Hytale Horse Guide: Find, Mount & Keep Horses
Hytale Horse Guide: Find, Mount & Keep Horses
Complete guide to horses in Hytale. Learn where to find horses, how to mount them, craft Feed Bags, and keep horses from running away in Emerald Wilds and Howling Sands.
Quick Summary
Key StepsHorses 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 in early access.
Horses cannot be permanently tamed yet, but you can reliably keep and reuse them with the right setup.
Where to Find Horses
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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.
Early Access Limitations
Section titled “Early Access Limitations”Before diving into strategies, here is what works and what does not:
What works:
- Mounting and riding any horse you can reach
- Using carrots and Feed Bags to attract horses
- Building enclosures to keep horses contained
What does not work yet:
- Permanent taming or bonding
- Horse ownership (horses remain wild)
- Using weapons or tools while mounted
Full taming mechanics are confirmed for a future update.
Understanding Horse Behavior
Section titled “Understanding Horse Behavior”Horses in Hytale are skittish. Understanding their behavior patterns is the key to catching them.
Why Horses Run Away
Section titled “Why Horses Run Away”Horses flee when:
- You sprint directly toward them
- You get too close too quickly
- You dismount after riding
How to Approach Without Spooking
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “How to Approach Horses”You have three main options for getting close enough to mount a horse.
Method 1: Slow and Steady
Section titled “Method 1: Slow and Steady”- Spot a horse from a distance
- Crouch (hold the crouch key)
- Approach slowly
- When the horse notices you, stop moving completely
- Wait 5 seconds until it relaxes
- Continue approaching
- When close enough, press F to mount
This method is quiet and works well if you are patient.
Method 2: Sprint and Overtake
Section titled “Method 2: Sprint and Overtake”Here is a secret: you are faster than a fleeing horse when sprinting.
- Spot a horse
- Sprint directly at it (the horse will run)
- Keep sprinting until you catch up
- 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
Section titled “Method 3: Carrot Lure”Carrots change everything. When you hold a carrot:
- Equip a carrot in your hand
- Approach any horse (no sneaking needed)
- The horse will walk toward you voluntarily
- 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
Section titled “How to Mount and Ride”Once you reach a horse, mounting and controlling it is straightforward.
Mounting
Section titled “Mounting”- Walk up to any horse
- Press F (or your interact key) to mount
- No saddle or special items required
Controls
Section titled “Controls”| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move forward | W |
| Move backward | S |
| Turn left | A |
| Turn right | D |
| Sprint | Hold Shift |
| Dismount | F |
Speed and Stamina
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Keeping Horses from Running Away”Since horses flee when you dismount, you need a containment strategy.
Building an Enclosure
Section titled “Building an Enclosure”Horses will not jump over fences, so a simple pen works:
- Build a fenced area with walls at least 2 blocks high
- Include a double door or gate for entry
- Lure or ride a horse into the enclosure
- Close the gate before dismounting
- Hold a carrot when you dismount to calm the horse
Enclosure Tips
Section titled “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
Section titled “The Carrot Dismount Trick”Even inside an enclosure, horses will panic when you dismount. To minimize this:
- Equip a carrot before dismounting
- Press F to dismount
- The horse will still kick but will not flee far
- The carrot draws it back to you immediately
This keeps your horse calm and nearby even without walls.
Other Rideable Mounts
Section titled “Other Rideable Mounts”Horses are not the only mounts in Hytale. Here are the alternatives:
- Location: Zone 1 (Emerald Wilds)
- Behavior: Same as horses (flee when dismounted)
- Notes: Slightly different movement feel
Skeleton Horses
Section titled “Skeleton Horses”- Location: Zone 4 (Devastated Lands)
- Appearance: Undead horse with glowing blue eyes
- Behavior: Same mounting mechanics as regular horses
Future Mounts (Confirmed)
Section titled “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
Section titled “Common Questions”Can I permanently tame a horse?
Section titled “Can I permanently tame a horse?”Not yet. True taming is confirmed for a future update, but currently all horses remain wild. The workarounds in this guide are the best options available.
Do horses have different stats or colors?
Section titled “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?
Section titled “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?
Section titled “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?
Section titled “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?
Section titled “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.
Related Guides
Section titled “Related Guides”- Zone 1 Overview (Coming Soon)
- Zone 2 Overview (Coming Soon)
- Animal Ranching Guide (Coming Soon)
- Feed Bag Crafting Guide (Coming Soon)
Update History
Section titled “Update History”This guide reflects the current state of horses in Hytale early access. Mechanics will change as the game develops. We will update this page when taming, new mounts, or other horse-related features are added.
Last reviewed: January 2026