Prepare Your Horse for Competitions
Harnessing Your Horse and Choosing its Specialty
Specialty
In order for your horse to be able to compete at the age of 3 years, you have to choose which riding style will be its specialty. The types of competitions your horse will be eligible for will depend on its specialty.
Horses that specialize in Classical Riding can enter speed races and cross-country, show jumping and dressage competitions. Horses that specialize in Western Riding can enter barrel racing, cutting, reining, western pleasure and trail class competitions.
To choose your horse's specialty, select their riding type in the Competitions box. You can change your horse's specialty until it reaches the age of 5 years.
Tack
Once you've chosen your horse's specialty, you need to buy it horseshoes and a bridle and saddle made for its specialty. You can find these items in different models and bonus levels at the breeders' store.
If your horse is boarding at an equestrian center with the same specialty and a saddler is employed there, you can give it the SB saddle and SB bridle if its specialty is Classical Riding, and the WS saddle and WB bridle if its specialty is Western Riding. The bonus from these items will vary depending on how much prestige the center has.
If your horse is boarding in an equestrian center in which a farrier is employed, you can also give it MF horseshoes, for which the bonus varies depending on the center's prestige.
You can give your horse a saddle, bridle and horseshoes directly on its profile page.
All this equipment is hard-wearing. You cannot remove a horse's saddle, bridle or horseshoes. All you can do is replace them.
In order for your horse to be able to compete at the age of 3 years, you have to choose which riding style will be its specialty. The types of competitions your horse will be eligible for will depend on its specialty.
Horses that specialize in Classical Riding can enter speed races and cross-country, show jumping and dressage competitions. Horses that specialize in Western Riding can enter barrel racing, cutting, reining, western pleasure and trail class competitions.
To choose your horse's specialty, select their riding type in the Competitions box. You can change your horse's specialty until it reaches the age of 5 years.
Tack
Once you've chosen your horse's specialty, you need to buy it horseshoes and a bridle and saddle made for its specialty. You can find these items in different models and bonus levels at the breeders' store.
If your horse is boarding at an equestrian center with the same specialty and a saddler is employed there, you can give it the SB saddle and SB bridle if its specialty is Classical Riding, and the WS saddle and WB bridle if its specialty is Western Riding. The bonus from these items will vary depending on how much prestige the center has.
If your horse is boarding in an equestrian center in which a farrier is employed, you can also give it MF horseshoes, for which the bonus varies depending on the center's prestige.
You can give your horse a saddle, bridle and horseshoes directly on its profile page.
All this equipment is hard-wearing. You cannot remove a horse's saddle, bridle or horseshoes. All you can do is replace them.
Skills and Training
The skills
On Howrse, there are six skill categories:
There are 3 main ways to improve a horse's skills:
There are also two other ways of improving skills:
When you have completed the development of a horse's skill, said skill is displayed in bold type in the horse's genetic potential. Completing the development means finishing training and rides, and having the horse earn all the skills possible in competitions.
Training
Training starts at 18 months with rides. There are 3 types of rides: trot, gallop and steep slope. Each of these develops specific skills (trot, gallop and jumping). You can choose to either go on a short ride to develop speed or a lengthy ride to develop your horse's stamina. You will see the "Skills" box (at the center of your horse's page) fill in progressively with stars. Please note that skill gains are limited, and at one point, your horse will no longer earn skills when going on rides.
When your horse is 2 years old, it can start training. Each skill requires a specific training. Each training requires 3 hours. You can combine several training types during your horse's day, but always check its energy level and what time it is on its history so that it can get enough rest. Remember, you have to bed it down at 10:00 pm at the latest!
When your horse reaches the age of 5, you can do rides on the beach. They are special rides, in which your horse loses in his lowest skill to win in his best skill. The longer the ride, the bigger the skill exchange. Beware, the exchange is limited and depends on the genetic potential of the horse.
Remember, if your horse's morale isn't at 100% when it goes for rides on the beach, the transferring of skills will be less than optimal and lost for good.
Bonuses
They appear in a frame in the horse's page. These are points added to the skills, but they are not to be confused with the skills. They may make a difference in the results of the competitions, but do not count for the minimum required for the competitions.
They may be associated with:
On Howrse, there are six skill categories:
- Stamina
- Speed
- Dressage
- Gallop
- Trot
- Jumping
There are 3 main ways to improve a horse's skills:
- rides
- training
- competitions
There are also two other ways of improving skills:
- Games with foals between 8 and 16 months of age. It's possible to earn up to 60 skill points by playing with foals.
- Lessons starting 2 years of age. They'll make you lose 30% energy. Skill gains will depend on the quality of lessons at the center where your horse is boarded. Lessons award skill gains in a horse or pony's 2 best potentials. Please note that skill gains with lessons stop at age 25!
When you have completed the development of a horse's skill, said skill is displayed in bold type in the horse's genetic potential. Completing the development means finishing training and rides, and having the horse earn all the skills possible in competitions.
Training
Training starts at 18 months with rides. There are 3 types of rides: trot, gallop and steep slope. Each of these develops specific skills (trot, gallop and jumping). You can choose to either go on a short ride to develop speed or a lengthy ride to develop your horse's stamina. You will see the "Skills" box (at the center of your horse's page) fill in progressively with stars. Please note that skill gains are limited, and at one point, your horse will no longer earn skills when going on rides.
When your horse is 2 years old, it can start training. Each skill requires a specific training. Each training requires 3 hours. You can combine several training types during your horse's day, but always check its energy level and what time it is on its history so that it can get enough rest. Remember, you have to bed it down at 10:00 pm at the latest!
When your horse reaches the age of 5, you can do rides on the beach. They are special rides, in which your horse loses in his lowest skill to win in his best skill. The longer the ride, the bigger the skill exchange. Beware, the exchange is limited and depends on the genetic potential of the horse.
Remember, if your horse's morale isn't at 100% when it goes for rides on the beach, the transferring of skills will be less than optimal and lost for good.
Bonuses
They appear in a frame in the horse's page. These are points added to the skills, but they are not to be confused with the skills. They may make a difference in the results of the competitions, but do not count for the minimum required for the competitions.
They may be associated with:
- The center where the horse is boarded according to its prestige
- Various items purchased from the store or on the black market, or found in the box
Competing
Your horse is now 3 years old, its sports career may begin! If you want your horse to compete, it must first be trained to specializein a specific riding style, you must shoe it and give it a saddle and bridle adapted to its specialty.
The competitions will enable you to earn money according to your success but also to improve the skills of your horses. As their potential is not unlimited, there will come a time when your horse's skills will no longer be improved by competitions.
Regardless of the discipline, each competition has a difficulty level set within a percentage range for a skill, each center setting its competitions at the level of its choice. For certain types of competition, you can use filters to choose the distance. You cannot enter more than 2 horses from your stables in a competition.
On every horse's profile page, among other information, you'll find a summary of the horse's victories and results in competitions.
Classical Riding Competitions
Classical Riding competitions are for horses specializing in Classical Riding that have a Classical bridle and saddle. There are 5 kinds of competitions:
Western Riding Competitions
Western Riding competitions are for horses specializing in Western Riding that have a Western bridle and saddle. There are 5 kinds of competitions:
MoralePlease note that past 30 days' seniority on the game, if your horse has not placed first in a competition, it may lose a few morale points. Don't worry though, you can easily make up for that drop in morale by letting your horse rest and giving it a few treats!
BonusesYou can grant bonuses to your horses in order to make them perform better in competitions. Certain bonuses can be found while putting your horses in their boxes (such as the hoof pick or the comb). Other bonuses can be purchased by visiting the store or the black market. When calculating competition results, bonuses are directly applied to skills and have an impact on the final result.
New players just starting their game will receive a special bonus. Don't be surprised if some horses seem to perform exceptionally well, they've received a little help to get a good start in the game!
Competitions for rookie horsesCertain competitions are only open to rookie horses. Rookie horses are horses that have won less than 20 victories and who have no skills above 330. This number is recalculated every night.
The competitions will enable you to earn money according to your success but also to improve the skills of your horses. As their potential is not unlimited, there will come a time when your horse's skills will no longer be improved by competitions.
Regardless of the discipline, each competition has a difficulty level set within a percentage range for a skill, each center setting its competitions at the level of its choice. For certain types of competition, you can use filters to choose the distance. You cannot enter more than 2 horses from your stables in a competition.
On every horse's profile page, among other information, you'll find a summary of the horse's victories and results in competitions.
Classical Riding Competitions
Classical Riding competitions are for horses specializing in Classical Riding that have a Classical bridle and saddle. There are 5 kinds of competitions:
- Access to gallop and trot speed races depends on the galloping skill level required for gallop races and the trotting skill level required for trot races. In order to become a champion, the horse must also perform well in speed and dressage.
- Cross-country is a physically demanding discipline that requires great stamina, but also good jumping skills and docility. Access to registration depends on the level of stamina.
- Show-jumping requires exceptional jumping skills, but also lots of flexibility. Because these events are timed, a show-jumping horse will obviously need to be able to jump obstacles quickly. Access to registration depends on the level of jumping.
- The dressage contest features the horse's gaits: gallop and trot, but most of all its dressage skills. Access to registration depends on the level of dressage.
Western Riding Competitions
Western Riding competitions are for horses specializing in Western Riding that have a Western bridle and saddle. There are 5 kinds of competitions:
- Barrel racing, a timed race that requires speed, stamina and galloping skills. The goal is to slalom around 3 barrels as fast as possible without knocking any over. Access to these events is determined by your horse's speed.
- Cutting, which requires great stamina and speed in order to control calves. It also requires a good level in dressage. Access to these events is determined by your horse's stamina.
- Reining, a dressage event that's performed at a gallop. Good stamina is also essential. Access to these events is determined by your horse's level in galloping.
- Western pleasure, a discipline that requires excellent trotting skills, as well as docility and stamina. Access to these events is determined by your horse's level in trotting.
- Trail class, the western equivalent of dressage in Classical Riding. Trail class horses must excel in dressage, as well as trotting and jumping. Access to these events is determined by your horse's dressage level.
MoralePlease note that past 30 days' seniority on the game, if your horse has not placed first in a competition, it may lose a few morale points. Don't worry though, you can easily make up for that drop in morale by letting your horse rest and giving it a few treats!
BonusesYou can grant bonuses to your horses in order to make them perform better in competitions. Certain bonuses can be found while putting your horses in their boxes (such as the hoof pick or the comb). Other bonuses can be purchased by visiting the store or the black market. When calculating competition results, bonuses are directly applied to skills and have an impact on the final result.
New players just starting their game will receive a special bonus. Don't be surprised if some horses seem to perform exceptionally well, they've received a little help to get a good start in the game!
Competitions for rookie horsesCertain competitions are only open to rookie horses. Rookie horses are horses that have won less than 20 victories and who have no skills above 330. This number is recalculated every night.
Rosettes
Rosettes are rewards you earn by winning certain competitions with 75% or higher prestige. When one of your horses wins a rosette, you earn twice as many Equus for that competition. However, you cannot win the same rosette more than once with the same horse.
Trophies
The more rosettes you win, the more trophies you earn for your collections.
Trophies
The more rosettes you win, the more trophies you earn for your collections.
Grand Prix
The Grand Prix is a week-long championship. It consists of 5 heats total, one heat per day. There are 2 different Grand Prix: Classical Riding and Western Riding.
Classical Riding Grand Prix
Monday: Cross-country Tuesday: Trot Wednesday: Show jumping Thursday: Dressage Friday: Gallop
Western Riding Grand Prix
Monday: Cutting Tuesday: Western pleasure Wednesday: Reining Thursday: Trail class Friday: Barrel racing
Each event lasts 10 hours and requires 99% energy. Players may enter two of their horses in each event.
A ranking is done each day and extraordinary gifts are handed out:
Sunday there are no events, it's rest day for your horses.
Following the weekly Grand Prix ranking:
There are special bonuses for the Grand Prix, which for example allow you to reduce the energy your horses spend when registering, to give skill bonuses to your competing horses, and to register four horses in each event instead of two. You'll find these bonuses in the Horns of Plenty.
Classical Riding Grand Prix
Monday: Cross-country Tuesday: Trot Wednesday: Show jumping Thursday: Dressage Friday: Gallop
Western Riding Grand Prix
Monday: Cutting Tuesday: Western pleasure Wednesday: Reining Thursday: Trail class Friday: Barrel racing
Each event lasts 10 hours and requires 99% energy. Players may enter two of their horses in each event.
A ranking is done each day and extraordinary gifts are handed out:
- Winner: 40 diamonds
- Second position: 20 diamonds
- Third position: 10 diamonds
- Fourth position: 5 diamonds
- Fifth position: 2 diamonds
- First 100 horses: 2,000 Equus
- All participants: 1,000 Equus
Sunday there are no events, it's rest day for your horses.
Following the weekly Grand Prix ranking:
- The top 10 receive an award on their profile page.
- The top 100 place finishers gain a 7-day access to the fountain. The fountain replaces the trough and triples energy and morale gains.
There are special bonuses for the Grand Prix, which for example allow you to reduce the energy your horses spend when registering, to give skill bonuses to your competing horses, and to register four horses in each event instead of two. You'll find these bonuses in the Horns of Plenty.