What are the best horse care tips to maintain high stats?

Maintaining high stats for your horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is crucial for optimal performance during missions, exploration, and combat. Horses are not just transportation; they are companions with unique stats like health, stamina, speed, and acceleration. To keep these stats high, you need to focus on feeding, grooming, bonding, and using the right equipment.\n\nFirst, feeding your horse is essential. Horses require a balanced diet to maintain their health and stamina cores. You can feed them hay, wild carrots, apples, or specialized horse meals like the Horse Meal or Horse Ointment. These items can be purchased from stables or general stores. For example, wild carrots can be found in the wild near Valentine or in the Heartlands. Always keep a stock of these items in your satchel to ensure your horse never goes hungry.\n\nGrooming is another critical aspect of horse care. A clean horse has better stamina regeneration and overall health. Use the brush in your inventory to groom your horse regularly, especially after riding through mud or water. You can also visit stables to have your horse groomed for a small fee. For instance, the stable in Valentine offers grooming services. Keeping your horse clean not only boosts its stats but also strengthens your bond.\n\nBonding with your horse is vital for improving its stats and unlocking new abilities. Bonding levels range from 1 to 4, and each level increases your horse''s responsiveness and unlocks new commands like rearing or drifting. To increase bonding, spend time with your horse by patting, feeding, and leading it. For example, leading your horse on foot for a short distance can significantly boost bonding. Additionally, calming your horse during stressful situations like gunfights or predator encounters also helps.\n\nUsing the right equipment can further enhance your horse''s performance. Saddles, stirrups, and saddlebags play a significant role in improving stats like stamina and speed. The best saddles, such as the Panther Trail Saddle or the Rattlesnake Vaquero Saddle, can be crafted at the Trapper using specific pelts. For example, the Panther Trail Saddle requires a perfect panther pelt, which can be hunted in the forests near Braithwaite Manor. Stirrups like the Hooded Stirrups, available at stables, provide additional speed and acceleration bonuses.\n\nFinally, avoid overworking your horse. Pushing your horse too hard, especially in extreme weather conditions, can lead to exhaustion and decreased stats. Always monitor your horse''s stamina and health cores. If your horse is tired, let it rest by setting up camp or finding a safe spot to dismount. For example, resting near a water source like the Dakota River can help your horse recover faster.\n\nIn summary, maintaining high stats for your horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 involves a combination of feeding, grooming, bonding, and using the right equipment. By following these tips, you can ensure your horse remains a reliable companion throughout your journey in the wild west.