 to 4. Higher levels unlock better handling, faster top speed (slightly), and essential abilities like rearing and specialized skids.
| Bond Level | Unlocks | How to Improve Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Neutral) | Basic controls. | Riding, general proximity. |
| Level 2 (Acquaintance) | Whistle from further away. | Brushing, feeding. |
| Level 3 (Friend) | Skidding stops. | Riding in interesting areas, using revives. |
| Level 4 (Best Friend) | Rearing on command. | Consistent care and using Revives generously. |
You increase the bond by riding your horse, feeding it, brushing it, and ensuring it doesn’t die.
Essential Horse Care RDR2 Practices
Poorly maintained horses suffer stat penalties. Always keep your horse in good shape.
Feeding
Feed your horse appropriate food. Hay is fine for basic maintenance, but specialty tonics boost performance temporarily.
- Standard Care: Use hay or carrots when health/stamina cores are yellow.
- Performance Boost: Use Oatcakes, Apples, or special tonics before long rides or races.
Brushing
Brushing is quick and boosts bonding. Do this after long rides, especially when your horse is covered in mud or snow. A clean horse has better core regeneration rates.
Keeping Your Horse Alive
If your horse takes heavy damage, you can use horse reviver tonics. Saving horses RDR2 from death requires using these items promptly when their health core is drained completely. If you cannot revive them, they die permanently (unless it is a mandatory story horse).
Comprehending Horse Stats and Types
Not all horses are built the same. Horse breeds RDR2 are categorized by their primary strengths. Choosing the right one depends on your play style.
Speed vs. Stamina vs. Health
- Speed and Acceleration: Important for racing or quick escapes. Breeds like Thoroughbreds and Mustangs excel here.
- Stamina: How long your horse can gallop before needing a rest. Essential for long journeys across the map.
- Health: How much damage the horse can take before collapsing. Draft horses have the highest base health.
The Superior Tier: Race Horses
If you want speed above all else, focus on the Superior class.
- The Turkoman: Often considered the best horses in RDR2 overall due to balanced high stats and good health. It can be bought in Saint Denis late in the story or found as a rare wild encounter.
- The Missouri Fox Trotter: Another top-tier choice with excellent speed and stamina balance. It’s a great, accessible purchase early on.
The Tough Tier: Workhorses
If you constantly fight lawmen or hunt dangerous animals in tough terrain, health matters most.
- Shire: These massive horses have enormous health pools but are very slow. They are great for pulling wagons or navigating heavy gunfire without immediate collapse.
The Legendary Horse RDR2 Encounters
While the White Arabian is often called legendary, some players look for horses related to specific legendary animals. Keep an eye out for rare, single-spawn horses in remote areas that possess superior stats compared to their common counterparts. These are often tied to specific lore or minor secret hunts.
Managing Your Collection: Stables and Multiple Horses
You can own several horses, but only one can be your active horse at a time.
Stable Capacity
Each stable lets you board up to five horses. You must visit the stable worker to swap out your active mount.
Permanence and Death
Remember that horses registered at a stable are mostly permanent. If your active horse dies and you have no reviver, you can buy a replacement, but your old horse is gone forever (unless it is a specific mission horse that respawns). This makes horse care RDR2 and using revives vital for preserving your favorite mounts.
Building a Truly Exceptional Horse
To maximize your investment in any horse—bought or tamed—focus on maxing out the bond.
Tips for Fast Bonding
- Feed Regularly: A hungry horse won’t bond quickly. Feed it specialized food when cores drop to yellow.
- Brush Often: Brushing immediately after a long ride provides a significant bond boost.
- Use Special Tack: Purchasing better saddles and stirrups from the stable helps maintain stamina cores longer, allowing you to ride further and build bond time naturally. The best gear helps you use your horse to its full potential.
The Importance of Tack
A quality saddle increases the rate at which your horse’s stamina core regenerates. A Turkish or a Dakota saddle is highly recommended once you reach higher ranks in the game. This lets you gallop longer, which speeds up the time spent bonding.
By combining smart purchasing, skillful taming wild horses RDR2, and diligent horse care RDR2, you will always have the perfect companion for any adventure Red Dead Redemption 2 throws at you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I tame any horse I see in the wild?
Yes, you can attempt to tame almost any non-story horse you see roaming free. However, higher-tier breeds are much harder to calm and break, and they often spawn in dangerous or remote areas.
Do wild horses get better stats if I tame them?
A wild horse’s base stats are fixed when you first encounter it. Taming it only allows you to use those stats and improve them slightly through bonding. You cannot “level up” a basic wild horse to match a purebred Turkoman’s base stats.
What happens if my horse dies?
If a horse you registered at the stable dies and you do not use a Horse Reviver tonic in time, it is permanently dead. You must buy a new one. You will need to start the bonding process over with the new steed.
Are there any horses I cannot replace if they die?
Yes. Your very first horse given to Arthur in Chapter 2 is technically irreplaceable because the game treats it as a unique story item early on. If it dies, the game usually prompts you to get a replacement, but you lose the unique connection to that initial animal.
How do I get the Arabian horse if I don’t want to tame the wild one?
You can buy Arabians at most major stables once you reach the appropriate chapter or honor level. The Black Arabian is often purchasable sooner than the White one is findable in the wild.
Does eating apples really help my horse?
Yes, feeding your horse apples (especially the Golden/Special ones) helps replenish its stamina core faster and improves the bonding process when done consistently. Good horse care RDR2 involves regular feeding.