The Best Free Horses in Red Dead Redemption 2
We all want to ride around the Wild West in style! You need the perfect horse, but buying a high-end mount can feel pricey or sometimes feels like it ruins your honor a bit. But luckily, Red Dead Redemption 2 has tons of horses that are actually free! And not just your average, run-of-the-mill steeds, either. This guide is a deep dive into some of the coolest free steeds waiting for you to lasso.
When it comes to Red Dead Redemption 2, horse-lovers rejoice because Rockstar went above and beyond to make those steeds more than just a means of transportation. You're looking at complex mechanics, unique horse personalities, and some truly impressive animation. Plus, those horses have real differences that make some more valuable than others when it comes to those adventures you'll have.
Finding the Perfect Partner: What Makes a Great Horse?
Whether you're blazing through the open world or jumping into some hardcore shootouts, there's a lot to think about when you're picking out your ride. Here are the top stats you'll want to look at: Speed, Stamina, Health, Acceleration, and, of course, Bravery! That last one's important, especially if you're heading into battle. Don't pick a horse that bolts every time a rabbit sneezes, alright? Those horses will cost you your life and probably your progress!
Once you have your horse, think about how you are going to name it! The fun is truly in naming your steeds and the original game has a list of popular and fitting options for some of the greatest and most memorable horses. You'll want a name to match their looks or maybe how well they stand their ground against those gunfights! It’s your partner for your wild, western adventures!
Free Hungarian Half-bred for New Outlaws!
If you're starting Red Dead Redemption 2 and haven't unlocked more expensive horses yet, Hungarian Half-breds are a solid choice for beginners. You can find this awesome mount in Valentine, early in the game. They are really good at taking on danger, with some really good stats, like high health and bravery.
There’s even a chance to get the coolest, highest-stat Hungarian Half-bred in the whole game for free if you do the “Good, Honest Snake Oil” bounty mission! The catch? Your horse can't be near the camp where you find that special Hungarian Half-bred – talk about tricky! It's a really early game upgrade you can snag with a little planning.
For the Wild West Outlaws: A Fast American Standardbred (It May Even Have a Kill Count)
Here's a crazy way to get your horse. There’s a special random encounter, and all it takes is a good dose of luck. Someone is cleaning their American Standardbred in this one, and it gets really spooked and, well, kicks someone, and then runs off! American Standardbreds are already known for speed and this special encounter is super fun. Just try to chase down this speedy mount! You'll get a really fast and high-stat American Standardbred, but these horses are kinda spooked out too. Be ready to use your lasso, and if you accidentally kill someone with a rogue horse kick (whoops, I guess?), well, you can just restart and try again, right?
If you think you've met the Wild West's fastest horses, the Brindle Thoroughbred comes into play. It has impressive speed and acceleration that can keep up with some pretty wild cowboys! Keep in mind, it's pretty hard to tame and this isn't a cheap or common horse in Red Dead Redemption 2, but if you look for the encounter when those O’Driscoll outlaws get into trouble, you’ll be in a pretty epic situation.
Brave Steeds & More! - Andalusian, Arabian, Dutch Warmbloods, Oh My!
Now that we're digging into some truly unique horse varieties, there’s a couple more ways to snag some awesome steeds. We have the brave Andalusian, that can easily take on anything and make sure they can keep up during your adventure! You'll find the cool Andalusian up north near Brandywine Drop in New Hanover. This horse can get spooked a little too easily, but its stamina and health stats are really high!
One of the coolest horses in the whole game – you have the legendary white Arabian! That one's tough to tame and not always the easiest to catch, but we've got a good tip. This wild horse can be found in a specific spot around the heart of Red Dead Redemption 2 - it's by Lake Isabella in Ambarino! Arabian horses, they're renowned for speed and have some top-notch acceleration and stamina, but they aren't as great at handling rough stuff like some of those battle-ready horses. But with a little patience and some fancy lasso skills, it’s worth trying!
The "Warped Brindle" and "Red Chestnut" Arabian
The red chestnut Arabian is, in general, not the best Arabian. It has awesome speed but a lack in everything else: health, stamina, acceleration. Basically, it's all show and no go! And then there’s the “Warped Brindle" Arabian, which isn’t much better - still has a few great stats but its location in Ambarino means that unless you’ve gone on a serious early-game quest for it, you’ll probably find another great horse by the time you unlock that region. These horses aren't a big draw because, as soon as players are exploring those regions, they already have better horses!
Let’s face it - most gamers are looking for the real showstoppers when it comes to those rare horses, so unless you are a total Arabian aficionado, these guys are a little skippable, although some folks who have never played Red Dead Redemption 2 could be excited about Arabian horses, but they may need to wait until they get those later-game missions before snagging the ultimate free steed.
The “The Veteran” Mission - The Best Free Horse in Red Dead Redemption 2?
We’re going into one of the heartbreaking yet rewarding quests in the game! If you complete “The Veteran” mission, you’re in for a treat - a totally cool horse named Buell, a Dutch Warmblood! Here's the breakdown: You'll need to do a lot of quests to earn Buell's friendship. Then, things get super sad because "The Veteran" story involves Arthur bonding with this really nice guy named Hamish - then, Hamish dies, but asks Arthur to look after Buell. And you can take care of the horse for the rest of the game!
It's not the easiest horse to get, but Buell is basically the hero of all the Free Horses. These Dutch Warmbloods have the best health and stamina, which are awesome! With incredible speed and bravery, it's like finding the perfect balance in the world of horses. Just be careful! Once you get past those final missions, all your horses get taken away. You might want to hold on to a few good horses for when you start playing through the game's ending and make sure you get a whole new herd before you start your epilogue!
Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Wild West
We hope this guide helped you get the best free horse, but keep in mind, every horse can feel like the coolest mount if you make awesome memories together. Just remember: if you're venturing into a new mission, look around the map, talk to everyone, and just maybe, a cool horse might end up being part of your gang. Just have fun out there, explore those open worlds, and have an unforgettable Wild West adventure!
