Summary
At their most basic, horses are simply a means to get from point A to point B inRed Dead Redemption 2.But at their best, horses can be great moneymakers, significantly cut down on travel time, and give players a fighting chance at staying alive.
While what makes agood horseis situational, there are some specific horses that consistently rise to the top regardless of the situation they’re in. Conversely, there are some that are best suited in someone else’s stable, with that person’s money in the player’s pocket.
Updated on May 9th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra:Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the greatest games ever made, with even the simple act of exploring the gorgeous open world being extremely engaging. Rockstar Games have clearly poured a lot of love into this game to make its world as enthralling as possible, and players who want to make the act of roaming around the open world as easy and engaging as possible should pick out a great mount that can make the journey with them. Not all horses are created equal in RDR2, with some being objectively better than others, and this list has been updated to break down every single horse in the game, so that players know which ones to go after.
None; only appears in certain story events
Scrawny Nag
The default horse in RDR Online that appears everywhere in the game
Morgan
Buy one from the Valentine Stables in Chapter 2 for $15
Buy one from the Valentine Stables for $50
Buy one from the Tumbleweed Stable for $150
Can only be stolen
Shire
Obtained during the Exit Pursued By A Bruised Ego quest in Chapter 2
Buy one from the Tumbleweed Stable for $450
Buy one from the Valentine Stable for $150
A pre-order bonus available for free from the Valentine Stable
Buy one from the Strawberry stable for $450
Buy one from the Tumbleweed Stable for $425
Buy one from the Saint Denis stable for $450
Can be found in the wild and tamed
Buy one from the Strawberry Stable for $140
Buy one from the Strawberry stable for $150
Buy one from Scarlett Meadows stable for $140
Buy one from Blackwater stable for $925
Can only be used by Traders in Red Dead Online
Can only be used by Collectors in Red Dead Online
Breton
Can only be used by Bounty Hunter in Red Dead Online
Can only be used by Moonshiners in Red Dead Online
Can only be used by Naturalists in Red Dead Online
Missouri Fox Trotter
Buy one from Scarlett Meadows stable or Blackwater Stable for $950
Buy one from the Saint Denis stable for $1,050
1
Acceleration
This is more of a special mention, given that’Standard Horse’isn’t exactly a breed per se. Rather, it’s the placeholder name given to a certain horse that appears in story events and can’t be ridden by the player.
This is probably for the best, since this horse boasts some of the worst stats in the game, which would make it a downright nightmare to ride during actual gameplay. Thankfully, most players don’t have to deal with this nightmare unless they go out of their way to use console commands or cheats to spawn this horse just to see what the fuss is all about.
2
It’s only a given that a horse that takes no effort to acquire will be far from useful in the game, and theScrawny Nagis a great example of the same. Players who check out the world ofRed Dead Onlinefor the first time will start out with this weak horse that they’ll want to replace as soon as possible.
Given the sheer number of horses that can be tamed or bought in the game (which include exclusive breeds not present in the story mode), it’s easy to see why most players would prioritize replacing this horse over everything else. Sure, players can carry this horse with them to the very end, but that’s just making things unnecessarily hard for them.
3-4
Generally speaking, riding horses are good for riding and not much else. For theMorgan,this is especially true, as it has some of the worst stats in the game. It’s a well-behaved horse andan easy one to ride, but there are far better horses.
The only advantage is that they’re common, making them easy to obtain in a pinch or good for making money. All variations share the same stats, but the Palomino is worth the least, making it objectively the worst horse in the game.
Morgans often appear in the wild and many NPCs own them. To legitimately obtain one, players can buy a Palomino from the Valentine Stables in Chapter 2 for $15. The Bay Roan, Bay, and Flaxen Chestnut must be captured or stolen.
3
This horse beats walking and Morgans, but that’s about it. All types have the same stats and worth, but the Grey is the only one that can be bought for $25, though with how common they are, players might as well find their own and save the money.
The Grey CoatKentucky Saddlercan be bought at the Valentine Stables for $50, tamed, or stolen. The Chestnut Pinto, Black, and Silver Bay must be stolen or tamed.
3-5
2-3
In case the name didn’t tip fans off, theTennessee Walkeris a horse meant to be walked, possibly ridden. It’s the very first horse fans get in the game and with any luck won’t be in the stable for long. If players insist on getting one go for the Flaxen Roan which has the best stats and sells for more.
The Flaxen Roan coatmust be bought for $150 at the Tumbleweed Stable. The Mahogany Bay can only be obtained during the Outlaws From The West quest. The Black Rabicano, Chestnut, Dapple Bay, Red Roan, and Gold Palomino must be stolen or tamed.
Belgian Draft Horsesare better than a riding horse but are considered the weakest of all draft horses. In addition to riding, they’re good at pulling things like carriages. If players decide to get this one as an upgrade from riding horses go for the Blond Chestnut or the Mealy Chestnut they have the same stats.
The Belgian Draft Horse only comes in the Chestnut coat and the only way to obtain it is to steal it.
4
No, these aren’t meant for hobbits, these are in fact the largest horses in the game and among the strongest players can find. They’ll pull anything players hook them to but don’t expect them to turn on a dime as they’re tough to handle. The bestShirehorse is the Raven Black with just a little better stamina than its peers.
The Raven Black coat can be obtained during the Exit Pursued By A Bruised Ego quest in Chapter 2. The Dark Bay and Light Grey types must be stolen.
Yet another puller is theSuffolk Punch, but this one has some better stats than previous horses on this list. A downside however is that it can only be found meaning fans will have to find one or steal it. Either variation is fine as they have the same stats.
There is only the Red Chestnut coat, and it must be stolen.
4-6
2-4
One of the last horses fans are likely to ride in the late part of the early game, theAppaloosahas decent stats with a fair amount of stamina. It’s an endurance horse meant for riding long trips and can survive an ambush. Leopard or Brown Leopard are the best variations with equal stats.
The Brown Leopard coat can be bought for $450 from the Tumbleweed Stable. The Leopard can be bought from the Van Horn Trading Post for $430. Scarred Blankets are rare and only appear during random encounters with Murfree Brood members. The Blanket, Leopard Blanket, and Few Spotted must be tamed.
4-5
The weakest of the race horses but with some use is theAmerican Standardbred. They have decent speed but are very skittish. The Silver Tail Buckskin has the best stamina for longer runs, but the Palomino is easier to handle so pick according to the track.
The Palomino Dapple can be bought at the Valentine Stable for $150. The Silver Tail Buckskin is $400 at the Tumbleweed Stable.The Black and Buckskin must be tamed.
