What is the best horse for completing hunting challenges?

The best horse for completing hunting challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2 is the Missouri Fox Trotter. This horse excels in speed, stamina, and handling, making it ideal for tracking and chasing down prey across varied terrain. Its calm temperament also ensures it won’t spook easily when encountering predators, which is crucial for hunting dangerous animals like cougars or bears.\n\nTo acquire the Missouri Fox Trotter, you can purchase it from the Scarlet Meadows Stable in Lemoyne after reaching Chapter 4 in the story. The Amber Champagne coat variant is particularly recommended for its balanced stats. If you’re looking for a free option, you can also find a wild Missouri Fox Trotter in the Heartlands region, though taming it requires patience and skill.\n\nWhen hunting, the Missouri Fox Trotter’s high stamina allows you to gallop long distances without needing to stop frequently. This is especially useful when tracking fleeing animals or moving between hunting spots. Additionally, its speed ensures you can quickly close the gap on fast-moving prey like deer or pronghorns. To maximize its effectiveness, equip the horse with a good saddle and stirrups, such as the Panther Trail Saddle, which boosts stamina regeneration and reduces drain.\n\nOne common challenge during hunting is managing your horse’s fear around predators. The Missouri Fox Trotter’s calm demeanor helps, but you can further reduce spooking by bonding with your horse to level 4. This increases its trust in you and improves its overall performance. If your horse does get spooked, use the calming mechanic by pressing the left stick (L3 on PlayStation or LS on Xbox) to soothe it and prevent it from bucking you off.\n\nFor hunting challenges that require specific pelts, such as perfect pelts for the Trapper, the Missouri Fox Trotter’s agility allows you to navigate dense forests and rocky terrain with ease. This is particularly helpful when hunting elusive animals like panthers or moose. Always use the appropriate weapon for the animal you’re hunting—for example, a rifle for large game like elk or a bow for smaller animals like rabbits—to ensure a clean kill and preserve the pelt’s quality.\n\nFinally, consider using Horse Stimulant or Wild Carrots to keep your horse’s stamina topped up during long hunts. These items can be crafted or purchased from general stores. By combining the Missouri Fox Trotter’s natural abilities with proper preparation and equipment, you’ll have a reliable partner for completing even the most demanding hunting challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2.