Summary
Aside from gunslinging, horseback riding is one of the biggest gameplay mechanics inRed Dead Redemption 2.In the last few years, the sequel to 2010’sRed Dead Redemptionhas aged beautifully to remain one of the most successful and influential AAA titles ever made, but even greatness can still be improved upon, and PC modders have enhanced theRed Dead Redemption 2experience beyond what anyone could have imagined. Many mods focus on the customization of environmental factors and Arthur Morgan’s wardrobe, but some specific modscater to the game’s many horses.
Horse riding is not only the easiest way for Arthur to get around, but it’s also a fun pastime for casual players who relish those quiet moments to unwind. These majestic beasts play an integral part in the game’s overall appeal, but there are times when the gameplay becomes a little stale, so here are some of the best mods inRed Dead Redemption 2to take horse riding to the next level.
1Horse Dehydration
Implements The Need For Horses To Drink Near Bodies Of Water
This simple mod allows Arthur’s horse to drink from any body of water (lake, river, ocean, etc.) while mounted. By encouraging the horse to drink, it replenishes its cores. There’s an argument to be made about how certain immersive mods amp upRed Dead Redemption 2’s realism, particularly when it comes to caring for Arthur and his horse, who need to eat, sleep, and drink just like they would in real life.
Horse Dehydration requires Arthur to lead his horse into a depth of water around ankle height, then whistle for the horse to commence drinking. It’s an aspect of horse care that is surprisingly overlooked despite how natural it feels.
2Complete Horse Overhaul
Reworks All Horses To Be More Diverse And Realistic
In the Complete Horse Overhaul, every single horse inRed Dead Redemption 2gets reworked, including wild horses, NPC horses, andthe Van der Linde gang’s horses. Many models of horses have been handmade to look more unique and realistic so that Arthur isn’t constantly encountering the same breed or color of horse and there is an additional variety.
Wild horses are changed to take out any elements of non-realism, such as finding a wild Arabian, and instead make the breeds of wild horses more believable. Even the Murfree gang’s horses can be rescued and restored to maximum health after being subjected to neglect.
3Fantasy Horses
Adds Custom Horse Models Of All Shapes, Sizes, and Colors
As per the author’s notes, the Fantasy Horses mod only replaces the models of either a White Arabian or Tiger Striped Bay Mustang. These non-realistic, fantasy horses range anywhere from half-silver and half-purple with sparkly manes to a bright yellow horse with a marking of a black sun along its body.
These horse models don’t affect gameplay, and they’re definitely more for visual appeal than anything else, but these models are the perfect addition for fantasy fans who want to live out their dream of riding a colorful steed.
4Horse’s Needs
Adds New Cores To Horses For Arthur To Maintain
The Horse’s Needs mod adds three new cores to Arthur’s horse: hunger, thirst, and horseshoe condition. Horse hunger can be refilled by manually feeding it or dismounting it in a grassy area to allow the horse to graze. When inside a body of water (without being mounted), the horse will automatically begin drinking to refill its thirst core. Finally, the horseshoe core drains depending on how the horse is used.
For example, galloping drains the core faster, trotting drains it at a moderate rate, and any other action (walking or leading) won’t drain it at all. The Horse Needs mod adds an extra element of survival toRed Dead Redemption 2for players looking to ground the game in true realism.
5New Horse Coats
Features New Horse Breeds And New And Improved Coats
There are a few variations of mods that add more horse breeds and horse coats toRed Dead Redemption 2with another famous one being uploaded on Nexus Mods by the user Bolju. While the game already features a wide variety of horse breeds, the New Horse Coats mod allows players to completely customize their horse to their liking.
Sometimes, there are color patterns on horses that are only found within a certain breed, but this mod allows the breed, color, size, and overall appearance of a horse’s coat to be mixed and matched based on a user’s personal preference.There are countless breeds and coats to choose fromand the mod author continuously releases updates with new packs targeting certain breeds.
6Remastered Gang Horses
Retextures Horses To Resemble The Van der Linde Gang’s Steeds
As the name suggests, the Remastered Gang Horses mod completely reworks the Van der Linde gang’s faithful steeds by retexturing them to make their designs cleaner and more polished. The mod includes The Count (Dutch’s horse), Baylock (Micah’s horse), Brown Jack (Bill’s horse), Bob (Sadie’s horse), and many more.
These designs can be printed onto any existing horse model and Arthur can tame and ride it, so for anyone who’s ever wanted to take a gang member’s horse out for a spin, it’s now possible through the power of modding. The Remastered Gang Horses mod unlocks the horses that were otherwise unable to be mounted or interacted with in Arthur’s campaign.
