How to Tame a Horse
Basic Controls
When you find a wild horse:
- Run up and press the interact button (E / Square / X) to mount it
- A lasso circle UI appears on screen (starts half-full)
- Core mechanic: Always push the stick/keys toward the horse's rear
- - Controller: Pull left stick toward the horse's tail
- - Keyboard: Use W/A/S/D to match the horse's tail direction (horse faces north → press S, horse faces left → press D, etc.). The horse keeps turning, so switch keys to stay aligned with the tail
- Circle fills completely → taming successful
- If stamina runs out, you get thrown off → just chase it and try again
Tip: Watch the lasso circle on screen — if it's filling up, you're pressing the right direction. If it stops, switch keys. React quickly when the horse turns.
Alternative trick (keyboard): Some players just hold S and constantly rotate the camera to stay behind the horse's rear. This is hit-and-miss according to Steam community feedback — not the intended control method, but worth trying if you're struggling with direction switching.
Pre-Taming Prep (Optional)
Buy carrots, hay, or sugar cubes from a Saddlery. Drop them from your inventory onto the ground. Wild horses will be attracted to the food — mount up while they're eating.
Legendary Horse Notes
- - No special tools needed — just mount up like any wild horse
- - Recommend Stamina level at least 6–10 (legendary horses take longer to tame)
- - Bring environmental protection cloaks for snow/desert areas
After Taming
After successful taming you can:
- - View the horse's stats
- - Register it as your mount → bound to your stable
- - Spare mounts can be stored at any stable (e.g. north of Hernand, Royal Trading Post)
- - You can also buy horses at stables
Feeding System
Where to Buy
All horse food is sold at Saddleries. Some items can also be gathered in the wild.
Food Items
| Item | Effect | Source | How to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay | Heal + Trust | Saddlery | While mounted: Inventory → Select → Hold Use |
| Sugar Cubes | Heal + Trust | Saddlery | Same |
| Sugarbeet | Small Heal + Trust | Saddlery | Same |
| Carrots | Attract wild horses + Trust | Saddlery | Drop on ground or feed directly |
| Oats | Trust | Gather/Saddlery | Drop on ground for horse to eat |
| Apple | Trust | Wild gather | Drop on ground for horse to eat |
Important: While mounted, open Inventory → select food → HOLD the Use button (not tap!) → "Feed Horse" option appears.
Trust increases are capped at 3 per day from feeding.
When dropping food, make sure no other horses are nearby — they'll steal it.
Healing Your Horse
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Horse Tonic | Buy from Saddlery, large HP restore |
| Force Palm: Healing | Abyss skill, most convenient |
| Stable Rest | Talk to stable manager → "Retrieve and revive horse" → full restore |
Horse Equipment (5 Slots)
Buy from Saddleries, some drop from quests/bosses.
While mounted, press R2 (controller) / Tab (keyboard) to access horse equipment.
5 Equipment Slots
| Slot | Name | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle | Saddle | Boosts stamina/speed |
| Stirrups | Stirrups | Improves ride stability/sprint |
| Horseshoe | Horseshoe | Increases movement speed |
| Champron | Champron | Head armor, boosts HP/defense |
| Barding | Barding | Body armor, major defense boost |
Early Game Equipment Path
| Phase | Equipment | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Delmare Saddle + Silver Horseshoes | Saddlery southeast of Hernand |
| Mid | Hernandian Champron + Stirrups | Saddlery northwest of Hernand (requires fishing notice board quest) |
Tip: Prioritize Horseshoes (direct speed boost) and Saddle (stamina) over defensive gear early on.
Trust & Level System
Trust
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Range | Level 1–5 |
| How to Raise | ① Feed (3x/day cap) ② Pet (CTRL/LB aim at horse → R to interact) ③ Ride regularly |
| Effect | Each level unlocks new horse skills |
Horse Level
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| How to Raise | Feed for XP + ride for XP |
| Effect | Improves base stats (speed, HP, stamina, etc.) |
Skill Unlock Table (Starting Horse Herspia)
| Level | Skill | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Lv.2 | Dash | Tap Shift/A to move quickly |
| Lv.3 | Drift | Press WASD+Alt while dashing to slide |
| Lv.3 | Back Kick | Right-click/RT to kick enemies behind |
| Lv.4 | Sprint | Tap Shift/A during dash for max speed |
| Lv.5 | Swimming III | Faster movement in water |
| Lv.5 | Quick Start | Instant acceleration from standstill |
| Lv.5 | Double Jump | Jump once more while airborne |
Training Progression Summary
Step 1: Tame a wild horse → Step 2: Register at a stable → Step 3: Feed 3x daily to build Trust → Step 4: Trust Level 5 unlocks all skills → Step 5: Keep riding + feeding to level up base stats → Step 6: Buy equipment from Saddlery for speed/defense/stamina boosts
Practical Tips
- - Carry horse feed at all times — buy hay/sugar cubes before heading out
- - Pet your horse daily — CTRL/LB to aim, R to interact — builds trust
- - Dead horse? Don't panic — use Horse Tonic or visit a stable, it's never permanent
- - Store extra horses at stables — you can own multiple and switch between them
- - Legendary horses need no special items — tame them just like regular wild horses
