Taming the Digital Steed: A Guide to Horses in Kingdom Come, Red Dead Redemption, and Beyond
Horses are trusted companions in many games. In Kingdom Come: Deliverance or Red Dead Redemption 2, a horse is more than transport. It serves as your partner, escape vehicle, and sometimes, your furry therapist.
Yet, horse mechanics can confuse. Can you keep a stolen horse? What if your horse dies? Where do you find that elusive White Arabian? Fear not. We will cover what you need to know about horses in these games. A sprinkle of wild horse facts will be added. This is your stable manual for the digital world.
Stolen Glory or Fleeting Fun? Horses in Kingdom Come: Deliverance
You’ve got sticky fingers and an eye for a horse in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. You’ve liberated a noble horse. Now what? Can you ride off with your new “Borrower”? Spoiler alert: not really.
Can You Keep a Stolen Horse in Kingdom Come: Deliverance?
Let’s cut to the chase: No, you cannot own a stolen horse in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. You can ride it and enjoy the thrill, but the game won’t let you bond with it for long. Think borrowed car with a potential chase from angry guards.
These stolen horses are for short-term use. They can assist you after a tavern brawl or as a fast way to reach a quest marker. Ownership? Forget it.
Cashing in on Your Crime Spree: Selling Stolen Horses
You can’t keep them, but where there’s crime, there’s profit. Great news, horse rustler! You can sell stolen horses in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Bohemia has a shady market.
Your fence for horse trades is the Nomad’s Camp. Finding it is simple. Start in Semine. Head west, then north. Stick to the streets and look for tents and people. Think “not-so-reputable campsite.”
At the Nomad’s Camp, find the stable master. He is your contact for selling the hot horse you’ve acquired. Start a chat and tell him you want to sell a horse. You’ve successfully executed criminal enterprise (within the game). For a helpful visual guide, check this YouTube video.
Quest Horses: Ride ’em and Release ’em
Kingdom Come: Deliverance occasionally encourages horse theft during quests. Some missions require you to nab a horse illegally. However, don’t get too attached to your quest-mandated stolen steed.
Just like regular stolen horses, quest-related horses are temporary. Once a quest ends, you must return the horse or can’t keep it permanently. It’s like borrowing a friend’s horse for fun; it doesn’t last forever.
If you want to know more about Kingdom Come: Deliverance horse mechanics, including death and inventory aspects, visit the Kingdom Come: Deliverance forum for insights and experiences.
Red Dead Redemption 2: A Horse Lover’s Paradise (and Heartbreak)
Moving from Bohemia to the American West, Red Dead Redemption 2 elevates horse ownership to new heights. Horses here are not just transport; they are characters with distinct breeds, temperaments, and bonding. Yet, with great ownership comes responsibility… and potential heartbreak.
General Horse Ownership in RDR2: Til Death (or Chapter End) Do Us Part
The big unfortunate topic: Arthur Morgan’s demise. It’s gut-wrenching for all players. When Arthur dies, he takes his entire horse collection with him. Yes, even poor Buell, the steed gifted by Hamish Sinclair, is lost with him.
This means that when Arthur dies in Red Dead Redemption 2, you lose all his horses. It’s a tough world. Arthur’s will didn’t cover his four-legged friends.
Reacquiring Legendary Steeds: Hope Springs Eternal (Especially for John)
But wait! Just because Arthur’s gone doesn’t mean all is lost for some exceptional horses. Enter John Marston. After completing the main story, playing as John reveals certain legendary horses are still available.
The Legendary White Arabian Horse, often regarded as one of the game’s best, can still be tamed even while playing as John. If you lost your White Arabian with Arthur or missed taming it, worry not! The wild White Arabian waits for its new partner in crime (or leisurely riding).
Specific Horses in RDR2: Breeds, Locations, and Quirks
Red Dead Redemption 2 features many unique horses, each with individual stories. Here are some noteworthy steeds:
Buell: Arthur’s Legacy, John’s Ride
Buell is the golden-coated beauty we mentioned. While Arthur can’t take Buell past the digital realm, Buell becomes available for John Marston in the epilogue. It’s bittersweet; a reminder of Arthur’s journey and an excellent horse. Buell transitions from Arthur’s partner to John’s mount.
White Arabian: Wild, Wonderful, and Worth the Effort
The White Arabian Horse. This isn’t just an ordinary Arabian; it’s an elite-tier horse, boasting excellent stats immediately. No need to spend money at a stable to obtain it. You can find the White Arabian in the wild, specifically north of Lake Isabella in Grizzlies West.
Finding it is one thing; taming it is another. White Arabians are skittish. To calm and tame one successfully, approach slowly. Hold the left trigger. As you approach, press the calm button continuously when prompted. Pay attention to the horse’s reactions. If it spooks, stop calming and adjust your approach. Patience is required, cowboy.
If you accidentally kill the White Arabian? Don’t panic! Like a phoenix from ashes (or a horse from digital ether), the White Arabian will respawn. But give it some space first. Leave far enough away and return later. Only one White Arabian appears at that location at once; if it isn’t there, you may need to wait some in-game time.
Black Arabian: Saint Denis Sneak Thief Special
If you’re after a touch of…
Urban horse thievery? The Black Arabian Horse offers a unique chance. Visit Saint Denis in the swampy south. Go before Chapter 4. At night, look for a robbery in front of the theatre on the main street. Amidst chaos, a beautiful Black Arabian horse is tied nearby. The thief flees, leaving the horse behind. Seize your chance!
Take the Black Arabian and escape. Technically, you stole a horse. To make it yours, you must pay off the theft charge. Think of it as a finder’s fee or an expensive adoption. You got a Black Arabian in the end!
Giant Horse: A Cross-Game Crossover (Sort Of)
The Giant Horse may seem odd in a talk about Red Dead Redemption 2 and Kingdom Come. Yet, for those visiting Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Giant Horse is a grand steed. There’s a link, though it’s a tad meta.
You can obtain a Giant Horse in two ways, based on your Zelda game: Catch it in Tears of the Kingdom with some horse-taming skill, or transfer it from a Breath of the Wild save file. It nods to continuity for Zelda fans, though it strays from our Wild West and medieval escapades.
Breton: Bounty Hunter’s Best Friend in Red Dead Online
If you venture into Red Dead Redemption 2, the Breton horse is a prized breed for Bounty Hunters. To get a Breton in Red Dead Online, you must embark on a justice path (or legalized violence) as a Bounty Hunter.
The grind begins. You need to rank up within the Bounty Hunter role. As you rise, you unlock various Breton coats – different colors and appearances. After reaching the required rank and unlocking a coat, you can finally buy it from a stable. You’ll need tokens and gold, earned through Bounty Hunter tasks.
Horse Mechanics in RDR2: Taming, Stealing, and Spooking
Outside specific breeds, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers numerous horse mechanics:
Taming Wild Horses: Patience and Parsley Required
Want a wild mustang? Taming wild horses in RDR2 can be rewarding but frustrating. When you find a wild horse, approach slowly. They are understandably nervous about humans. Go slow and steady.
Carefully move to the horse you want. Offer it some food like an apple or sugar cubes. Follow with grooming to build trust. Feeding and brushing increase your bonding. Be ready for a struggle; wild horses aren’t easy to tame!
Stealing Horses: Honor and Dishonor in the Saddle
You can steal horses in Red Dead Redemption 2, in single-player and Red Dead Online. Your actions have consequences. Red Dead Online players start with neutral honor. This morality meter reflects your in-game choices. Criminal actions, like stealing horses, lead to minor honor loss. Become a known horse thief, and your reputation suffers.
Switching Horses: A Hitch in Time Saves Nine (Horses)
Need to swap horses in Red Dead Online? Maybe you found a wild one, or need a backup. You can switch horses by capturing a wild horse and hitching it to any post. This effectively stores your current horse and makes the new wild horse your active mount. It’s a useful trick for changing steeds.
Scaring the White Arabian: Run, Horse, Run (But Not Too Far)
If you frighten the White Arabian during taming, what happens? Will it vanish into the wilderness? Thankfully, no. If you spook the White Arabian, you should find it again. However, if it seems to disappear entirely, leave the area and let it respawn. Patience is key with this easily startled creature.
Wild Horses in the Real World: A Touch of History and Management
Let’s consider wild horses in reality, particularly in the American West, which inspired Red Dead Redemption 2.
Legality of Capturing Wild Horses: From Mustang Roundups to Legal Protections
Horses have roamed free in the American West since the 1500s. They are descendants of animals from Spanish conquistadors. These wild horses, known as mustangs, symbolize the West. However, they haven’t always had secure fates. For years, their roundups served varied purposes – from rodeos to dog food.
Fortunately, in 1971, a law was passed prohibiting the killing or capturing of wild horses. This law recognized their ecological and historical importance and aimed to protect their free existence.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Managing Wild Herds
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) now manages wild horses and burros on US public lands. This often involves balancing wild horse populations against environmental impacts. The BLM’s methods include removing excess animals and controlling reproduction for sustainable herd sizes.
Adopting or Purchasing Wild Horses: Bringing the Wild West Home
You can adopt or buy a wild horse or burro from the BLM. Yes, you might bring a piece of the Wild West to your home (if you have resources to care for a wild animal). The BLM also runs an Adoption Incentive Program, offering $1,000 to adopters to aid initial care costs for a year. This is a unique chance to connect with the legacy of the American West.
More Horse Trivia: From Undead Steeds to Bohemian Bargains
Let’s add some horse-related trivia from Kingdom Come: Deliverance and beyond:
Horse Death in Kingdom Come: Deliverance: They’re Not Gone, Just Resting
Worried about losing your steed in Kingdom Come: Deliverance? Don’t stress. As indicated in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance forum, Your horse does not die. If its health hits zero, it regenerates over time. Think of it as a dramatic rest. Your horse may fall, but it will rise again.
Taming Mustangs and Undead Horses: Because Why Not?
Indeed, mustangs can be tamed and ridden like other horses, whether in reality or games featuring them (though methods vary). In some fantasy settings, you might even find undead horses. Believe it or not, a skeleton horse can be tamed. The slightly morbid process involves killing the skeleton on the horse. After dispatching the skeletal rider, you can tame the horse, with a saddle of course.
Getting Pebbles Back for Free in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: A Bohemian Bargain
If you await Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, there’s good news…
For fans of starting horse Pebbles, you can get Pebbles back for free early in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Reports say the trick is to head to Seamine, southwest of Troskowitz. Find the horse trader. Talk to him. When you get options, choose “Be Reasonable”. With some charm, you can get Pebbles back, no groschen needed.
Arthur’s Final Ride and Groschen Riddles
Here are a couple of final, unrelated facts about horses and the game world:
Arthur’s Death: A Clean Break
To clarify: When Arthur dies, he loses all horses, including Buell. And no, you won’t find Arthur’s body at the cliff where he died. It’s all erased. However, at the end of Chapter six’s last mission, Arthur gives everything to John. You won’t get the horses, but you inherit his legacy.
Groschen and Rattay: Real Places
A quick fact for Kingdom Come fans: “Rattay” is a real place! It’s in the Czech Republic. It is a market town in the Central Bohemian Region. It appears in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. About groschen? In the Barley riddle from Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the cat gets 10 groschen. Feline rates may be high in medieval Bohemia.
So, there you have it. A guide to horses in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Red Dead Redemption 2, and real horse facts. Now go, digital cowboys and knights, and ride off… until the controller battery dies.
