Best horses in RDR2 story mode and where to find them

A few minutes in the saddle is all it takes to see how much care Rockstar poured into the horses of Red Dead Redemption 2: muscles rolling under the coat, mud clinging to the legs after a downpour, a mount that snorts and backs away from a snake or a bear. Your horse isn't just a way to get around, it's a companion, and your best partner: it carries you, your pelts and your guns, and it can save your life in a firefight. But not all horses are equal, and the best one in the game can be yours for free very early on. Here are the horses worth chasing, where to find them, what they cost and how to look after them so they stay at their best.

The best free horse: the White Arabian

The White Arabian is the most sought-after wild horse in the game. It belongs to the Arabian breed, rated "Superior" with "Elite" handling: it's one of the most responsive horses in corners and off the line. Its base value is listed at $1,200, and you pay nothing.

• Where: on the western and northwestern shore of Lake Isabella, in Grizzlies West (Ambarino), in the top-left corner of the map.
• When: as soon as you can free roam in Chapter 2. No story progress required.
• The catch: the area is snowy and the horse is white, so it blends into the scenery. Move slowly and use your binoculars if needed.

To tame it, approach slowly while keeping it targeted, calm it whenever it gets agitated, then mount up and hang on while it bucks. Never run at it or it will bolt. Save right before: if it runs off after a failed attempt, it can be hard to find again.

Other wild horses worth knowing

• Red Chestnut Arabian: west of Owanjila. A free Arabian, but with noticeably weaker stats than the white one.
• Warped Brindle Arabian: in the mountains west of the Wapiti Indian Reservation. Added with the PC version and later brought to consoles, it's mostly about the rare coat; its stats are average.
• Tiger Striped Bay Mustang: west of Rio del Lobo Rock, in southern New Austin. It's only reachable in the Epilogue.

The best stable horses

Stables unlock as you progress through Chapter 2. The best horses then arrive in stages: Chapter 4 in Saint Denis and Scarlett Meadows, then the Epilogue in Blackwater (a town you can't roam freely before then).

Our advice: if you have time to ride up to Lake Isabella, the White Arabian covers the whole early game. If you want a horse right now on a budget, the two $150 horses in Valentine do the job well until Chapter 4.

Picking a horse by role

Every breed has a category that hints at its strengths:

• Race: Thoroughbred, American Standardbred, Nokota. Speed and acceleration first, ideal for travel or chasing a target.
• War: Hungarian Half-bred, Ardennes, Andalusian. More health, more courage, perfect for gunfights.
• Work and Draft: Dutch Warmblood, Shire. Sturdy with good stamina, but heavy to steer.
• Superior: Arabian. Elite handling, instant reactions.
• Hybrids: the Turkoman is race and war, the Missouri Fox Trotter race and work, the Mustang war and work.

Handling matters as much as speed: it ranges from Heavy to Elite, with Standard and Race in between. A draft horse turns slowly, an Arabian almost pivots on the spot. For hunting in the woods, favor handling; for crossing the map, speed and stamina.

Bonding with your horse: the 4 levels

The more time you spend with a horse, the stronger your bond gets, and it's one of the game's loveliest ideas: it grows through small everyday gestures, a pat, a brush, a long ride, not through a menu. There are 4 levels, and each one makes the horse more reliable:

• Level 1: the starting level.
• Level 2: your horse can rear up.
• Level 3: it can skid turn or skid stop.
• Level 4: it unlocks the piaffe and the drift (a sideways slide at speed).

On top of those moves, a high bond slightly raises your horse's health and stamina, lets you call it from farther away, even mid-combat, makes it braver around predators and rough terrain, and harder to steal.

To raise the bond fast:

• Ride it often, without draining its stamina core.
• Feed it with provisions sold at stables, without overdoing it.
• Brush it when it's dirty: grooming only counts if the horse actually needs it.
• Calm it when it panics around predators or enemies, and pat it regularly.

Reaching level 4 with one horse is part of the 100% completion requirements. The simplest approach is to keep the same horse until it maxes out before switching.

Caring for your horse

A neglected horse performs worse:

• Cleanliness: a dirty horse drains its health and stamina cores faster. A quick brush after every long outing is enough.
• Food: a hungry horse tires faster. But careful, overfeeding makes it overweight, underfeeding makes it thin, and weight affects its speed.
• Stables: this is where you buy food and tack (saddles, stirrups) and where you can keep several horses to swap depending on the job.
• Horse Reviver: if your horse is badly injured, it stays down for a while. Walk up and use a Horse Reviver to get it back on its feet. These are sold at stables and general stores: always keep some in your satchel.

Be careful: in story mode, a dead horse is lost permanently, along with all the bonding you built. Cliff falls, bears and gunfights are the main dangers. Tack matters too: some saddles and stirrups boost speed or slow down stamina drain.

Go further

• Find all our Red Dead Redemption 2 guides in one place
• Beginner tips for RDR2: key missions, fast travel, cores and camp
• How to make money in RDR2 so you can afford an Arabian in Chapter 4
• Legendary animals and their locations: a good horse makes tracking them far easier
• Red Dead Online beginner guide if you want to keep riding online
• RDR2's incredible details

FAQ

Where do you find the White Arabian in RDR2?

On the western and northwestern shore of Lake Isabella, in Grizzlies West (Ambarino), in the far northwest of the map. It's reachable as soon as you can free roam in Chapter 2. Save before you approach it.

What is the fastest horse in RDR2?

The Missouri Fox Trotter has one of the highest top speeds, the Arabian the best handling and snappiest acceleration, and the Turkoman great toughness in a fight. Bonding and tack also make a difference.

What happens if my horse dies in RDR2?

It's gone for good, along with the bond you built. If it's only downed, get it back up quickly with a Horse Reviver, sold at stables and general stores.