Hytale Horse Guide: Find, Mount & Keep Horses

Horses are the fastest travel method in Hytale. They spawn in Zone 1 and Zone 2, but catching them takes some know-how since they flee on approach.

This guide covers finding, mounting, and keeping horses. For the full taming system covering all animals and their favorite foods, see our complete animal taming guide.

Horses can be befriended using Carrots with a 70% success rate. Befriending is temporary (5-15 minutes), but you can reliably keep and reuse them with the right setup.

Where to Find Horses

Horses spawn in two zones, each with distinct biomes where you will find them grazing in small herds.

Location Summary

• Zone 1: Emerald Wilds (grasslands, meadows, plains)
• Zone 2: Howling Sands (savannah regions)
• Usually found in groups of 2-4

Zone 1: Emerald Wilds

The Emerald Wilds is Hytale’s starting zone and the easiest place to find horses. Look for them in:

• Grasslands: Wide open plains with tall grass
• Meadows: Flower-filled areas near forests
• Rolling hills: Horses often graze on hilltops

Horses here roam freely. If you spot one and it runs, follow at a distance—it will eventually stop to graze again.

Zone 2: Howling Sands

In this desert zone, horses are found specifically in:

• Savannah regions: The grassy transitional areas between desert and other biomes
• Near water sources: Oases and rivers attract wildlife

Horses in Zone 2 behave identically to Zone 1 horses.

Taming and Befriending Horses

Hytale uses a befriending system rather than permanent taming. When you hold a Carrot and approach a horse, there is a 70% chance it becomes Friendly (Foals have an 80% chance). Befriended horses follow you and are easier to mount.

What works:

• Befriending horses with Carrots (70% success rate)
• Mounting and riding any befriended horse
• Using the Feed Bag to attract horses from a distance
• Building enclosures to keep horses contained

Current limitations:

• Befriending is temporary (5 minutes, or 15 minutes while holding a Carrot)
• No permanent horse ownership — horses return to Neutral after the timer expires
• Using weapons or tools while mounted is not available

For a deep dive into how befriending works, success rates, and how it compares across all animals, see the full animal taming guide.

Understanding Horse Behavior

Horses in Hytale are skittish. Understanding their behavior patterns is the key to catching them.

Why Horses Run Away

Horses flee when:

• You sprint directly toward them
• You get too close too quickly
• You dismount after riding

Play

How to Approach Without Spooking

If you crouch and approach slowly, horses enter an alert state but will not flee immediately:

• Stand completely still for about 5 seconds
• The horse will relax and return to grazing
• Continue your slow approach and repeat as needed

Dismount Behavior

This is the frustrating part. When you dismount a horse:

• It immediately kicks backward
• It then flees at full speed
• No amount of crouching will prevent this

This is why keeping horses requires enclosures or other strategies covered below.

How to Approach Horses

You have three main options for getting close enough to mount a horse.

Method 1: Slow and Steady

1. Spot a horse from a distance
2. Crouch (hold the crouch key)
3. Approach slowly
4. When the horse notices you, stop moving completely
5. Wait 5 seconds until it relaxes
6. Continue approaching
7. When close enough, press F to mount

This method is quiet and works well if you are patient.

Method 2: Sprint and Overtake

Here is a secret: you are faster than a fleeing horse when sprinting.

1. Spot a horse
2. Sprint directly at it (the horse will run)
3. Keep sprinting until you catch up
4. Press F to mount while running alongside it

This method is loud and costs stamina, but it is faster than sneaking.

Method 3: Carrot Lure

Carrots change everything. When you hold a carrot:

1. Equip a carrot in your hand
2. Approach any horse (no sneaking needed)
3. The horse will walk toward you voluntarily
4. Press F to mount

Important: The moment you switch to any other item, nearby horses will flee. Keep that carrot equipped.

How to Mount and Ride

Once you reach a horse, mounting and controlling it is straightforward.

Play

Mounting

• Walk up to any horse
• Press F (or your interact key) to mount
• No saddle or special items required

Controls

Action	Key
Move forward	W
Move backward	S
Turn left	A
Turn right	D
Sprint	Hold Shift
Dismount	F

Speed and Stamina

• Horses move substantially faster than walking
• Sprinting on horseback uses your player stamina (not horse stamina)
• When stamina depletes, you slow to normal horse speed

Limitations While Mounted

Currently, you cannot:

• Use weapons or tools
• Interact with objects or blocks
• Pick up items from the ground

You must dismount to do any of these things, which brings us to the main challenge.

How to Craft a Feed Bag

The Feed Bag is your best tool for managing horses. It attracts animals without requiring you to chase them.

Crafting Requirements

You need to unlock the Farmer’s Workbench first.

Step 1: Craft a Basic Workbench

• Open pocket crafting
• Combine: 4x Tree Trunk + 3x Stone

Step 2: Craft a Farmer’s Workbench

• Use your Basic Workbench
• Combine: 6x Tree Trunk + 20x Plant Fiber

Step 3: Craft the Feed Bag

Material	Quantity
Wheat	10
Vegetables	5
Fruit	5
Essence of Life	10

Getting Essence of Life

Essence of Life drops from destroying natural objects:

• Trees
• Grass and plants
• Crops (wheat farming is efficient)
• Occasionally from animals

Harvest wheat and other crops to farm Essence of Life reliably.

Using the Feed Bag

You can use the Feed Bag two ways:

Held in hand: Similar to carrots, animals will approach you while you hold it.

Placed on the ground: Set it down and wait. Horses and other animals will wander toward it over time. This is perfect for luring horses into enclosures.

Keeping Horses from Running Away

Since horses flee when you dismount, you need a containment strategy.

Building an Enclosure

Horses will not jump over fences, so a simple pen works:

1. Build a fenced area with walls at least 2 blocks high
2. Include a double door or gate for entry
3. Lure or ride a horse into the enclosure
4. Close the gate before dismounting
5. Hold a carrot when you dismount to calm the horse

Enclosure Tips

• Size matters: Give horses room to move. Cramped spaces make mounting difficult.
• Double doors: Single doors are too narrow. Use double doors or fence gates.
• Multiple horses: You can keep several horses in one large pen.
• Location: Build near your base for convenient access.

The Carrot Dismount Trick

Even inside an enclosure, horses will panic when you dismount. To minimize this:

1. Equip a carrot before dismounting
2. Press F to dismount
3. The horse will still kick but will not flee far
4. The carrot draws it back to you immediately

This keeps your horse calm and nearby even without walls.

Other Rideable Mounts

Horses are not the only mounts in Hytale. Here are the alternatives:

Rams

• Location: Zone 1 (Emerald Wilds)
• Favorite food: Apple (only 20% befriend chance — the hardest mount to tame)
• Behavior: Aggressive and flees when dismounted
• Notes: See animal taming guide for detailed Ram befriending tips

Skeleton Horses

• Location: Zone 4 (Devastated Lands)
• Appearance: Undead horse with glowing blue eyes
• Behavior: Same mounting mechanics as regular horses

Future Mounts (Confirmed)

The developers have confirmed these mounts are coming:

• Camels: Currently in Zone 2 but not yet rideable
• Tetrabirds: Flying mount, not yet implemented

We will update this guide when these become available.

Common Questions

Can I permanently tame a horse?

Hytale uses a befriending system rather than permanent taming. Holding a Carrot gives you a 70% chance to befriend a horse, which lasts 5-15 minutes. To keep horses long-term, build enclosures and re-befriend as needed. See our animal taming guide for the full breakdown of how befriending works.

Do horses have different stats or colors?

In early access, horses appear to share the same stats. Color variants exist but do not affect performance. Future updates may introduce horse breeds with different speeds or stamina.

Can I fight while riding a horse?

No. Weapons and tools cannot be used while mounted. You must dismount to engage in combat.

Will my horse despawn if I leave the area?

Horses in enclosures should persist. Wild horses follow normal spawn rules and may despawn when you travel far away.

How do I get my horse across water?

Horses can swim, but slowly. For large bodies of water, consider building a bridge or finding a land route.

Can horses die?

Yes. Horses can take damage from falls, enemies, and environmental hazards. Keep them safe in enclosed areas when you are not riding.

Update History

• February 2026: Updated to reflect the befriending system. Added links to the new animal taming guide covering all tameable creatures and their favorite foods.
• January 2026: Initial guide published.

Last reviewed: February 2026

Sources

Horse befriending mechanics, mount behavior, Feed Bag recipes, and stamina values are sourced from Hytale’s internal NPC behavior and item configuration files in the game’s Assets.zip. Riding controls and mount limitations are verified through in-game testing.

Related Guides

How to Tame Animals in Hytale: Every Creature, Food & Success RateComplete guide to taming animals in Hytale. Every tameable creature, their favorite food, befriending chances, and tips to build your farm.

Hytale Teleporter Guide: How to Craft & Use Fast TravelLearn how to unlock and craft teleporters in Hytale. Covers Arcanist's Workbench requirements, Azure Forest materials, and teleporter network setup.

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