Red Dead Redemption 2 How to Get Best Horse

In Red Dead Redemption 2 your horse is your most valuable asset. This guide explains how to get the best horse in RDR2.

The best horses are sold at the stables of Saint Denis and Blackwater. Better horses unlock in the stables as you progress in the story. You get to Saint Denis in Chapter 4 and to Blackwater in the Epilogue. Blackwater has the best horses but it’s only accessible during the endgame. Saint Denis is your destination to buy horses early during the story. See the locations further below in the guide.

It’s important to note that the exact horse (the race, looks, and stats) are random. Also, when you buy a horse from these places and it dies, a new one will become available in the stables with similar stats.

There are 3 different horse types:

• Standard Handling: Medium Stamina, Medium Speed.
• Race Handling: Low Stamina, Fast Speed.
• Elite Handling: Best Stamina, Medium Speed. These are the most expensive and generally the best.

You have to decide what suits your needs. Do you travel long distances a lot? Then an Elite Horse with a lot of Stamina will do better than a Race horse that tires out faster. The Standard Handling horse is a good allrounder. Racehorses are good for fast sprints, and in the late game when you can afford a lot of Horse Stimulants (Stamina Tonics) you can pump your horse full with them to replenish stamina on the run. Horse Stimulants can be bought from stables and can be selected from the horse item wheel while riding. Using these stimulants restores the horse’s stamina fully.

Just go with whatever available horse has the best stats overall. The good ones cost around $1000. Horse Stats increase even further when your bonding level with the horse rises.

Saint Denis Stables

You will visit Saint Denis automatically in Story Chapter 4 but you can also ride there earlier. The stables are in the southern part of the town.

Saint Denis Horses (these are randomized):

In this case, the Elite Horse for $1050 has better overall stats and more stamina (stamina is the icon on the left).

Blackwater Stables

In Blackwater you have a huge bounty until the epilogue and therefore this isn’t an option until the endgame. When reaching the epilogue you will find the very best horses in the game in the Blackwater Stables.

Blackwater Horses (these are randomized):

In this case, the Standard Handling horse (left side) for $950 has more speed, but the Elite horse (right side) for $1250 has more stamina and faster acceleration. These would both be good picks.

Horse Upgrades

Lastly, you may want to equip the Hooded Stirrups in the Stables. These increase Speed and Acceleration by two points. However, they will drain the Stamina Core more quickly. If you also buy a bunch of Stamina Tonics from the stables then you can replenish the horse’s stamina on the run. Therefore, it negates the added stamina drain from the Stirrups but your horse is much quicker!

Here are the final stats of the $950 Blackwater Horse with Hooded Stirrups (bottom left corner):

You need a little bit of luck with what horses you get in the stables but these two have the best horses in RDR2! For more guides check out our full Red Dead Redemption 2 Wiki & Strategy Guide.