A horse sets your base speed, stamina, health and acceleration, and each one comes with a handling type. Any stable sells the same stock, so the real choice is which coat fits your rank, your budget and the job you run most.
How to use this collection
Health, Stamina, Speed and Acceleration are base bars from 1 to 8. Handling shows a type (Standard, Heavy, Race or Elite) with its value after it.
Unlock is your Red Dead Online rank, or a role tier for role horses. Prices show dollars first and Gold Bars second. A coat with only a Gold Bar price has no dollar price shown.
Showing 49 of 102 items.
Stable class
Riding
Riding is the starter class, with Morgan and Kentucky Saddler coats opening at Rank 1. Flaxen Roan Tennessee Walker is the step up at Rank 30, with the strongest base bars in the class.
Grey Kentucky Saddler
Kentucky Saddlers are straightforward starter horses, with no single base bar far ahead.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Kentucky Saddler
- Coat
- Grey
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 2
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $50 or 2 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Black Kentucky Saddler
Only the coat differs from Grey; stats, price and unlock are identical.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Kentucky Saddler
- Coat
- Black
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 2
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $50 or 2 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Chestnut Pinto Kentucky Saddler
Within the Kentucky Saddler line, it matches Black in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Kentucky Saddler
- Coat
- Chestnut Pinto
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 2
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $50 or 2 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Silver Bay Kentucky Saddler
Within the Kentucky Saddler line, it matches Chestnut Pinto in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Kentucky Saddler
- Coat
- Silver Bay
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 2
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $50 or 2 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Bay Roan Morgan
Morgans offer low-cost starter coats, with modest pace and steady Stamina.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Morgan
- Coat
- Bay Roan
- Health
- 2
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $55 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Bay Morgan
Within the Morgan line, it matches Bay Roan in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Morgan
- Coat
- Bay
- Health
- 2
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $55 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Flaxen Chestnut Morgan
Within the Morgan line, it matches Bay in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Morgan
- Coat
- Flaxen Chestnut
- Health
- 2
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $55 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Palomino Morgan
The cheapest Morgan has the same base stats as the $55 coats.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Morgan
- Coat
- Palomino
- Health
- 2
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $15
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Red Roan Tennessee Walker
Tennessee Walkers have more Stamina than Speed in their entry coats.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Tennessee Walker
- Coat
- Red Roan
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 2
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $60 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Black Rabicano Tennessee Walker
Within the Tennessee Walker line, it matches Red Roan in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Tennessee Walker
- Coat
- Black Rabicano
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 2
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $60 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Chestnut Tennessee Walker
Within the Tennessee Walker line, it matches Black Rabicano in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Tennessee Walker
- Coat
- Chestnut
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 2
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $60 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Dapple Bay Tennessee Walker
Within the Tennessee Walker line, it matches Chestnut in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Tennessee Walker
- Coat
- Dapple Bay
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 2
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $60 or 3 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Flaxen Roan Tennessee Walker
All four base stats beat Dapple Bay, with the biggest gain in Stamina.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Tennessee Walker
- Coat
- Flaxen Roan
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
Stable class
Draft
All Draft coats use Heavy handling. Shires carry the most Health at this price, and Suffolk Punch leans on Stamina.
Red Chestnut Suffolk Punch
Suffolk Punch coats favor Stamina over quick Acceleration.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Suffolk Punch
- Coat
- Red Chestnut
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 18
Sorrel Suffolk Punch
Within the Suffolk Punch line, it matches Red Chestnut in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Suffolk Punch
- Coat
- Sorrel
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 18
Blond Chestnut Belgian Draft
Belgian Draft coats keep an even stat spread for the Draft class.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Belgian Draft
- Coat
- Blond Chestnut
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 6
Mealy Chestnut Belgian Draft
Within the Belgian Draft line, it matches Blond Chestnut in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Belgian Draft
- Coat
- Mealy Chestnut
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 6
Light Grey Shire
Shires carry more Health than the other low-cost Draft breeds.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Shire
- Coat
- Light Grey
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 15
Dark Bay Shire
Within the Shire line, it matches Light Grey in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Heavy
- Breed
- Shire
- Coat
- Dark Bay
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 2
- Handling value
- 2
- Price
- $120 or 5 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 15
Stable class
Race
Race handling marks the pace section: Nokota, Thoroughbred and the Black, Buckskin and Palomino Dapple Standardbreds. Black Chestnut Thoroughbred sits here as an Ultimate Edition claim, not a purchase.
Blue Roan Nokota
Nokotas have early affordable coats and a later top-Speed choice.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Nokota
- Coat
- Blue Roan
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
White Roan Nokota
Within the Nokota line, it matches Blue Roan in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Nokota
- Coat
- White Roan
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota
Within the Nokota line, compared with White Roan, it improves Speed and Acceleration without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Nokota
- Coat
- Reverse Dapple Roan
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 7
- Acceleration
- 5
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $450 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 48
Blood Bay Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred line includes budget starters and a top-Speed coat.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Thoroughbred
- Coat
- Blood Bay
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
Dapple Grey Thoroughbred
Within the Thoroughbred line, it matches Blood Bay in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Thoroughbred
- Coat
- Dapple Grey
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
Brindle Thoroughbred
Within the Thoroughbred line, compared with Dapple Grey, it improves Speed and Acceleration without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Thoroughbred
- Coat
- Brindle
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 7
- Acceleration
- 5
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $450 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 51
Black Chestnut Thoroughbred
If you have one stall, sell the introduction horse before making this claim.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- Thoroughbred
- Coat
- Black Chestnut
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 7
- Acceleration
- 5
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- Free with Ultimate Edition
- Unlock
- Ultimate Edition claim
Black American Standardbred
American Standardbreds build toward a stronger, even stat line in later coats.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- American Standardbred
- Coat
- Black
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Buckskin American Standardbred
Within the American Standardbred line, it matches Black in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- American Standardbred
- Coat
- Buckskin
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Palomino Dapple American Standardbred
Buckskin has the same stats and handling, costs less and unlocks earlier.
- Handling type
- Race
- Breed
- American Standardbred
- Coat
- Palomino Dapple
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 6
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 39
Silver Tail Buckskin American Standardbred
Each base stat is one bar higher than Palomino Dapple, but handling drops from Race to Standard.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- American Standardbred
- Coat
- Silver Tail Buckskin
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 5
- Acceleration
- 4
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $400 or 16 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 55
Stable class
War
War coats trade pace for Health. Perlino Andalusian is the one to know: Health 7 at Rank 1, while the other Health 7 war coats open much later.
Bay Roan Ardennes
Ardennes coats put Health ahead of pace.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Ardennes
- Coat
- Bay Roan
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $140 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 36
Strawberry Roan Ardennes
Within the Ardennes line, compared with Bay Roan, it improves Health and Stamina without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Ardennes
- Coat
- Strawberry Roan
- Health
- 7
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $450 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 54
Flaxen Chestnut Hungarian Halfbred
Hungarian Halfbreds give you a middle ground between Health and Speed.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Hungarian Halfbred
- Coat
- Flaxen Chestnut
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 24
Piebald Tobiano Hungarian Halfbred
Within the Hungarian Halfbred line, it matches Flaxen Chestnut in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Hungarian Halfbred
- Coat
- Piebald Tobiano
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 3
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 24
Dapple Dark Grey Hungarian Halfbred
Within the Hungarian Halfbred line, compared with Piebald Tobiano, it improves Health and Stamina without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Hungarian Halfbred
- Coat
- Dapple Dark Grey
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 39
Dark Bay Andalusian
The Andalusian's main edge is Health, not quick Acceleration.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Andalusian
- Coat
- Dark Bay
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 36
Rose Grey Andalusian
Within the Andalusian line, compared with Dark Bay, it improves Health and Stamina without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Andalusian
- Coat
- Rose Grey
- Health
- 7
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $440 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 43
Perlino Andalusian
Within the Andalusian line, its base bars match Rose Grey, while price or unlock separates the two.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Andalusian
- Coat
- Perlino
- Health
- 7
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $475 or 19 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 1
Stable class
Work
Work coats lean on Stamina and Acceleration. Grey Overo American Paint is the only Work coat with Acceleration 4, but it opens at Rank 55.
Sooty Buckskin Dutch Warmblood
Dutch Warmblood coats favor Stamina over Speed.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Dutch Warmblood
- Coat
- Sooty Buckskin
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 36
Seal Brown Dutch Warmblood
Within the Dutch Warmblood line, it matches Sooty Buckskin in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Dutch Warmblood
- Coat
- Seal Brown
- Health
- 4
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $150 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 36
Chocolate Roan Dutch Warmblood
Within the Dutch Warmblood line, compared with Seal Brown, it improves Health and Stamina and Speed without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Dutch Warmblood
- Coat
- Chocolate Roan
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 6
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $450 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 54
Blanket Appaloosa
The Appaloosa's higher priced coats add Stamina before pace.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Appaloosa
- Coat
- Blanket
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Leopard Blanket Appaloosa
Within the Appaloosa line, it matches Blanket in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Appaloosa
- Coat
- Leopard Blanket
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Leopard Appaloosa
Within the Appaloosa line, compared with Leopard Blanket, it improves Health and Stamina and Speed without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Appaloosa
- Coat
- Leopard
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 6
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $430 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 43
Brown Leopard Appaloosa
Leopard has the same stats and unlock, and costs $20 less.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- Appaloosa
- Coat
- Brown Leopard
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 6
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $450 or 18 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 43
Tobiano American Paint
American Paint coats keep a useful middle spread, with Grey Overo adding Acceleration.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- American Paint
- Coat
- Tobiano
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Overo American Paint
Within the American Paint line, it matches Tobiano in price, access, and base bars, so appearance is the difference.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- American Paint
- Coat
- Overo
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 4
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $130 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 21
Splashed White American Paint
Within the American Paint line, compared with Overo, it improves Stamina without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- American Paint
- Coat
- Splashed White
- Health
- 3
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 3
- Acceleration
- 3
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $140 or 6 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 30
Grey Overo American Paint
Within the American Paint line, compared with Splashed White, it improves Health and Speed and Acceleration without losing ground in other bars.
- Handling type
- Standard
- Breed
- American Paint
- Coat
- Grey Overo
- Health
- 5
- Stamina
- 5
- Speed
- 4
- Acceleration
- 4
- Handling value
- 4
- Price
- $425 or 17 Gold Bars
- Unlock
- Rank 55
Best Red Dead Online Horse by Goal
Red Dead Online can change horse prices, stats and unlocks. Check the stable or role menu before you spend.
There isn't one best horse. Speed, Health and handling pull against each other, so start with the job and let the budget narrow it down.
- Cheapest cash-priced Speed 7 picks: Brindle Thoroughbred and Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota both reach Speed 7 for $450 or 18 Gold Bars. They open at Rank 51 and Rank 48.
- Speed with more Health: Missouri Fox Trotters pair Health 5 with Speed 7. Silver Dapple Pinto and Amber Champagne cost $950 or 38 Gold Bars and open at Rank 58.
- Health and speed for combat and travel: Turkoman Dark Bay has Health 7 and Speed 6. It costs $925 or 37 Gold Bars and opens at Rank 56.
- Best all-rounder: Black Arabian is the only coat with all four base bars at 6 or higher, and it has Elite handling. It costs 42 Gold Bars and opens at Rank 70.
Cheap and Best-Value Horses by Rank
Palomino Morgan is the cheapest cash-priced regular horse at $15, but its Health 2 and Speed 3 are modest, so treat it as a stopgap. Red Chestnut Arabian is the cheapest Arabian with Elite handling, at Rank 1 for $250 or 10 Gold Bars, with Health 3 and Speed 5. It's the early Elite buy worth saving for.
- Early Health: Perlino Andalusian opens at Rank 1 for $475 or 19 Gold Bars and has Health 7. Rose Grey Andalusian has the same bars for $440 or 18 Gold Bars, but it doesn't open until Rank 43.
- Early speed from role horses: Novice-tier role horses cost $150 or 6 Gold Bars. Dun Criollo and Blue Roan Overo Criollo (Collector) and the Black and Speckled Grey Norfolk Roadsters (Moonshiner) give you Speed 5 this early. Piebald and White Blagdon Gypsy Cob (Naturalist) bring Health 6.
- Same bars, earlier or cheaper: Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota and Brindle Thoroughbred cost the same and have the same bars, but Reverse Dapple opens three ranks sooner. Leopard Appaloosa costs $20 less than Brown Leopard Appaloosa, with the same bars and unlock.
- Free Speed 7: Black Chestnut Thoroughbred has the same bars as Brindle Thoroughbred. Eligible Ultimate Edition owners can claim it for free, so it skips the $450 price.
Horse Picks by Stable Class
Each class gets one pick for the job it suits. Stats run Health / Stamina / Speed / Acceleration.
| Class | Pick | Stats | Handling | Price | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riding | Flaxen Roan Tennessee Walker | 4 / 5 / 3 / 3 | Standard 4 | $150 or 6 Gold Bars | Rank 30 |
| Draft | Dark Bay Shire | 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 | Heavy 2 | $120 or 5 Gold Bars | Rank 15 |
| Race | Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota | 3 / 3 / 7 / 5 | Race 6 | $450 or 18 Gold Bars | Rank 48 |
| War | Rose Grey Andalusian | 7 / 5 / 3 / 3 | Standard 4 | $440 or 18 Gold Bars | Rank 43 |
| Work | Leopard Appaloosa | 5 / 6 / 4 / 3 | Standard 4 | $430 or 18 Gold Bars | Rank 43 |
| Multi-Class | Dappled Buckskin Norfolk Roadster | 4 / 6 / 7 / 6 | Standard 4 | $950 or 38 Gold Bars | Moonshiner role, ranks 16 to 20 |
| Superior | Black Arabian | 6 / 6 / 6 / 6 | Elite 8 | 42 Gold Bars | Rank 70 |
- Riding: Flaxen Roan Tennessee Walker is the only Riding coat with Health 4 and Stamina 5. The Rank 1 coats cost less but trail on both.
- Draft: Dark Bay Shire has Health 4, the highest in the class. Light Grey Shire ties it on stats, price and Rank 15, so either one works.
- Race: Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota has the same Speed 7 and Acceleration 5 as Brindle Thoroughbred and the free Black Chestnut claim. It's the earlier of the two cash options.
- War: Rose Grey Andalusian ties Perlino Andalusian on stats. Perlino costs $475 or 19 Gold Bars and opens at Rank 1. Rose Grey costs $440 or 18 Gold Bars and opens at Rank 43, so it's the pick if you can wait.
- Work: Leopard Appaloosa has the same bars as Chocolate Roan Dutch Warmblood. It costs $20 less and opens 11 ranks sooner.
- Multi-Class: Dappled Buckskin Norfolk Roadster is the pick for pace. It and Spotted Tricolor Norfolk Roadster are the only Multi-Class coats with Speed 7 and Acceleration 6, and they tie on stats, price and Distinguished Moonshiner tier. Dark Bay Turkoman is the pick if Health matters more: Health 7 and Speed 6 at Rank 56.
- Superior: Black Arabian has the strongest base bars of the three Arabians. Red Chestnut Arabian is the cheaper route to Elite handling at $250 or 10 Gold Bars, but its base bars are lower.
Handling Types and Horse Prices
- Standard 4: Most coats. Silver Tail Buckskin American Standardbred uses Standard instead of Race, and each of its base bars is one higher than Palomino Dapple's.
- Race 6: Nokota and Thoroughbred coats, including Black Chestnut Thoroughbred, plus the Black, Buckskin and Palomino Dapple American Standardbreds.
- Heavy 2: All Suffolk Punch, Belgian Draft and Shire coats.
- Elite 8: All Arabians. That's the highest handling value in the stable.
Cash prices run from $15 for Palomino Morgan up to $1,200 for White Arabian. Black Chestnut Thoroughbred has no cash price, since it's a free Ultimate Edition claim. These coats show Gold Bars only: Black Arabian at 42, Black Tovero Missouri Fox Trotter at 45, Black Overo Mustang at 20, Silver Turkoman at 38 and Black Turkoman at 40.
How Role Horses Unlock
Breton, Criollo, Kladruber, Norfolk Roadster and Gypsy Cob don't use your general rank. Each one opens through a role: Bounty Hunter for Breton, Collector for Criollo, Trader for Kladruber, Moonshiner for Norfolk Roadster and Naturalist for Gypsy Cob. The tiers that matter are Novice (ranks 1 to 5), Established (ranks 11 to 15) and Distinguished (ranks 16 to 20), so a Distinguished horse needs its role at that tier.
For the rank steps, see role ranks. Roles covers each role itself.
Read the unlock before the stats in this section, since role horses open by tier rather than rank. Mustangs, Missouri Fox Trotters and Turkomans sit alongside the role breeds, and their unlock ranks vary a lot.
Arabians are the only horses with Elite handling, which sits at 8. Black Arabian has the strongest all-round bars, and Red Chestnut Arabian is the one to buy first.
FAQ
Can I keep a wild or stolen horse?
You can ride one for a while, but it won't stay yours. To keep a horse as your own, buy it or claim it through an eligible edition.
How do I buy horses, and how many can I own?
Any stable sells the same stock, and the handheld catalogue sells horses too. You start with one stall, and buying more stalls raises the limit to ten horses.
Is Black Chestnut Thoroughbred free for everyone?
No. It's free only for Ultimate Edition owners, and you can claim it after the Red Dead Online introduction. If you have one stall, sell the introduction horse first.
I heard Red Chestnut Arabian was free. Is it?
It was a free early-access claim on PS4 for 30 days, and that offer is over. It's a regular stable purchase now, and it isn't an Ultimate Edition reward.
Are Story Mode horses sold in Red Dead Online?
Not the Story Mode-only ones. Dappled Black Thoroughbred is a Story Mode horse that can't be bought in Red Dead Online, so don't confuse it with Black Chestnut Thoroughbred. Story Mode's horses are covered in Red Dead Redemption 2 horses.