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Game On! Top 5 Online Games for Horse Lovers

Online horse games
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Written by Aimee B.

When you can’t ride, play horsey

When you think of online games, what comes to mind? Do you think about breeding and training your very own colt? Or do you think about trying your hand at running a ranch? If you haven’t tried any of these, you’re missing out on a whole world of online equine entertainment!

A quick Google search of online horse games reveals hundreds of options available for you to try. The selection alone can be overwhelming! We can help narrow your search for the best games across several categories, so you can find a great game for you.

Equine Online Games

Owning a real horse isn’t always a practical choice, but having an online virtual horse makes equines accessible for anyone. Horse lovers of all ages find themselves drawn to online horse games for many reasons.

Online horse games can be both entertaining and educational. The weather doesn’t always cooperate with your real horse plans, but it’s always sunny and 75 degrees in the world of online horse games.

Although real horses do offer competition in the form of shows, the costs of even a weekend show add up quickly. Not to mention all the time and energy that goes into showing, such as bathing your horse and the never-ending battle to keep him clean, braiding, trailering, trying to ride a perfect dressage test in 97 degrees…the list goes on and on and on.

With online horse games, showing is as easy as clicking a button. And you won’t sustain an actual injury if your horse throws you in the warm-up arena.

There are all kinds of horse games out there, just waiting for you to get hooked. Some games require a significant amount of time, while others take only minutes a day. Regardless of your riding interests, there’s an online horse game perfect for you! We’ll cover games that offer both free and premium content.

Our Favorite Equine-Themed Online Games

Category Top Pick
Best Free Game Horse Riding Tales
Most Popular Game for Teens Horse Isle
Best Game for Kids Club Pony Pals
Most Challenging Horse Game Equestrian the Game
Best Game to Play with Friends Star Stable

Horse Riding Tales

Customize your avatar and tame wild horses in this mobile or PC game set in a rustic town that is centuries old. Take your horse for a trail ride or train to compete in either jumping or dressage.

You can also add a bit of magic to your daily life by choosing a horse that can fly. You definitely won’t see that at a local stable!
The game also features a mystery to solve. Are you up to the challenge?

You’ll Love It If:

  • You find repetitive-type games appealing
  • You’re looking for horse games to play with friends
  • Graphics along the lines of Zelda are appealing to you

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Expensive upgrades are a bit annoying or can add up quickly

Price Point: Free, with the option to purchase upgrades

Find it here: Horse Riding Tales

Horse Isle 3

Explore a world without limits in Horse Isle 3! You can also interact and become friends with other players in the game.

Want to upgrade your horse or tack? Simply barter for items with other players! You can make decent upgrades and avoid paying real money to play the game by saving up your gold dust.

One of the best features of this game is the vast range of horse breeds you can buy or breed yourself. Stick with purebreds or even create fun crossbreeds! The game also features mustangs and other wild breeds that you can tame.

You’ll Love It If:

  • You’re looking for a family-friendly game
  • Exploring a vast map sounds incredible
  • You want to get creative with different horse breeds

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You’re looking for a mobile game
  • You prefer life-like graphics

Price Point: Free with the option to purchase upgrades

Find it here: Horse Isle 3: Welcome Adventurers

Club Pony Pals

Are you looking for a way to introduce your kids to horses without having to muck stalls or pay a monthly boarding fee? If so, then you need to check out Club Pony Pals!

This game is based on the Scholastic books by Jeanne Betancourt. It allows your child to pick a pony, groom it, ride it, and love it just like a real pony.

The game does have a chat area closely moderated by adults. And the website as a whole is set up for kids, so it closely follows the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

You’ll Love It If:

  • You’re looking for an online game for your kids that doesn’t involve downloads
  • Your kids love the Pony Pals books
  • You want to oversee their activity in the game

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • Your kids aren’t into horses
  • You’re not into simple graphics and repetitive gameplay

Price Point: Free with the option to purchase upgrades

Find it here: Club Pony Pals

Equestrian the Game

Live your best equestrian life by downloading Equestrian the Game! In this game, you can create your own avatar and dream horse.

Horses come with a wide variety of personalities and temperaments. You can raise foals up, train them, and eventually compete in show jumping.

If showing isn’t your thing, explore nature on horseback, or learn to manage an estate. You can do all of this online without risking life, limb, or your life savings!

You’ll Love It If:

  • Challenging games are right up your alley
  • You’re looking for a realistic game that sucks you right in!
  • You want the ability to compete against other players in the game
  • Staying connected to the game via social media channels is essential to you

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You’re looking for a casual horse game to pick up occasionally when bored

Price Point: Free with the option to purchase upgrades

Find it here: Equestrian the Game

Star Stable

Star Stable is one of the most popular online horse games out there, and for good reason! Since its launch in 2011, Star Stable has been surprising and delighting fans with exciting graphics and spellbinding quests.

The game is a massive, multiplayer, online game, meaning there are potentially thousands of other players to interact with.

You can choose to care for and train your horse or even play with friends. By completing quests, you can gain access to new and exclusive areas of the game.

With all its consistent updates, it’s easy to see why Star Stable continues to top the list of best online horse games!

You’ll Love It If:

  • You find satisfaction in completing quests in order to advance
  • You want to interact with other game players
  • You don’t mind dropping some dough to up your playing advantages

You Might Want to Skip It If:

  • You don’t want to spend extra money on an online game
  • Interacting with other players sounds terrible
  • You find older-style graphics repulsive

Price Point: You can play for free up until level 5, at which point you have to pick a membership level. As with the other games, you can also choose to pay for various upgrades.

Find it here: Star Stable

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Equestrian the Game free?

You can play Equestrian the Game for free, but there are available upgrades you can get by paying a price. Quite a steep price, according to many reviewers of the Game.

Q: What are the best online horse breeding games?

Horse Isle 3 offers horse breeding as part of its gameplay. There is a vast range of possible breeding combinations, including purebred and crosses. Try coming up with your very own combinations!

Equestrian the Game has also recently upgraded to expand upon its breeding program. You can now see the genetics of different horses to make more informed breeding decisions. The breeding upgrade is brand new as of June 2022, so there’s definitely more to come in this area!

Q: What are the best online horse games with no download?

There are many options if you’re looking for graphically simple online games with no storyline. Club Pony Pals doesn’t require a download. But if you’re looking for more complex gameplay, expect a download.

Parting Thoughts

Although most horse lovers would agree that there’s nothing like the real thing, online horse games can be an excellent substitute for a living, breathing animal. And whether you’re intrigued by breeding the perfect foal or winning Grand Prix, there’s a game out there just for you!

The next time the weather is too hot to ride, or you don’t feel like driving to the barn, give an online horse game a try. You just never know how much you’ll love it until you try it!

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About the author

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I'm Amanda, shaped by a rich background in riding and showing Western Pleasure and Horsemanship from a young age. Engaged in 4-H activities, I fostered a deep love for horses. Transitioning to the artistry of dressage 6.5 years ago was a pivotal moment. Currently, I’m honing the skills of a 3.5-year-old Friesian/Quarter Horse, captivated by the exquisite complexity of dressage, a discipline that instills the value of patience and persistence in achieving greatness.