Owning a steed in V Rising is a great idea because it allows you to cover greater distances faster and potentially avoid unnecessary encounters with enemies along the way. However, horses in this game require careful attention as they are not as straightforward as they might seem at first glance. That's why we've prepared a comprehensive guide on horses in V Rising, covering all the key aspects related to these mounts.

Where to Find a Horse in V Rising

At the start of the game, particularly in the initial location of Farbane Woods, you won't find any horses. To get your first steed, you need to head north to Dunley Farmlands, the first main game area where horses appear regularly, as well as in the Silverlight Hills zone. Horses in V Rising are most commonly and easily found in the following locations:

• Mosswick Village
• Dawnbreak Village
• Horse Track
• Dunley Lumber Mill
• Bastion of Dunley
• Farms
• Militia Camps

Horses are usually kept in stables or tied up near roads and camps. On the map, look for the horseshoe icon, which indicates where horses spawn. Keep in mind that the spawn rate of horses is shared among all players on the server, so someone might beat you to it, causing you to miss your chance to get a steed. Be persistent and patient.

How to Acquire and Ride a Horse in V Rising

Once you find a horse, approach it and interact to mount it. From that moment, it will be yours—until you lose it, misplace it, or it dies. While mounted, you will have access to only two actions instead of combat skills:

Dismount — press Q and choose where you want to dismount.

Gallop — press the spacebar to gain more movement speed.

Your weapon's primary attack remains available, but no additional or special abilities can be used. This makes ranged weapons—such as crossbows or pistols—more effective than melee during riding. A horse is a means of transport, not a combat unit.

Key Horse Stats

Each horse in V Rising has three main characteristics:

• Acceleration — how quickly the horse reaches its maximum speed.
• Max Speed — the top speed the horse can achieve.
• Rotation Speed — how quickly and sharply the horse can turn.

These stats are random for each horse: one might be very fast but slow to turn, and another the opposite. To check the stats, open the inventory near the horse or while riding. A vampire's movement speed on foot is 4, while on horseback it ranges from 8 to 11, which is twice as fast.

Each stat can also be increased by feeding the horse specific types of feed, such as:

How to Care for Your Horse in V Rising

How to Feed Your Horse

To ensure your horse lives longer, it needs to be fed. In the early stages, it requires Plant Fiber. Approach the horse and open your inventory. If you're close enough, its inventory will also open. Drag Plant Fiber into its inventory. Over time, it will slowly deplete—similar to how Blood Essence sustains the Castle Heart.

If you don't feed your horse, it will eventually die. Always have a supply of fibers, especially before long journeys.

How to Craft a Vampire Horse Saddle

To enhance your horse's stats, you'll need a Vampire Horse Saddle. This item boosts all three stats—Acceleration, Speed, and Rotation—by 1 point each. To craft it, you'll need the following resources:

• x8 Thick Leather
• x4 Iron Ingot  

The saddle can be crafted at the Leatherworking Station. Once equipped on a dominated horse, it significantly improves its travel efficiency and provides an advantage in dangerous situations.

How to Obtain and Use Dominate Mount

At a certain point, you'll acquire the Dominate Mount ability. This allows you to transform a regular horse into a Vampiric Steed. These horses don't require Plant Fiber and have additional benefits. They can be summoned and revived using the Recall & Revive Companion ability, which becomes available once you've dominated a horse using Dominate Mount.

To unlock Dominate Mount, upgrade the Castle Heart to level 4. Then approach the horse and activate the ability through the skill wheel. After a few seconds, the horse will become your permanent companion. To summon such a horse, press R.

Important: You can only have one dominated horse at a time. To change it, you must first release the current one.

Benefits of a Vampiric Steed

A dominated horse can gain unique bonuses through elixirs added in the stables. Each skill requires 4 units of the corresponding elixir to activate.

You will also unlock Shadow Leap—a skill that allows the vampiric horse to leap over obstacles, terrain gaps, and avoid attacks. This is very useful for quick and safe traversal.

What is the Horse Track

On the western edge of Dunley Farmlands lies the Horse Track—a peaceful zone without enemies where you can test your horse's speed or hold light races. It's convenient for comparing the stats of different horses or practicing the bonuses mentioned above.

How to Protect Your Horse

Remember that your horse in V Rising is vulnerable to enemy attacks and can be stolen by other players on a PvP server. Leaving the horse unattended in a combat zone or without food puts it at risk of dying. Therefore, ensure its safety to avoid having to find a new one. It's best to keep it in your castle or near a Vampire Waygate if you're not using it.