In the Horseman Challenges of Red Dead Redemption 2, you must develop a strong bond with your horse and prove your expertise in horse wrangling. Regardless of which horse you choose, you will spend a significant amount of time riding it as you traverse the rugged terrain of the game. Your horse will serve as your traveling wardrobe and weapon storage, in addition to being your mode of transportation. To be successful in these challenges, you will need to exhibit your equestrian skills, whether you are galloping between locations, hunting while riding, or breaking wild horses.
While having a fast horse is advantageous for time-based challenges, there is more to it than just speed. The challenges come with desirable rewards, and following the Red Dead Redemption 2 Horseman Challenges guide can help you complete them in the most effective way possible.
Horseman 1 – Kill 5 rabbits from horseback.
Rabbits are plentiful throughout most of Red Dead Redemption 2’s map. To complete the challenge, you must kill five of them while on horseback using the target lock system or running them over with your horse.
Horseman 2 – Jump over 3 obstacles in 15 seconds.
This challenge is relatively simple since your horse can jump over obstacles such as boulders, fences, and small cliffs. Find three obstacles nearby and jump over them in quick succession to complete the challenge.
Horseman 3 – Ride from Valentine to Rhodes in less than five minutes.
Rhodes is a town located southeast of Valentine, but reaching it on horseback in under five minutes will be challenging. You will need a horse in the racehorse category with upgraded stamina through bonding. It is also advisable to bring stamina shots to administer to your horse during the journey in case it becomes exhausted too quickly.
Horseman 4 – While mounted, drag a victim for 3300 feet using your lasso.
To lasso someone from your horse, equip the lasso from the weapon wheel and aim at your target within range. Once you have caught them, you can drag them along the ground by riding your horse for 3300 feet, preferably along flat terrain to prevent the lasso from becoming undone. It is important to note that the victim will not survive.
Horseman 5 – Trample 5 animals while on horseback.
This challenge involves finding an animal and charging it on horseback. It is recommended to target small game such as rabbits as they are easy to catch from horseback and are less likely to cause harm or stress to your horse.
Horseman 6 – Ride from Strawberry to Saint Denis in less than 9 minutes without touching any water.
Getting from Rhodes to Strawberry within nine minutes will not be easy due to the two rivers that Arthur must cross. To avoid getting wet, he will need to take the bridges instead of wading through streams. It is also essential to keep your horse’s stamina constantly charged with stamina shots and food throughout the journey, so make sure to stock up before attempting the challenge.
Horseman 7 – Kill 7 enemies from horseback without dismounting.
The autolock system and Dead Eye make killing enemies from horseback a simple task, but the challenge is to take down seven without being knocked off your horse. To achieve this, it’s best to keep moving and keep your horse calm so it won’t panic and throw you off. It’s also recommended to attack bandit camps to avoid the need to search for more enemies to complete the challenge.
Horseman 8 – Kill 9 predators from horseback.
Out of all the predators, alligators are likely the easiest to kill from horseback, especially those found in the swamps of Lemoyne to the South East. They are slower than bears or cougars and are therefore less likely to stress out your horse by chasing after you. Additionally, using a decent rifle, it should only take two shots or less to kill them, making it relatively easy to find and kill nine of them, especially when they are all in the same area.
Horseman 9 – Ride from Van Horn to Blackwater in less than 17 minutes without touching any water.
The challenge of completing the ride from Rhodes to Strawberry in less than nine minutes is manageable, but the challenge of riding from one end of the map to the other in less than 17 minutes without crossing any water is much more difficult. For this challenge, it’s necessary to have a horse with a level 4 bonding with Arthur, preferably a breed like a racehorse that can maintain a fast pace throughout the journey. It’s also important to plan the route beforehand and use bridges to cross rivers without touching the water, as in the Horseman 6 Challenge.
Horseman 10 – Break every wild horse breed.
The act of “breaking” a horse breed involves locating and domesticating a wild horse. This process involves approaching the animal slowly and attempting to soothe it before mounting it and using the analog stick to maintain balance until the horse accepts its new rider. With numerous horse breeds dispersed throughout the world, the process of breaking them all can be quite lengthy. However, completing this task will earn the player recognition for finishing all the Horseman Challenges.
