Take care of your horse, and it will take care of you. That’s simply good practice in Red Dead Redemption 2. Luckily, you can outfit your faithful steed with some extra equipment along your journey in Rockstar’s open-world Wild West game.
This equipment is collectively known as ‘horse tack’ and can be saddles, stirrups, and more. Some of these items are purely cosmetic, but a good saddle provides certain benefits to your horse. You may also want to pair saddle stats with the stats of your chosen horse breed, either shoring up weaknesses or enhancing strengths. Overall, these are the 10 best general saddles in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The best general saddles in Red Dead Redemption 2
12. Bear Dakota Saddle
Here are the stats for the Bear Dakota Saddle in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -24%
- Core HP Drain: -20%
- Stamina Regen: +22%
- Cost: Not specified
The Bear Dakota Trapper Saddle is a top pick, especially for those who want to resemble some sort of rugged mountain man with a knack for hunting. It not only looks pretty badass up against any coat on any horse, but it also comes equipped with custom stirrups that are surprisingly eye-catching.
11. Rattlesnake Vaquero Saddle
Let’s take a look at the Rattlesnake Vaquero Saddle stats in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -24%
- Core HP Drain: -22%
- Stamina Regen: +24%
- Cost: Not specified
The Rattlesnake Vaquero Trapper Saddle is one of the most balanced saddles in the game. Its dark and scaly design, as well as the rough-looking stirrups, make it a favorite among players.
10. Lumley Ranch Cutter Saddle (Stock)
Here are the stats for the Lumley Ranch Cutter Saddle (Stock) in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -4%
- Core HP Drain: -8%
- Stamina Regen: +6%
- Cost: $45
The Lumley Ranch Cutter saddle is one of the better early saddles you can get. It’s cheap and effective for the time, but you will be looking to upgrade very soon.
9. Gerden Vaquero Saddle (Stock)
Let’s take a look at the Gerden Vaquero Saddle stats in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -8%
- Core HP Drain: -6%
- Stamina Regen: +8%
- Cost: $51
The Gerden Vaquero is a good alternative to Lumley Ranch Cutter. It costs slightly more but provides better overall stats. Still, you won’t be keeping this saddle for long.
8. Gerden Trail Saddle (Stock)
Presenting the statistics for the Gerden Trail Saddle (Stock) in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -10%
- Core HP Drain: -4%
- Stamina Regen: +8%
- Cost: $48
Garden Trail is very similar to Gerden Vaquero, but costs slightly less for equal or better stats (depending on your horse). If you can find it, it’s the best early-game solution you can get.
7. Kneller Mother Hubbard Saddle (Improved)
The Kneller Mother Hubbard Saddle (Improved) in RDR2 has the following stats:
- Core Stamina Drain: -12%
- Core HP Drain: -14%
- Stamina Regen: +12%
- Cost: $65
The first Improved variant on our list presents a price bump that is matched by the immediately improved stats you will feel when you get the Kneller Mother Hubbarb saddle.
6. Lumley McClelland Saddle (Improved)
Here’s a breakdown of the Lumley McClelland Saddle (Improved)’s stats in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -14%
- Core HP Drain: -12%
- Stamina Regen: +12%
- Cost: $70
If you value your horse’s stamina more than health, then the Lumley McClelland will give you a better bang for your buck.
5. Kneller Dakota Saddle (Improved)
The Kneller Dakota Saddle (Improved) in RDR2 comes with these stats:
- Core Stamina Drain: -16%
- Core HP Drain: -12%
- Stamina Regen: +14%
- Cost: $72
For even better stamina retention and stamina regen, the Kneller Dakota is the way to go. With a price bump of only $2 for better stats and no drawbacks, it’s a clear upgrade.
4. Lumley Ranch Cutter Saddle (Improved)
Here are the stats for the Lumley Ranch Cutter Saddle (Improved) in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -12%
- Core HP Drain: -14%
- Stamina Regen: +14%
- Cost: $75
The Lumley Ranch Cutter saddle represents the best-balanced stats in the mid-game, so if you get it, you won’t have to worry about a new saddle for a bit. Still, there are even better options out there.
3. Stenger Roping Saddle (Improved)
The stats for the Stenger Roping Saddle (Improved) in RDR2 are as follows:
- Core Stamina Drain: -12%
- Core HP Drain: -18%
- Stamina Regen: +16%
- Cost: $78
The Stenger Roping is the saddle for those cowboys who worry about their horse’s health first and foremost. It provides the best value for saving the HP drain on your faithful trotting buddy.
2. Gerden Vaquero Saddle (Improved)
Here’s the rundown on the Gerden Vaquero Saddle (Improved)’s stats in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -16%
- Core HP Drain: -14%
- Stamina Regen: +16%
- Cost: $85
The Gerden Vaquero’s Improved version is an excellently balanced saddle but is also the game’s most expensive general saddle too. Still, if you simply want a good all-around balance in your saddle stats, this should be your go-to.
1. Gerden Trail Saddle (Improved)
Check out the stats for the Gerden Trail Saddle (Improved) in RDR2:
- Core Stamina Drain: -18%
- Core HP Drain: -12%
- Stamina Regen: +16%
- Cost: $80
The best saddle in the game is the Improved Gerden Trail saddle. It gives you the biggest combined stamina retention and regen, with a healthy dose of HP drain prevention. It’s the second-costliest general saddle in the game, but with the right horse, it will give you the best bursts of speed for when you need them.
