So, you’ve finally left the Great Plateau. You’re looking at the massive, sprawling landscape of Hyrule and your legs already hurt just thinking about walking to Kakariko Village. You need a horse. Honestly, catching a horse in Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of those gaming moments that feels incredibly rewarding the first time you pull it off, but it’s also remarkably easy to mess up if you’re just sprinting at them like a madman.
Hyrule is big. Like, "oops I spent three hours climbing a mountain and forgot where I was going" big. Walking is for people who want to pick every single Hylian Shrike they see; riding is for people who actually want to save Princess Zelda before the turn of the century. But before you go jumping on the back of the first multicolored pony you see near Twin Peaks, there are some things about the mechanics that the game doesn't exactly spell out for you in a manual.
The Art of the Sneak (Or Why You Keep Getting Kicked)
Horses in this game have better hearing than most of the monsters. If you’re wearing heavy armor or just clunking around, they’re going to bolt before you get within ten feet. It’s annoying.
The trick is the crouch. Click that left stick and move slow. You’ll see the stealth meter—those little purple waves in the corner of your UI—barely moving. If you have any Stealth-boosting gear, like the Sheikah set from Kakariko, wear it. If not, cook up some Sneaky River Snails or Blue Nightshade. It makes a massive difference. You want to approach from the rear, but at a slight angle. Don't walk directly behind them or you're asking for a hoof to the face. That drains a lot of hearts early on.
Once you’re close enough, the "Mount" prompt appears. Press A. Then, immediately start mashing the L button to "Soothe."
Here is the thing: different horses have different temperaments. If you grab a solid-colored horse—all black, all white, or deep brown—it’s going to fight you. A lot. These are the "Wild" temperament horses. They have way more stamina and speed, but they will buck you off in seconds if you don't have enough stamina. If you’re still rocking the base stamina wheel, stick to the spotted or "Mottled" horses. They’re chill. They basically give up immediately. They’re slower, sure, but they won't dump you in a bog while a Guardian is aiming at your head.
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Registering Your Steed at a Stable
You caught it. You’re on it. Now what? If you just leave it there and warp away, that horse is gone forever. You have to find a Stable. They’re the buildings that look like giant wooden horses with smoke coming out of the top. You can't miss them.
Talk to the guy at the front desk while staying on your horse. It costs 20 Rupees. That’s a steal for a lifetime of companionship and a saddle. Plus, they give you a bridle and a saddle right there. You get to name it, too. Just... maybe don't name it "Horse." Give it some dignity.
Things the Stables Don't Tell You
- The Bond Matters: Your horse won't always listen to you at first. It’ll veer off the path or slow down for no reason. This isn't a glitch. You need to soothe it (L button) whenever it does what you ask or whenever you've been riding for a bit. Eventually, that bond hits 100, and the horse becomes much more responsive.
- Whistling: Press down on the D-pad. If your horse is within earshot, it’ll come running. If it’s across the map? It won't. This isn't The Witcher 3; Roach doesn't just teleport across oceans.
- Death is Permanent (Mostly): Your horse can die. It sucks. If you get into a fight with a Guardian or ride off a cliff, your horse is gone. There is a way to fix this later involving a very creepy "Horse God" named Malanya in the Faron region, but for the early game, just be careful.
Finding the Best Horses in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
If you’re tired of your slow, spotted starter horse, you need to head to specific spots. The best stats in the game (the 5-star speed or 5-star strength horses) aren't just wandering around the starting areas.
Taobab Grassland and the Upland Lindor area are the gold mines. These areas host horses with high tier stats. In Taobab, you can even find the Giant Horse. It’s a monster. It’s huge, has infinite stamina (because it doesn't gallop, it just has a massive stride), and looks like Ganondorf’s mount. Warning: catching it takes about two full wheels of stamina. Bring stamina potions.
Then there’s the Royal White Stallion. You get a quest for this at Outskirt Stable. It’s a descendant of Zelda’s horse. It has amazing stats and looks incredible, but again, it’s a "Wild" temperament. Don't try to catch it until you've upgraded your stamina at least a couple of times or cooked a bunch of Endura Carrots.
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How to Actually Control Your Horse Without Losing Your Mind
Riding in Zelda: Breath of the Wild feels "weighty." It’s not like driving a car. Horses have a mind of their own. If you’re on a beaten path, just let go of the stick. The horse will follow the road automatically. This is the best way to travel long distances while you look around for Shrines or Korok seeds.
Spurring (the A button) uses up stamina icons. Don't spam them. If you use the last one, the horse will get "exhausted" and slow to a crawl, and it’ll be mad at you. Use one, wait for it to recover, then use another. It’s all about the rhythm.
Feeding Your Horse for Perks
You can actually feed your horse. Hold an item (like an Apple or an Endura Carrot) in your hand and stand in front of their face.
- Apples: Boosts the bond quickly. It’s cheaper than just soothing them while riding.
- Endura Carrots: This is the pro tip. It gives your horse extra "yellow" stamina spurs that don't go away until you use them. It’s like a nitrous boost for your pony.
- Swift Carrots: Doesn't do much for stats, but they like them.
The Stats Breakdown (Prose Version)
Most people get hung up on the stars. You'll see Strength, Speed, and Stamina. Strength is basically the horse's HP and how much damage it does when it tramples an enemy. Speed is obvious—it's how fast the gallop is. Stamina is the number of spurs you have.
The "perfect" horse is usually considered the 4/4/5 or the 2/5/3 build. A 5-star speed horse is actually faster than a 5-star stamina horse because the base movement speed is so high you don't even need to spur it that often. Honestly, though? For most of the game, a 3/3/3 horse is perfectly fine. You don't need a super-computer on hooves to get to the next Divine Beast.
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Dealing with Combat While Mounted
Horseback combat is incredibly powerful if you use spears or bows. If you're riding at full speed and hit a Bokoblin with a spear, the momentum damage is huge. It usually results in a one-hit kill for lower-level enemies.
Bows are even better. When you jump off your horse in mid-air and pull your bow, the game enters "bullet time." This consumes your own stamina, but it allows you to pepper an enemy with headshots before you even hit the ground. It’s the flashiest way to take out a Camp.
Just remember that your horse is a target. If you’re fighting a Lynel, get off the horse. Lynels will vaporize your horse with elemental arrows or AOE attacks faster than you can say "Hylia." It’s not worth the heartbreak of losing a 5-star speed mount because you wanted to look cool.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting at a Stable right now wondering what to do next, follow this sequence:
- Cook for Stealth: Grab some Blue Nightshades or Sunset Fireflies. Make a level 3 stealth meal. It makes catching high-tier horses trivial.
- Head to Upland Lindor: It’s north of the Ridgeland Tower. The horses there have some of the best stats in the game. Look for the solid-colored ones.
- Carry Apples: Always keep 10-15 apples on you. When you catch a new horse, immediately hop off and feed it 5-10 apples. Your bond will jump to "Max" instantly, and the horse will stop fighting your steering.
- Visit the Horse God: If you've lost a favorite horse, go to the Lake Tower region, head south to the Horse God Bridge, and find the giant bud. It costs 1,000 Rupees to open the first time, but it’s the only way to bring back a dead horse.
Riding in Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn't just about speed. It’s about the vibe. It’s about cresting a hill at sunset with the piano music softly kicking in. Take the time to find a horse you actually like looking at, because you’re going to be staring at its backside for a good fifty hours of gameplay. Grab some Endura Carrots, find a solid black stallion, and stop walking everywhere. Hyrule is too big for that.