Early on in the game, exploring the landscape of Red Dead Redemption 2 can prove daunting. You’ll be continuously traveling between your camp and different towns. While the game has occasional fast travel, it is only sometimes a ‘realistic’ option.
You’ll spend a lot of time on horseback. In Red Dead Redemption 2, your horse is your constant companion, so you must get a decent one. Missions that require racing or chasing someone become easier when you have a swift horse with stamina. Missions that involve horseback combat will go smoother if your horse is in good health.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, different types of horses are obtained by capturing from the common public and farmhands, butchering in the wild, or purchasing from one of the city stables.
Yet, finding your everlasting horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than just snatching the best one and galloping around. You must keep the horse healthy, clean, and safe from bullets, hoping to build a connection and do all you can to ensure they never fail you.
And to help you find the best horse, we have a list of some of the best breeds in the game that you should seek out whenever possible. You can find them in the wild/buy them in various in-game chapters. But before that…
Why Should You Choose the Best Horse in Red Dead Redemption 2?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, horses are not simply a mode of transportation from point A to point B.
On the contrary, horses can be excellent moneymakers, dramatically reduce travel time, and provide players with a fighting chance of survival. The horse you pick in RDR2 can make or break your experience, so you must get the best one possible.
Your horse should ideally be swift, tough, and capable of handling various situations. Horses in the game are much more than a swift mode of transportation. Thus having the best possible choice will greatly boost your time in the Old West.
While what makes an excellent horse differs based on the scenario, certain horses continuously ascend to the top regardless of the situation. On the other hand, some might be better off in someone else’s stable, with that person’s money in the player’s pocket.
How to Buy the Best Horse in Red Dead Redemption 2?
Riding your steadfast steed is no better way in Red Dead Redemption 2. However, not all horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 are equal, so we have compiled this handy little checklist to help you get the best horse available and take care of them to keep them ready!
➡️ Know the Categories and Stats
Nothing unbelievable to point out that not all horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 are equal. Fortunately, four primary stats will tell you how good (or not) your selected horse is: health, stamina, acceleration, and speed.
Though such statistics are self-explanatory, whether horses have low or high scores in each category must be more evident. To address this, all horses in Red Dead Redemption 2 fall into one of six very wide-ranking categories, with higher-ranked horses having superior stats than lower-ranked horses.
From best to worst, the Red Dead Redemption 2 horse rankings are as follows:
- Superior – Superior horses are monstrously powerful and have tremendous stamina, speed, health, and acceleration stats, making them the best steeds in Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Racing – Trained for the excitement of the chase, racing horses have low stamina and health but thrive elsewhere with fast acceleration and speed.
- Draft – The all-arounder draft horses have average acceleration, health, stamina, and speed.
- Work – While the dependable workhorse has low acceleration, it makes up for it in other aspects, with average speed, health, and stamina.
- War – Created for the long haul, having exceptional health and stamina. However, they have shockingly low speed and acceleration, making them a poor choice for chasing others.
- Riding– These horses are the most prevalent in Red Dead Redemption 2. They have low health, stamina, acceleration, and speed characteristics. To put it gently, it’s a last resort.
➡️ Maintain the Cores
The first horse you own might not be the best, but by bonding with it and nurturing it, you can turn it into the perfect steed for you.
That means you should focus on strengthening the ones you already have. How?
The key principle of horse care is to keep the Health and Stamina cores as full as possible; else, your journey and performance will suffer. Get eatables from the stables, like celery, beets, and apples, to strengthen the cores. They won’t completely revive you, but having them in your inventory can help you last longer on long treks.
Resting can be the best way to stay healthy and replenish your horse’s cores. Don’t underwork your horse, or they’ll struggle, exposing them to cold weather or wild animal attacks. Also, if your horse’s cores are short and you end up in a gunfight, your horse will lack the energy to escape.
➡️ Groom your Horse
Whatever horse you pick, you’ll need to groom them. With all that movement, dirt and muck take their toll on your horse’s health, eventually leading to your Health core diminishing quicker than usual. You have a brush in one of the early tasks to clean your horse increases their health and helps you establish your connection with them.
Trekking through rivers or open water, on the other hand, will offer them a much-needed bath. Horse Care Packages are $5 and will give your horse a well-deserving groom.
➡️ Bond with Your Horse
Buying or taming a wild horse will not turn it into your best friend. You must care for your horse once you get it, involving feeding and grooming them. To instantly bond with your horse, provide high-quality food, groom it frequently, and pet it occasionally. All horses deserve to be petted, so don’t scrimp on it.
There are four stages of bonding, each with its own set of advantages. The stronger the relationship, the greater the Health and Stamina. Plus, it makes it easier to whistle for your horse to come to you, navigate challenging terrain, and the odds of someone stealing your horse drops.
You can access a new riding maneuver with each new bond level you achieve with your horse. Such maneuver includes rearing, skidding, and piaffe, a fancy name for horse strafing!
The horse you pick in RDR2 can dramatically influence your overall experience, so you must choose the best one to traverse the Old West. Your horse should be quick, robust and capable of handling any situation.
Here’s a list of the most incredible horses in RDR2.
Morgan
Morgans are simple horses with average speed and stamina, making them ideal for short treks across the landscape of Red Dead Redemption 2. However, they are slower than different breeds, and their health pool has left something to be dreamt of.
The good information is that Morgans are low-maintenance and excellent for holding carts or carriages. Although the breed’s Palomino colors and Bay Roan are seen in stables, Arthur Morgan (the protagonist) can search for them in the forest among the Bay and Flaxen Chestnut.
Kentucky Saddler
Kentucky Saddler horses are prevalent in Red Dead Redemption 2. They have a laid-back personality, making them ideal companions for short rides, and because they can be spotted on the map, they’re quick and easy to tame. They’re also strong and sturdy, making them simple to care for.
Kentucky Saddlers have certain drawbacks, such as being slow and needing help to accelerate quickly. In this way, they are far greater than Morgans. Capture the Chestnut Pinto, Black, Gray, and Silver Bay coats in the wild. The Gray coat is grabbed at the stables.
Tennessee Walker
Tennessee Walkers are one of the most beautiful horses in RDR2. They have 7 coat variations, with the Red Roan, Chestnut, Black Rabicano, and Dapple Bay being the most common in the forest region.
Tennessee Walker horses are robust in-game and can travel great distances throughout Red Dead Redemption 2’s vast terrain. Their trot is distinctive, and their gait makes riding them incredibly pleasant.
Belgian
Belgian draft horses are powerful draft horses in RDR2. They are the quickest draft horse breeds and have exceptional health and stamina. Belgians are strong but weigh more than other horses, making them significantly more difficult to handle. They are found in the wild and have 2 coat colors: Blond Chestnut and Mealy Chestnut.
Shire
The Shire is a draft horse best adapted to hard tugging or hauling. They are one of the game’s strongest horse breeds, but their terrific size and weight make them tough to control.
Unfortunately, their speed and stamina are merely mediocre, putting them well behind the best overall horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. Shires are available in three coat colors: Raven Black, Dark Bay, and Light Gray.
Suffolk Punch
In Red Dead Redemption 2, another draft horse is the Suffolk Punch. Its stocky and compact form makes it a suitable breed for farm work. They can work for long periods without tiring, are robust, and even have a good speed for their species.
On the other hand, the Suffolk Punch breed is a little more difficult to come across because it is only found in the wild. These horses are also incredibly heavy, which makes them tough to handle, and they come in two colors: Red Chestnut and Sorrel.
Appaloosa
The war horse, such as the Appaloosa, is the next step up from a draft horse. It is a breed ideal for almost any ranch labor; they are very healthy and have good speed, agility, and stamina. They also have outstanding temperaments, making them easy to manage.
Appaloosas are frequently seen in the game’s midwestern region. The Blanket and Leopard Blanket coats can be seen in the wild. However, you can buy the Leopard and Brown Leopard coats from a stable.
Nokota
If you want to go to a town, monument, or therapeutic campground fast in Red Dead Redemption 2, consider using a racehorse like the Nokota. It’s a breed with good speed and acceleration, which means it can escape trouble quickly if necessary. These horses are likewise in excellent condition and handle incredibly well.
Most Nokotas can be found on the map of Red Dead Redemption 2. The Reverse Dapple Roan is the fastest of the three coats, outrunning the other two Nokota coats. In the wild, you can discover Blue and White Roans, but Reverse Dapple Roans must be bought from a stable.
Thoroughbred
If you want speed, a Thoroughbred horse is the way to go. These horses are among the quickest in the game. They are racehorses, and their speed and acceleration make them ideal for traveling short distances at high speeds. The remainder of their stats are rather low, making them suited for situational use.
Two of the three coats – Blood Bay and Dapple Grey are discovered in the wild, while the third – Brindle, at Strawberry Stables.
American Standardbred
The American Standardbred is another excellent racing horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. These horses are slender and swift, with excellent stamina and acceleration, and can maintain a rapid pace for an extended period. However, they have flaws: they are shy creatures, and loud noises can startle them and cause them to act erratically.
Nonetheless, American Standardbred horses are among the quickest in Red Dead Redemption 2. They are available in four coat colors: Palomino Dapple, Silver Tail Buckskin, Black, and Buckskin.
American Paint
Regarding stats, there is little difference between an Appaloosa and an American Paint. This horse has exceptional stamina, adequate speed, and average health. The only true drawback of the workhorse is its lack of acceleration, which isn’t a significant disadvantage if you level the horse up.
American Paints stands out from other horses by their attractively patterned coats. The Overo and Tobiano coats are prevalent in the wild, but there is also a rare Splashed White coat for those who can discover it. The Gray Overo coat can also be purchased at the stables.
Final Thoughts
It gets narrowed down to select what works best for you. Longer adventures might be better suited to Appaloosa, whose stats are well-balanced, or an American Standardbred if you’re traveling from one place to another without hurry or speed.
By picking the perfect horse for your playstyle and investing in its care and bonding, you can dramatically improve your play time in Red Dead Redemption 2. Choose your horse wisely, and enjoy the freedom and excitement of exploring the Wild West with your loyal partner.
So, tour the stables, try various classes, and determine which ones work best for you. You can keep up to four horses in a stable, so don’t commit to just one, but make sure you bond with them to keep them ready!
Love expansive games like these? Take a look at our list of the best open-world games for the PS5!
