RDR2 Horseman Challenges: How to Complete All 10

Horseman mixes easy tasks with two rides where one bad turn can reset the whole attempt.

The important ones are:

Challenge	Method
Horseman 3	Valentine → Rhodes under 5 minutes
Horseman 6	Strawberry → Riggs Station → railroad → Saint Denis
Horseman 8	Alligators in Bayou Nwa
Horseman 9	Van Horn → Bard’s Crossing → Owanjila Dam → Blackwater
Horseman 10	Break nine wild horse breeds

For Horseman 6 and 9:

Bridges are fine. Water isn’t.

Rivers, streams and other surfaces the game registers as water can break the attempt.

Horseman 1 — kill five rabbits from horseback

Ride around The Heartlands.

Use the Varmint Rifle.

When you see a rabbit:

1. stay mounted;
2. chase it;
3. aim;
4. shoot.

Five rabbits.

You can trample them too, but shooting is easier to control.

Horseman 2 — jump over three obstacles in 15 seconds

Go to Emerald Ranch.

There are several fences close together.

Method

1. Line up with a row of fences.
2. Start galloping.
3. Jump the first.
4. Keep going.
5. Clear two more within 15 seconds.

Three normal fences work.

Horseman 3 — ride from Valentine to Rhodes in under five minutes

You do not need an elite horse.

A bonded horse with decent stamina has enough time.

Before starting

• fill the horse’s stamina core;
• carry Horse Stimulants;
• make a manual save.

Route

Leave Valentine southbound.

Cross The Heartlands.

Continue toward Rhodes.

Avoid fights, random encounters, crashes and dismounting.

Enter Rhodes before five minutes.

Learn the route first

Check the map before you start. The clock keeps running while you look at it.

Then ride.

Horseman 4 — drag a victim 3,300 feet with your lasso while mounted

The victim needs to be alive when you first lasso them.

They do not need to survive the full ride.

Method

1. Find a long, relatively flat road.
2. Approach an NPC.
3. Lasso them from horseback.
4. Keep holding the lasso.
5. Ride.
6. Continue until the Challenge completes.

Do not dismount.

Do not release the lasso.

Doing this away from towns means fewer witnesses.

Horseman 5 — trample five animals

The animal needs to die from the horse impact.

Easy targets

• rabbits;
• turkeys;
• chickens.

Wild turkeys and other small animals avoid some of the trouble that comes with flattening livestock in front of its owner.

Aim the horse.

Gallop through the animal.

Repeat five times.

The railroad makes this simple.

Prepare

Bring:

• Horse Stimulants;
• full horse stamina core;
• a reasonably bonded horse.

Save first.

Route

1. Start in Strawberry.
2. Ride toward Riggs Station.
3. Join the railroad at Riggs.
4. Cross Bard’s Crossing on the railway bridge.
5. Follow the rails east.
6. Stay on them toward Saint Denis.
7. Enter Saint Denis before nine minutes.

A clean run has plenty of time.

Avoid random creek crossings

Even a shallow or apparently dry crossing can make the game decide you touched water.

Railroad bridges remove that problem.

Watch for trains

Check before entering a long bridge.

Losing the Challenge is annoying.

Losing the horse is worse.

Horseman 7 — kill seven enemies from horseback without dismounting

There is no short timer.

Just stay mounted.

Good targets

Use an enemy camp:

• O’Driscolls;
• Lemoyne Raiders;
• another gang hideout.

Method

1. Stay on the horse.
2. Keep some distance.
3. Use Dead Eye.
4. Kill enemies one by one.
5. Stay mounted until seven register.

Keep your horse calm.

Shoot from outside the camp instead of riding into the middle.

Go to Bayou Nwa.

Use alligators.

There are lots of them, they are easy to see and they do not move like cougars.

Method

1. Stay mounted.
2. Keep your distance.
3. Use a rifle.
4. Aim for the head.
5. Kill nine alligators.

They do not need to be killed in one session.

Do not ride directly into them.

Your horse may remove you from the Challenge for you.

Horseman 9 — Van Horn to Blackwater in under 17 minutes without touching water

Plan this one before moving.

The timer is generous.

Water is the real problem.

1. Start in Van Horn.
2. Ride south.
3. Cross toward The Heartlands using dry bridges and land.
4. Pass Flatneck Station.
5. Cross the Dakota River at Bard’s Crossing.
6. Pass Riggs Station.
7. Head toward Owanjila.
8. Cross the Upper Montana River using Owanjila Dam.
9. Ride south through Tall Trees.
10. Pass Manzanita Post.
11. Cross Great Plains.
12. Enter Blackwater.

Owanjila Dam is the key crossing.

The dam gets you across the Upper Montana River without putting the horse in the water.

Do not save one minute by riding through a river.

You have time.

Before starting

Bring:

• Horse Stimulants;
• horse food;
• full cores;
• good bonding;
• a manual save.

You do not need the fastest horse in RDR2.

You need a horse that stays upright.

Horseman 9 as Arthur

It can be completed as Arthur.

It is much harder because Blackwater, Tall Trees and Great Plains are still hostile territory.

Pinkertons and lawmen can ruin the final stretch.

If you are specifically working toward Legend of the East as Arthur, use the dedicated route for that run.

For a normal completion save, Horseman 9 is easier once Blackwater is open.

Does rain break Horseman 6 or 9?

No.

Rain falling on the horse is not the same as riding through a body of water.

The Challenge fails when the route crosses water the game registers as a river, stream, lake or similar surface.

Horseman 10 — break every required wild horse breed

You need nine breeds.

Not every horse in the game.

Arabians are not required.

Thoroughbreds are not required.

All nine breeds

Breed	Useful area
American Paint	Fairvale Shanty / northern areas
American Standardbred	Big Valley
Appaloosa	Cattail Pond
Hungarian Halfbred	Around Flatneck Station
Kentucky Saddler	Heartlands / Oil Derrick
Morgan	Big Valley
Mustang	The Heartlands
Nokota	Lone Mule Stead / West Elizabeth
Tennessee Walker	Heartlands / Oil Derrick

Spawns are random.

If the breed is not there:

1. leave the area;
2. sleep;
3. return.

How to break a wild horse

1. Save if the breed is rare.
2. Approach slowly.
3. Focus on the horse.
4. Use Calm.
5. Keep moving closer.
6. Mount when the prompt appears.
7. Counter its movement while it tries to throw you.
8. Stay on until the game says the horse is broken.

You do not need to stable it.

Once the Challenge records the breed, move on.

Check the in-game list

Horseman 10 tracks the breeds.

Check it before spending an hour hunting a Mustang you already broke.

There are nine.

Use the list.

Simple route through the set

1–5: Valentine / Emerald Ranch area.

6: railroad to Saint Denis.

7: enemy camp.

8: alligators.

9: Owanjila Dam.

10: nine breeds.

Unlocks

Rank	Gear
Horseman 1	Gun Belt
Horseman 3	Holster
Horseman 7	Bandolier
Horseman 10	Off-Hand Holster

Buy the reinforced pieces from the Trapper.

Frequently asked questions

What route should I use for Horseman 6?

Strawberry → Riggs Station → railroad → Bard’s Crossing → follow the tracks to Saint Denis.

Can I touch water during Horseman 6?

No.

Use bridges.

Where should I do Horseman 8?

Bayou Nwa.

Alligators count as predators.

Where do I cross for Horseman 9?

Use Owanjila Dam to cross the Upper Montana River dry.

Can Arthur complete Horseman 9?

Yes, but Blackwater is hostile and the final part is much more dangerous.

How many breeds are required for Horseman 10?

Nine.

Is the Arabian required?

No.

Do I need to stable every horse?

No.

Break the breed until the Challenge records it, then move on.

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More Challenge guides

All RDR2 Challenges

Herbalist

Survivalist

Best Horses in RDR2

Legend of the East as Arthur

RDR2 100% completion checklist

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Sources

Red Dead Wiki — Horseman Challenges

PowerPyx — Wild Horse Breed Locations

GameFAQs — Horseman Challenges.

Last verified: October 5, 2026.

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