Minecraft is a game that captivates millions with its endless possibilities for building, exploring, and interacting with a dynamically-generated world of blocks. One of the joys of Minecraft is the ability to tame and ride various animals, one of the most popular being the horse. Taming a horse in Minecraft not only allows you to travel faster over land but also adds a companion on your adventures. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of how to tame a horse in minecraft, offering tips and strategies to make the process as smooth as possible.

How to tame a horse in minecraft

Step 1: Preparation

While you are looking for how to tame a horse in minecraft, you’ll need to prepare a few things. Those include: 

• Find a Saddle: While you can tame a horse without a saddle, you will not be able to control its movements without one. Saddles can be found in chests in dungeons, temples, or fortresses, or you can fish them out of water bodies.
• Locate a Horse: Horses spawn in the Plains and Savanna biomes in herds of 2-6. Each horse has unique colours and markings.

Step 2: Approach the Horse

Once you’ve located a horse:

• Approach Gently: Walk up to the horse. It’s important to approach calmly as sudden movements can startle it.
• Empty Your Hand: Make sure your hand is empty when you try to tame the horse by removing any items.

Step 3: Taming Process

Taming a horse in Minecraft involves trying to mount it multiple times:

• Right-click or tap on the horse: This action allows you to mount the horse. At this point, the horse will likely buck you off. This is normal.
• Repeat the Process: Continue to mount the horse. Each time you are thrown off, try again. It usually takes a few attempts before the horse gets used to you.
• Look for Hearts: You will know the horse is tamed when you see red hearts appear around it, which signifies that it has accepted you as its rider.

Step 4: Equip the Saddle

After taming the horse:

• Open Your Inventory: While still on the horse, open your inventory. You will see a box next to the horse’s picture where you can place the saddle.
• Drag the Saddle: Place the saddle in the saddle slot so you can steer the horse.

Step 5: Riding Your Horse

Now that your horse is tamed and saddled:

• Mount Your Horse: Right-click or tap on the horse to mount it.
• Control the Horse: Use the same controls that you use for moving your own character. The horse can jump, and it moves much faster than walking.

Taming Techniques

1. Patience is Key: The first step in taming a horse is understanding that patience is essential. Each horse has a temper statistic that varies randomly from 0 to 100. When you first try to mount a horse, a temper check occurs. Success means taming the horse immediately, but usually, you’ll need multiple attempts. Patience and persistence pay off, as each unsuccessful attempt potentially increases the horse’s temper.

2. Use the Right Foods: Feeding horses can increase their “temper.” Items like sugar, wheat, and apples increase a horse’s temper by 3, while a golden carrot or a golden apple boosts it by 5. Using these items before attempting to mount can increase your chances of taming a horse on your first try.

3. Choose Your Horse Wisely: Not all horses are created equal in Minecraft. They differ in health, jump strength, and speed. Before you commit to taming, you might want to check these attributes. Fast horses can save you time, and high-jumping horses can navigate terrain more effectively. You can identify attributes by observing how high they jump or how quickly they move when mounted by another mob like a zombie.

Caring for Your Horse

1. Proper Housing: Once tamed, a horse should be housed properly to protect it from hostile mobs such as zombies, skeletons, and creepers. Building a stable or a fenced area can shield your horse from unexpected attacks and prevent it from wandering off.

2. Feeding for Health: Horses can be healed by feeding them hay bales, which restore 20 health points, or wheat, which restores 3 health points. Keeping a stock of these can be crucial in maintaining your horse’s health, especially after encounters with hostile mobs or falls.
3. Use of Leads: Leads are incredibly useful for keeping your horse in check. If you need to dismount in unfamiliar or dangerous territory, tying your horse to a fence with a lead will ensure it doesn’t wander off or get attacked.

4. Equipping Armor: Horse armor can be a game-changer, especially when dealing with threats in hazardous environments. Horse armour comes in leather, iron, gold, and diamond varieties, each offering different levels of protection. Unlike player armour, horse armour does not degrade over time from taking damage.

Breeding Horses

1. Genetic Traits: When you breed two horses, the offspring inherits traits from its parents. This includes health, jump strength, and speed. Breeding two horses with superior traits can result in a foal that possesses these desirable qualities.

2. Breeding Process: To breed horses, you’ll need golden apples or golden carrots. Ensure both horses are in close proximity, feed each of them the breeding item, and hearts will appear as they enter “love mode.” A foal will soon be born, which can be tamed much faster than wild horses.

Conclusion

Taming a horse in Minecraft is a rewarding experience that enhances your mobility and adds an element of companionship to your Minecraft adventures. By following these detailed steps of how to tame a horse in minecraft, you can tame, ride, and care for your horse effectively. Whether you’re exploring new biomes or simply farming your land, having a horse by your side can make your Minecraft experience even more enjoyable. Remember, patience is key when taming these majestic creatures, but the payoff is well worth the effort.