Red Dead 2: 5 things you didn’t know about your horse

In the cutthroat world of the Wild West, you can only count on two things: your gun and your horse. In Red Dead Redemption 2, your horse is your most faithful companion, and it’s more than just a way to get around. You can use it to store weapons, transport cargo, and even gain an advantage in gunfights. Take a look at the five tips below to make sure you’re getting the most out of your trusty steed.

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5 things you didn’t know about your horse in Red Dead Redemption 2

1. You can own more than one horse

There are several different types of horses available in Red Dead 2, each with their own set of unique attributes. War Horses, for example, are large goliaths that do well for mounted combat, but aren’t necessarily the fastest beasts around. Fortunately, you can own multiple horses, which will allow you to switch between the different types to best suit your situation. You can keep your owned horses at camp or at a stable, and can switch between them by simply removing your saddle from your existing horse and placing it on your new horse to make it your primary.

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2. Your horse can learn new tricks

Though you can switch between horses as often as you like, it pays to be loyal and build up a bond with your horse. After spending time with the same horse doing things like feeding, petting, and grooming it, your bond level will increase. As this bond increases, so will your horse’s stats, as well as the range from which you can whistle to it. In addition to these passive stat increases, your horse will also learn new moves, such as drift turns and sliding stops.

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3. Your gear isn’t just cosmetic

You can customize your horse’s saddle and appearance at any Stable on the map, allowing you to pick different styles and make the horse your own. These customizations aren’t just cosmetic, though. Better saddles will increase your horse’s stamina core and prevent it from draining quickly. Saddlebags will increase the amount of clothing and preset outfits you can store on your horse. Stirrups will boost your horse’s speed.

4. You can name your horse

In addition to offering grooming services and cosmetic and gear upgrades for your horse, Stables will also allow you to name any horse that you own. Simply head to the Tack and Services section of the main stable menu and you’ll see an option that will let you name your horse. Simply type in the name you’d like, but don’t worry. If you decide you want to change the horse’s name, you can do so at any time by using this same method.

5. You can use your horse to fast travel

Red Dead 2 is an overwhelmingly large game, but fast travel options are rather limited. By upgrading Arthur’s tent at camp, you can fast travel to a number of major locations on the map, but you won’t be able to fast travel back to camp or between locations unless you take the train or use a stagecoach. Fortunately, you can use your horse to “fast travel” between locations. Simply open the map, mark the location you want to head to with a waypoint, and then ride your horse to the nearest main road. Once you’re on the road, simply switch to the game’s cinematic camera and your horse will ride itself to the waypoint, leaving you to sit back and enjoy the view instead of having to manually ride your horse across half the map.

There’s no bond stronger than that between a cowboy and his horse. With these useful tips in mind, you’ll become the Wild West’s very own horse whisperer.