What’s the best way to approach a wild horse without spooking it?

Taming a wild horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 requires patience, strategy, and a good understanding of the game mechanics. Wild horses are skittish and will flee if you approach them too quickly or aggressively. To successfully tame a wild horse, you need to approach it calmly, gain its trust, and then mount it to break its spirit.\n\nFirst, locate a wild horse. Wild horses can be found in various regions, such as the Heartlands, Big Valley, or near the Dakota River. Use your binoculars or Eagle Eye to spot them from a distance. Once you’ve identified a horse, crouch and move slowly toward it. Avoid running or making sudden movements, as this will scare the horse away.\n\nAs you get closer, pay attention to the horse’s behavior. If it starts to stomp its hooves, snort, or look directly at you, stop moving and wait for it to calm down. You can also use calming voice prompts by pressing the appropriate button (L3 on PlayStation or LS on Xbox) to soothe the horse. This reduces the chance of it bolting.\n\nWhen you’re within a few feet of the horse, aim to approach it from the side rather than head-on. This makes you appear less threatening. Once you’re close enough, press the prompt to calm the horse again, then quickly press the button to mount it. Be prepared for a struggle, as the horse will buck and try to throw you off.\n\nTo stay on the horse, use the left stick to balance. Move it in the opposite direction of the horse’s movements to maintain control. If the horse bucks to the left, tilt the stick to the right, and vice versa. Keep calming the horse periodically by pressing the designated button. After a short struggle, the horse will calm down, and you’ll successfully tame it.\n\nAfter taming the horse, you’ll need to bond with it to increase its loyalty and stats. Bonding is achieved by riding the horse, feeding it, brushing it, and leading it on foot. Each bonding level unlocks new abilities, such as increased stamina and better handling. To speed up bonding, feed the horse wild carrots, apples, or hay, which can be found in the wild or purchased from stables.\n\nCommon challenges include spooking the horse before you can mount it or losing control during the taming process. If the horse runs away, don’t chase it on foot. Instead, track it using Eagle Eye and approach again more carefully. If you’re struggling to stay on the horse, practice taming in open areas like the Heartlands, where there’s plenty of space to maneuver.\n\nFor experienced players, consider using the lasso to catch the horse from a distance. This can be especially useful for rare breeds like the White Arabian, found near Lake Isabella. However, lassoing requires precision, as the horse will still try to escape. Once lassoed, approach slowly and follow the same taming steps.\n\nIn summary, taming a wild horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 involves careful approach, calming the horse, and mastering the balance mechanics during the taming process. Bonding with your new horse afterward ensures it becomes a reliable companion. With practice, you’ll be able to tame even the most elusive horses in the game.