15 Best Horse Games Online: Racing, Dressage, and Much More

Last updated: October 17, 2023

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

We have horses, so I was surprised to find our kids playing a horse game on their Ipad. They were laughing and smiling and really enjoyed the game. I asked them about it, and they told me about the different levels and challenges and showed me how to play too.

Online horse games are the perfect solution for those who want to experience the excitement of horse competitions without having to leave their home. These games provide all of the thrills and responsibilities of owning, caring for, and riding horses without the hassle or expense.

Wondering which horse games are the best? Want to cut through the clutter and only download the best horse-racing games without wasting time? Then this guide is for you.

In it, we cover,

• The best horse racing games online
• Most popular horse games

5 Most Popular Horse Games online

1. Star Stable

Star Stable is my grandaughter’s favorite game, and she always plays it. It helps that she has to feed horses in real life, so the game helps her continue living her passion in the virtual world as well. It is free to play up to level 5, but there is a total of 17 levels. On average, players take about 150 hours to complete them.

The safe, family-friendly game is perfect for kids of all ages. Parents can also disable the chat permanently to keep young kids safe. Star Stable is even considered entertaining for 20-year-olds! So interesting is the game that almost 152K players were known to play it daily in 2020!

The main storyline of Star Stable is about a girl. Of course, boys and non-binary players are welcome to play it, too, and the game makers have introduced a wide range of hairstyles and accessories so players can customize their looks as they want.

Star Stable is a multiplayer game that lets you compete against gamers from all across the world. There is so much you can do in this game that it is little wonder equestrians love it. The Star Stable game requires players to level up their character and horses, so the excitement never stops! 

The game’s storyline consists of the wonderful island of Jorvik, where you can join clubs and have endless adventures as you train and groom horses. You can also solve quests and thrilling mysteries and experience the epic story of the people of Jorvik.

Star Stable is free to play up to level 5, but a one-off payment helps you access the game’s exciting features and become an experienced Star rider. The game is economically priced at around $8 a month, or you could take a lifetime subscription for less than $100.

Star Stable is great to play on PC, Mac, and iOS but needs you to download the Desktop Launcher Software.

Pros

• Entertaining and ever-changing gameplay
• Immersive experience

Cons

• It might not meet the expectations of adult and male equestrians
• Only free till level 5.

2. Horse Riding Tales

Horse Riding Tales is another popular free-to-play game for PC. It is suitable for ages four years and above. You can collect over 100 horses and compete with other equestrian students at the academy in different events and shows.

Horse Riding Tale’s storyline is set in the beautiful village of Meadowcroft, with rolling fields and rustic open plains. You can ride your horse as a girl with your friends, solve quests, and uncover mysteries of the fabled sky riders. You also get to tame horses and customize your look with well-designed tack.

Note that you need to download an Android emulator or Steam to play Horse Riding Tales.

Pros

• Great music
• Wonderful graphics
• Quicktime events in championships
• Perfect for young kids

Cons

• You spend 80% of your time farming materials and only 20% riding
• Expensive – of course, you can still play the game for free without buying anything.

3. Riding Club Championships

In this PC horse racing game, players participate in barrel racing, jumping, pole bending, and jump agility. You can choose to play alone or compete against friends or multiple players across the globe. The game has weekly tournaments as well.

You can create your own if you aren’t satisfied with the course offerings. Equestrians will love the wide variety of horses – their colors and patterns. You also get to groom horses and take care of them. The best part is that the game is free to play, but you could buy coins with real money for better options.

Riding Club Championships has a thriving community with multiple chat rooms. There is also a quest system that keeps things exciting.

Pros

• Great-looking horses
• Good animation and controls

Cons

• No storyline
• Graphics need improvement.

4. Red Dead Redemption2 

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a popular presentation from the makers of Grand Theft Auto – a game that needs no introduction. While it might not directly have anything to do with horse racing, it does have beautiful horses, including Arabians, Mustangs, Thoroughbreds, and 18 other breeds. 

The best horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rose Gray Bay Arabian, known for speed and stamina. Players aged 18 and above will enjoy this game. Please note that the game has references for nudity, sexual content, and drug use.

Exploring the epic Wild West in RDR2 can easily entertain you for over 60 hours. The game also has 4 different endings depending on the choices you make in the game. What makes RDR2 so exciting is the fact that it is based on real events in history. 

Good news for Playstation owners – if you have PlusExtra or Premium membership, you can download RDR2 for free. Other users can buy it for less than $50. If you are a fan of horses and story-driven games, then Red Dead Redemption is a must-play!

Pros

• Stunning graphics and immersive gameplay
• Long game – could take 100 to 200 hours for 100% rating completion.

Cons

• Controls are tedious
• Animations slow gameplay

5. Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

Legend of Zelda was created for Nintendo, but you could play it on PC using Wi U emulator Cemu. in fact, gaming enthusiasts believe that the CEMU emulator makes the game look better than the Nintendo Switch and Wii versions.  (You can also play Legend of Zelda – Link to the Past from start to finish on PC.)

2017’s Breath of The Wild requires players to control an amnesiac named Link, who has to explore the world and prevent destruction by Calamity Ganon.

Breath of the Wild (or BoTW as it is known)  is fun for all ages, although it can be challenging for younger players. The game costs around $60.

Equestrian gamers will love the horses in the game; they are beautiful! You can store 5 of them in the stable. Epona, Wild Horse, Stalhorse, and Royal White Stallion are some top horses and mounts to watch out for.

Pros

• Great music
• Beautiful art

Cons

• Expensive
• Takes up memory.

Watch this YouTube video below to learn about the top 10 games with the best horse-riding physics.

10 Best Horse Racing Games You can Play on a PC

Horse racing games on your PC are great, inexpensive ways to have fun and learn about the horse racing industry. Some of the gameplay involves managing horses in competitions, training schedules, and breeding practices. Here is a list of our favorite games:

1. Rival Stars Horse Racing (Desktop Version)

The graphically enhanced Rival Stars Desktop version gives you the ultimate horse racing experience. You get to care for and train your horses, breed the perfect champion, and even compete with multiple players across the globe to win virtual prizes that you can invest in your farm’s facilities.

The best part is that the game lets you breed the perfect champion with in-depth genetic breeding. You can also ‘create’ the perfect horse and share your creation with the community. 

Motion-captured animation and thrilling races combined with race commentary give Rival Stars Horse Racing the most realistic experience. You will also love that the game-makers (PIKPOK) continuously update the game – so we hope to experience dressage and jumping competitions one day!

Even newbies to Rival Stars can quickly learn the ropes because of the game’s beautiful storyline and easy controls. Please note that for the best experience, it may be better to play Rival Stars on BlueStacks Application. But many players are pleased with their immersive experience on Steam for PC or MAC.

The affordable PC version of Rival Stars costs less than $50. (Note that the mobile version is free to play. However, the paid PC version is ad-free, and you can progress without waiting to race.) With 20 story levels and five more prestige levels on mobile, it is totally worth the money!

Pros

• Realism – beautiful graphics
• Not too demanding on the system
• It comes on sale from time to time
• Keeps getting updated with new stuff.

Cons

• It gets repetitive after a while, but the beautiful graphics still make it worth playing.

2. Photo Finish Horse Racing

If you haven’t downloaded this game, I recommend you do so immediately and begin the quest to win the cup! The description states that Photo Finish is one of the best horse racing games on PC, which I agree with.

This realistic horse race simulation features stellar graphics and realistic animation. You can hire a jockey, train your horse, and compete in various races to win the cup. You can also choose to be a jockey, the owner, or a spectator in the Sport of Kings.

The best part is: Photo Finish Horse Racing Game requires a strategy to balance speed and stamina. As you play, you need to learn ways to make it work in your favor.

Photo Finish Horse Racing game has such realistic graphics that it is evident that the people who made it are equestrians and horse lovers themselves. For example, many horse games show riders with their heels down or with the wrong tack for the depicted discipline. But not Photo Finish. I especially loved the beautiful Okapi markings – so gorgeous!

Pros

• Great graphics
• Simple controls
• It can be played offline too

Cons

• You can only upgrade one piece of equipment, and that can take hours
• Some bugs reported

Note: Horse Racing Manager is a good option available on CD.

3. FEI Equestriad World Tour

This is the best-in-class competitive game for players with a range of experience. FEI Equestriad World Tour is a great family-friendly game, and the only officially licensed FEI Equestriad game. You will surely get a realistic portrayal of dressage, show-jumping, and cross-country competitions. There is also free play, where you just mess around!

FEI Equestriad’s graphics are awe-inspiring, and there are several competitions you could compete in. The training grounds are super realistic; you can go out the gate while training your horses and into the forest, where there are logs to practice jumping.

FEI’s gameplay is based on accuracy, which makes the game somewhat unpredictable. This adds to the game’s excitement. Fans of horse riding will love the features like breeding horses, choosing tack, and even creating specific elements for their horse.

The family-friendly game is free to play, and you can enjoy a realistic portrayal of 3-day dressage, cross-country, and jumping competitions. Your horses level up once they gain enough eventing experience. You can also buy some items and upgrades in the game to enhance your experience. For example, you need to swipe your real-world credit card for premium horseshoes!

Again, the best platform to play the game is BlueStacks App, but the Android game can be enjoyed on PC (use MEmu) and MAC.

Pros

• Free to play
• Realistic graphics and cool animations
• Best-in-class competitive experience for equestrians

Cons

• Has some glitches.

4. Starters Orders 7

Starters Orders 7 is an in-depth horse racing management simulation available for PC. You can also play it on MAC, but it needs iOS 8.0 or later.

The game lets you train your horses, participate in global races, and breed new stable stars. You can also build stables or take on the role of a jockey. You can also bet, ride, and race in this realistic race game.

Starters Orders is one of a PC-based game’s most realistic horse races. It is also the only game to accurately simulate the UK jumps racing with a fully realistic calendar.

The affordable game costs less than $40.

Pros

• Vast customization options
• Realistic aspects

Cons

• More complicated than Starters Orders 6.

5. My Riding Stables: Life with Horses

Adults who love gaming and horses will love My Riding Stables. It is available on several platforms, including PC and Mac. 

You start by training foals to make virtual money. This takes practice, but you will have fun once you get the hang of the controls. (There are many blogs and videos where you can get tips for perfect foal training for My Riding Stables).

The storyline mode of the game is super addictive and enjoyable. Also, the grooming in the game isn’t as tedious as in some other games.

You will find it exciting to collect gold horseshoes along the way to earn money for clothes for your horse. If you have a widescreen monitor, make some setting adjustments to get the best experience for playing My Riding Stables.

Pros

• Realistic graphics
• Several options for customization

Cons

• Lack of instructions
• Hard to make money at first

6. Horse Paradise

Horse Paradise is a multi-player, dreamy horse game that takes you on an adventure of a lifetime. You start your journey in a mystic forest and then explore caves, islands, and magical places. You also get to go on quests, and as you progress, you even get to meet magical horses like Pegasus and Unicorns!

The game is suitable for players 13 and older.

Pros

• Easy to play
• Free of cost

Cons

• Has a few glitches.

7. Mounted Horse Racing Game

Mounted Horse Racing Game has been deemed the best horse show jumping game of 2022 and 2021. You can show real equestrian skills as you saddle up as a real jockey and make those jumps. Don’t think it is easy – no, sir, the jumps are pretty darn tough.

Pros

• It can be played in a short time
• Cool game for kids and adults
• Great graphics

Cons

• Some jumps are too complicated.

8. Melbourne Cup Challenge

This is one of the oldest horse racing simulation games, developed in 2006. Like other horse racing simulation games, Melbourne Cup Challenge lets you choose from different modes like betting, jockey, or career mode. As the name indicates, career mode means you get to take care of horses, including auctions, breeding, stable management, etc.

MCC is known for its ultra-realistic graphics and details; the game is designed by the wizards behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It costs less than $40 on eBay for the Xbox version.

Pros

• Accurately modeled international racecourses
• Life-like horse and jockey animation
• Realistic horses and weather effects

Cons

• The game’s PC version is not complete and includes the demo only. You need to buy it for Xbox.

9. Final Stretch Horse Racing

This is another highly realistic horse racing simulation game for PC, and it lets you build your stables and place bets. It also simulates realistic weather, animals, and other imagery using deep AI.

By using the best training practices, you can increase your horse’s speed and create a champion. The game needs the Internet and can be played by multiple players.

Make sure to read its manual for some helpful hints!

Pros

• You actually see your horse improving with training
• The game focuses on stable management, breeding, and training – not just on betting and racing – like other ‘Sim’ games.
• Good graphics

Cons

• Winning is tough – it can be frustrating for players.

10. My Horse And Me

Another top game for horse people is to simulate riding, grooming, and other aspects of horse ownership. Please note that the game is geared toward girls interested in show jumping. It is also very basic and might bore experienced players of sim games due to its ease.

My granddaughter loved this game when it first came out, and she mentioned that it honed on several aspects of a horse’s personality – grace, power, and nobility.

The game makers have eventually come up with several sequels, each with better features and several improvements.

Pros

• Horses have different personalities

Cons

• Visuals need improvement.
• It is not challenging for experienced players.

Conclusion – Best Horse Racing Games On PC

One of the best horse games on PC is Star Stable. It has a wide audience of over half a million (up 300K since 2020). You will also like Red Dead Redemption 2, My Riding Stables, and Rival Stars Horse Racing.

I hope this list of the best horse racing games on PC helps you discover some fantastic horse games that excite and entertain!

FAQs – Best Horse Racing Games On PC