What is the Highest Selling Horse Breed in Red Dead Redemption 2 and How Much Are Horses Worth?

As an avid fan and expert on all things Red Dead Redemption 2, I‘m often asked what the highest selling horse breeds are in the game. With so many different horses to choose from, it can get confusing!

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing my insider knowledge on the most valuable horse breeds in RDR2, including exactly how much they sell for at stables. Whether you‘re looking to make money from horse trading or simply want the best mount for your needs, you‘ll learn all the key details on stats, pricing, locations and more!

Let‘s get started on finding you that perfect steed.

An Overview of Horse Breeds and Costs

Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place in a vast open world set in the American West of 1899. As such, there are a variety of realistic horse breeds to find, tame and ride. RDR2 features over 60 rideable horses across several categories:

• Multi-class horses – Well-rounded for racing, work, and combat. Examples: Arabian, Missouri Fox Trotter, Turkoman

• Racing horses – Built for speed and acceleration. Examples: Nokota, Thoroughbred

• War horses – Emphasis on health and stamina over speed. Examples: Andalusian, Ardennes

• Work horses – Hardy, strong, calm temperament. Examples: Dutch Warmblood, Suffolk Punch

The costs of these horses can range wildly, from $10 for a scrawny Nag up to $1,250 for an elite Arabian. Across different stables, you may also find pricing fluctuations based on location and availability.

For example, an Andalusian costs $850 in Strawberry but only $750 at the Van Horn stables. I‘ll be sure to note any significant cost differences as we go through the top horse breeds.

The Arabian – The Pinnacle of Horses

The Arabian breed stands in a class of its own as the definitive top-tier horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. Known for their speed, acceleration, handling and intelligence, Arabians are perfect all-around horses for racing, combat and travel.

These horses sell for premium prices from $1,000 to $1,250 at stables due to their unmatched stats and versatility:

• Health: 6
• Stamina: 6
• Speed: 6
• Acceleration: 6

Arabians come in three coat variations:

• White Arabian: Found up in the snowy mountains near Lake Isabella. The only free Arabian.

• Black Arabian: $1,050 from Saint Denis stable.

• Rose Grey Bay Arabian: $1,250 from Blackwater stables after epilogue. The rarest and most expensive.

I highly recommend seeking out an Arabian as your primary horse. Their courage, responsiveness and stamina will prove invaluable across all pursuits, from skirmishes to long journeys. While expensive, you get what you pay for – the complete package!

Missouri Fox Trotter – A Top-Tier All-Rounder

If you want a horse nearly as good as the Arabian but want to save a few dollars, the Missouri Fox Trotter is arguably the next best breed. With high stats across the board, it‘s an extremely well-balanced horse for all situations.

Priced at $950 from the Scarlett Meadows stable, here are its base stats:

• Health: 6
• Stamina: 6
• Speed: 6
• Acceleration: 5

What makes the Missouri Fox Trotter stand out is its courage. This breed is brave and steady under fire, making it ideal for hunting, gunfights and exploring dangerous areas. I‘d say this horse is ideal if you spend a lot of time in shootouts or need to sneak through predator territory.

Some may prefer the Fox Trotter over the Arabian due to its slightly greater stamina and health. However, it lacks the acceleration and handling of the Arabian for racing maneuvers. Overall, an extremely versatile breed with few weaknesses.

Turkoman – The Bravest War Horse

If you love getting into scruffs with bandits or wild beasts, the Turkoman is arguably the bravest and strongest war horse breed. With plenty of health and stamina, they make reliable mounts for all sorts of combat and hunting.

The Turkoman costs $925 from the Saint Denis stables. Here are its base stats:

• Health: 7
• Stamina: 6
• Speed: 6
• Acceleration: 5

What makes the Turkoman stand out is its higher health and courage. You can ride into battles and trust your Turkoman to remain steady and fearless. Whether against a cougar or a gang of outlaws, this breed won‘t buck you off in a panic.

The tradeoff is slightly lower speed and acceleration compared to Arabians and Fox Trotters. But if you value brawn and bravery, the Turkoman is arguably the premier war horse.

Nokota – Blazing Fast Race Horse

Now let‘s move onto the best racing and sprint horses. If you want a mount focused purely on lightning-fast speed, the Nokota breed is a superb choice. With very high acceleration and speed, they are nimble racers perfect for winning fistfights in towns.

The Nokota sells for around $130 from stables in Roanoke Ridge and Van Horn. You can also find them in the wild around those areas. Here are its base stats:

• Health: 4
• Stamina: 4
• Speed: 7
• Acceleration: 6

As you can see, the Nokota has world-class speed and acceleration, on par with the Arabian. However, it sacrifices a lot of health and stamina. Races and short sprints are ideal, but not prolonged travel or combat.

If you spend most of your time racing against other riders or need to weave through crowded streets, a Nokota like the Reverse Dapple Roan will serve you well. Blink and you‘ll miss them!

Thoroughbred – Racer With Elite Speed

Similar to the Nokota, Thoroughbreds are prized for their insane speed and acceleration stats, able to hit top speeds with immense power. However, they have slightly more balance to their stats for better all-around performance.

Available for $850 from the Rhodes stables, here is how its stats measure up:

• Health: 5
• Stamina: 5
• Speed: 7
• Acceleration: 6

Thoroughbreds compete with Arabians for the highest speed stat in RDR2. They are best used for winning short 1v1 races against other riders in towns. Their speed bursts are tremendous. However, they lack in health and stamina for prolonged journeys or combat.

Overall, the Thoroughbred is arguably the premier dedicated race horse breed, beating out even the Nokota in pure velocity and acceleration. From Rhodes, grab the Blood Bay Thoroughbred for blazing fast traversal across the heartlands.

Andalusian – The Sturdy Warhorse

On the opposite end of the spectrum from race horses, we have the mighty Andalusian – bred as a powerfully built warhorse. Prioritizing strength and stamina over speed, this breed can charge into battle without breaking a sweat.

Priced at around $850 from the Strawberry stables, here are its base stats:

• Health: 7
• Stamina: 7
• Speed: 5
• Acceleration: 4

What makes the Andalusian special is its tremendous health and stamina pools, allowing it to take hits and exert itself during long journeys or shootouts. I highly recommend this breed if you often find yourself ambushed by rival gangs or patrolling areas teeming with predators.

The tradeoff with the Andalusian is its low speed and acceleration. Don‘t expect to win many races! But when the bullets start flying, few horses can take more punishment and maintain courage like this breed.

Other Notable Breeds

Beyond the horses already discussed, here are a few other solid breeds worth mentioning:

• Ardennes – Warhorse with tons of health. Solid option early on. $150+

• Dutch Warmblood – Well-rounded horse with decent courage. $120+

• Mustang – Good balance of speed and health. Found in the wild.

• Appaloosa – Known for spotty coats. Medium stats. $80+

• Saddlebred – Decent stamina and health for general use. $60+

Now let‘s get into more details beyond just prices and stats…

Buying Locations and Regional Price Differences

An important thing to note is that stables in different towns sell horses for different prices. Even the same breed may have price fluctuations based on availability and region.

For example, here are some noticeable price differences:

• The Andalusian costs $850 in Strawberry but just $750 in Van Horn

• You can buy a Hungarian Half-bred for $120 in Valentine but it‘s $150 in Saint Denis

• A Standarbred goes for $60 in Emerald Ranch but jumps to $90 in Blackwater

My advice is to always shop around at different stables and towns before deciding on a purchase. Buying the same horse can sometimes save you hundreds just by checking another location!

I‘ve put together this handy table showing horse prices across popular stables so you can find the best deals:

Breed	Valentine	Saint Denis	Scarlett Meadows	Strawberry
Arabian	N/A	$1,050	N/A	N/A
Missouri Fox Trotter	N/A	N/A	$950	N/A
Turkoman	N/A	$925	N/A	N/A
Nokota	N/A	$130	N/A	N/A
Thoroughbred	N/A	N/A	N/A	$850
Andalusian	N/A	N/A	N/A	$850
Ardennes	$150	$225	$175	N/A
Dutch Warmblood	$120	$160	$150	N/A
Hungarian Half-bred	$120	$150	$135	N/A
American Standardbred	$85	$95	$90	$60

Finding Rare Horse Coat Variations

Beyond just breeds, the value and bragging rights of a horse also depends on how rare its coat is. While some coats can be bought at stables, unique variants like the Tiger Striped Mustang can only be found in specific parts of the wild.

Here are a few super rare coats to look out for:

• Tiger Striped Mustang – Orange coat with black stripes, found near Rio Bravo

• Brindle Thoroughbred – Brown stripes over white, found near Scarlett Meadows

• Splashed White American Paint – Brown and white patches, found near Hennigan‘s Stead

• Perlino Andalusian – Beautiful blonde coat, found near Brandywine Drop

With patience you can stumble upon camouflaged coats and colorations you won‘t see anywhere else. Capture, tame and sell them for maximum dollars!

The Best Horse Breeds for Different Playstyles

Beyond just pricing, you also want to pick the optimal horse breed that aligns with your personal playstyle and needs:

• Combat/Hunting – Andalusian, Turkoman, Ardennes

• Racing/Sprinting – Arabian, Nokota, Thoroughbred

• Long Treks – Arabian, Missouri Fox Trotter, Mustang

• General Purpose – Missouri Fox Trotter, Dutch Warmblood, Hungarian Half-bred

For example, if you spend most of your time hunting and getting into shootouts, a sturdy warhorse like the Andalusian is your best pick. Or if you strictly want to win races and sprint through towns, go for a Nokota or Thoroughbred.

Aligning horse breed strengths with your core activities ensures you get the most value and performance from your mount!

My Top Locations to Find Elite Wild Horses

While buying horses from stables is easy, finding rare breeds in the wild takes more effort but saves you money. Here are my top spots to find elite wild horses:

• Lake Isabella – The coveted White Arabian spawns frequently here, making it the only free elite horse.

• Northwest of Strawberry – Also a common spawn point for the elite White Arabian. Check both locations.

• West of Benedict Point – The Red Chestnut Arabian, a superior all-around horse, shows up here but is very rare.

• Near Rio Bravo – You can find the ultra-rare Tiger Striped Mustang with this exotic coat southwest of Armadillo.

Use calming tonics, the lasso and take it slow when trying to tame wild horses. But the payoff of a free Arabian or rare Mustang is well worth it!

How Horse Bonding Level Affects Price and Performance

Something important to note is that your bond level with a horse will affect its selling price and overall temperament.

Here are the bond levels and their benefits:

• Bond 1 – Base price. Horse is skittish and undisciplined.

• Bond 2 – +10% sale price. Calmer temperament.

• Bond 3 – +15% sale price. Less chance of bucking you off.

• Bond 4 – +25% sale price. Very brave and responsive to commands.

I highly recommend taking the time to max out bond levels on horses before selling them. You get a nice price bump, better performance and lowered chances of getting bucked off unexpectedly!

The Impact of Horse Theft and Morality on Prices

An unfortunate reality of life in the Wild West is horse theft. However, selling stolen horses comes with some caveats:

• Stolen horses in poor condition sell for only a fraction of their list price

• The "honor" system penalizes you for selling stolen horses by limiting profit

• High witness counts to theft will also diminish potential sale revenue

My advice is to avoid blatant horse theft, as the diminished prices and honor loss outweigh any profits. Instead, I recommend "legitimately" acquiring horses through random encounters and events. However, the choice is ultimately yours!

In Summary…

To recap, the Arabian is widely considered the best overall horse in RDR2, valued at $1,000 to $1,250. Other top-tier breeds include the Missouri Fox Trotter, Turkoman and Thoroughbred.

The rarest and most coveted coat variation is the White Arabian found near Lake Isabella. And be sure to match your horse breed strengths with your favored playstyle!

I hope this guide gives you all the details needed to pick your ideal mount and maximize profits from horse trading. Let me know if you have any other Red Dead horse questions! Ride safely out there, partners. Yeehaw!