Best Horses in RDR2: Which Horse to Get and Where
The Missouri Fox Trotter combines speed and stamina, the Turkoman adds excellent health, and Arabians have Elite handling. Chapter 2 also has excellent free horses.
- Free early horse
- White Arabian
- Speed
- Missouri Fox Trotter
- Health
- Turkoman
- Handling
- Arabian · Elite
- Master Roshi Technique
- Quick and easy
What these labels mean
- Master Roshi Technique
The best trick for completing that objective.
- Quick and easy
The quick route, with the steps needed to keep it simple.
RDR2 spreads its strongest horse stats across several breeds.
For speed and stamina, start with the Missouri Fox Trotter.
For health and speed, look at the Turkoman.
For quick acceleration and Elite handling, Arabians are excellent.
Chapter 2 also gives you several great horses for free.
The best choice depends on what you want the horse to do.
Quick comparison
| Horse | Health | Stamina | Speed | Acceleration | Handling | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Fox Trotter | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | Standard | Ch. 4 / Epilogue |
| Turkoman | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | Standard | Ch. 4 / Epilogue |
| Rose Grey Bay Arabian | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Elite | Epilogue |
| Black Arabian | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Elite | Ch. 4 |
| White Arabian | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | Elite | Ch. 2, free |
| Brindle Thoroughbred | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | Race | Ch. 3 |
| Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | Race | Ch. 4 |
| Perlino Andalusian | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | Standard | Ch. 2, free |
| Chocolate Roan Dutch Warmblood | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | Standard | Ch. 2 |
These are base stats.
Bonding and horse equipment improve performance afterward.
My all-purpose pick: Missouri Fox Trotter
The Missouri Fox Trotter starts with:
- 5 Health;
- 6 Stamina;
- 7 Speed;
- 5 Acceleration.
Its strength is easy to understand:
high top speed with excellent stamina.
That makes it one of the easiest horses to recommend for long sessions of normal Story Mode play.
Amber Champagne Missouri Fox Trotter
Buy it from:
Scarlett Meadows Stable
from Chapter 4 onward.
Base price:
$950.
The stable sits between Emerald Ranch and Rhodes.
Silver Dapple Pinto Missouri Fox Trotter
The Silver Dapple Pinto has the same base stats.
Normal purchase:
Blackwater Stable during the Epilogue.
Arthur can also obtain this coat much earlier through a long-running community method during:
Arcadia for Amateurs III.
The full method is in the next guide.
Best health and speed combination: Turkoman
The Turkoman starts with:
- 7 Health;
- 5 Stamina;
- 6 Speed;
- 5 Acceleration.
It has much more base Health than a Missouri Fox Trotter while remaining fast.
That makes it excellent for travel, missions and fights where your horse may take damage.
Gold Turkoman
Available from:
Saint Denis Stable
starting in Chapter 4.
Dark Bay Turkoman early
Master Roshi TechniqueA Dark Bay Turkoman appears during the Chapter 3 mission:
Horse Flesh for Dinner.
A community method can let Arthur bond with that horse before completing the horse-fence delivery and keep it afterward.
Players avoiding unintended acquisition methods can simply wait for the Gold Turkoman in Chapter 4.
Silver Turkoman
Available from:
Tumbleweed Stable
during the Epilogue.
Its base stats match the other main Story Mode Turkomans.
Best handling: Arabian
Arabians use:
Elite Handling.
They respond very quickly in tight turns and rapid direction changes.
They are also small horses, which changes how Arthur looks on them.
That part is personal preference.
Rose Grey Bay Arabian
The strongest Arabian by base stats:
- 7 Health;
- 7 Stamina;
- 6 Speed;
- 6 Acceleration.
Buy it from:
Blackwater Stable
during the Epilogue.
It has one of the strongest overall stat totals in Story Mode.
Black Arabian
Base stats:
- 6 Health;
- 6 Stamina;
- 6 Speed;
- 6 Acceleration.
Available from:
Saint Denis Stable
from Chapter 4.
White Arabian: excellent and free in Chapter 2
Find it around:
Lake Isabella, Ambarino.
Once stables are available in Chapter 2, you can tame it.
Base stats:
- 5 Health;
- 5 Stamina;
- 6 Speed;
- 6 Acceleration;
- Elite Handling.
Price:
free.
How to get the White Arabian
Quick and easy- Go to Lake Isabella.
- Make a manual save.
- Search the western/northwestern shore.
- Find the white horse.
- Approach slowly.
- Keep using Calm.
- Move closer.
- Mount.
- Counter its movement until it is broken.
- saddle it or take it to a stable.
If it does not spawn:
leave.
Sleep.
Return later.
Pure speed: Brindle Thoroughbred
The Brindle Thoroughbred starts with:
- 3 Health;
- 3 Stamina;
- 7 Speed;
- 5 Acceleration;
- Race Handling.
Buy it from:
Strawberry Stable
from Chapter 3.
Its base Speed matches the Missouri Fox Trotter.
Its Health and Stamina are much lower.
Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota
Base stats:
- 3 Health;
- 3 Stamina;
- 7 Speed;
- 5 Acceleration;
- Race Handling.
Available from:
Saint Denis Stable
from Chapter 4.
It is another fast, responsive horse for players who care more about movement than durability.
Best durable free Chapter 2 horse: Perlino Andalusian
The Perlino Andalusian has:
- 7 Health;
- 5 Stamina;
- 3 Speed;
- 3 Acceleration.
You can tame one for free near:
Brandywine Drop, Roanoke Ridge.
It is available from Chapter 2.
For early hunting, exploration and dangerous travel, that Health stat is extremely useful.
Chocolate Roan Dutch Warmblood
A strong practical Chapter 2 purchase.
Buy it from:
Valentine Stable.
Base stats:
- 5 Health;
- 6 Stamina;
- 4 Speed;
- 3 Acceleration.
Price:
$450.
It is a large Work horse with very good early Stamina.
Which horse should you pick?
Free Chapter 2 horse
White Arabian for speed and handling.
Perlino Andalusian for Health.
Long-distance speed
Missouri Fox Trotter.
Durable fast horse
Turkoman.
Quickest handling
Arabian.
Early raw speed
Brindle Thoroughbred from Chapter 3.
Strongest overall late-game stat spread
Rose Grey Bay Arabian.
What is the fastest horse in RDR2?
Several Story Mode horses have 7 base Speed, including:
- Missouri Fox Trotter;
- Brindle Thoroughbred;
- Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota.
Tack and the horse-racing bonus can increase the displayed Speed afterward.
The Missouri Fox Trotter stands out because it combines that high base Speed with much better Stamina than the pure race horses.
Saddles matter
A good saddle and stirrups improve the horse you already own.
Stamina drain also changes dramatically with better equipment.
Before replacing a horse you already like, check its tack.
Panther Trail Saddle
The Trapper’s Panther Trail Saddle is an excellent Story Mode saddle.
It requires a Perfect Panther Pelt.
Reach Bonding Level 4
A newly acquired horse is not showing you everything it can do.
Build bonding by:
- riding;
- feeding;
- brushing;
- calming;
- keeping the same horse with you.
Health and Stamina improve as bonding rises.
What about horse bravery?
RDR2 does not display a simple Bravery bar beside Health, Stamina, Speed and Acceleration.
Players have spent years comparing reactions to predators and gunfire.
For a repeatable comparison, use the visible stats, handling type and your own experience with the horse at high bonding.
Is one extra Speed bar worth replacing your horse?
Usually, the practical difference is small.
A Level 4 horse you like with good tack can carry you through the entire game.
Best horses by chapter
Chapter 2
Free:
- White Arabian;
- Perlino Andalusian.
Purchased:
- Chocolate Roan Dutch Warmblood.
Community method:
- Silver Dapple Pinto Missouri Fox Trotter during Arcadia for Amateurs III.
Chapter 3
New options include:
- Brindle Thoroughbred;
- early Dark Bay Turkoman through the Horse Flesh for Dinner community method.
Chapter 4
You can buy:
- Amber Champagne Missouri Fox Trotter;
- Gold Turkoman;
- Black Arabian;
- Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota.
Chapter 6
You can also obtain:
Buell
after completing Hamish Sinclair’s Veteran storyline.
Buell is a unique Cremello Gold Dutch Warmblood.
Epilogue
You gain normal access to:
- Silver Dapple Pinto Missouri Fox Trotter;
- Rose Grey Bay Arabian;
- Silver Turkoman;
- other western horses.
My progression pick
Early game
White Arabian.
Want a larger, tougher early horse
Perlino Andalusian.
Middle of the story
Missouri Fox Trotter or Turkoman.
Late game
Ride whichever horse you actually enjoy.
By then, good tack, bonding and tonics make the differences much less important.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best horse in RDR2?
Missouri Fox Trotter, Turkoman and the stronger Arabian coats are among the best combinations of Story Mode stats.
What are the fastest horses?
Missouri Fox Trotter, Brindle Thoroughbred and Reverse Dapple Roan Nokota all have 7 base Speed.
What is the best free Chapter 2 horse?
White Arabian for speed and handling.
Perlino Andalusian for Health.
Where is the White Arabian?
Around Lake Isabella in Ambarino.
When can I buy a Missouri Fox Trotter?
The Amber Champagne coat becomes available at Scarlett Meadows Stable in Chapter 4.
When can I get a Turkoman?
The Gold Turkoman is sold at Saint Denis Stable from Chapter 4. A community method can also preserve the Dark Bay Turkoman during Horse Flesh for Dinner in Chapter 3.
Which fast horse has the most Health?
The Turkoman starts with 7 Health and 6 Speed.
Which breed has Elite Handling?
Arabians.
Do I need a top horse to finish RDR2?
No.
A well-bonded horse with good tack is enough for the entire game.
More horse guides
How to Get the Silver Dapple Pinto Missouri Fox Trotter
Sources
Red Dead Redemption 2 — Compendium and Stables.
Red Dead Wiki — Missouri Fox Trotter.
Last verified: October 5, 2026.