The Sims 4: Horse Ranch expansion pack introduces a deeply engaging horse breeding system, allowing players to cultivate a passion for equestrian pursuits or establish a lucrative virtual business. Breeding and training competition horses with impressive pedigrees can lead to significant Simoleon wealth. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to breed top-quality horses and maximize their value.
The Art of Sims 4 Horse Breeding
Successful horse breeding in The Sims 4 involves careful consideration of the dam’s and sire’s traits, skills, and competition history to produce more valuable foals.
Mating a Mare and a Stallion
To initiate Sims 4 horse breeding, you need both a mare and a stallion. Initiate a friendly interaction by clicking on either horse, selecting “Encourage To,” then “Encourage to Breed With,” and finally choosing the other horse. A successful attempt will be visually indicated by the horses touching muzzles with hearts swirling around them. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, continue to build the bond between the horses, as their social nature often leads to autonomous interactions.
Following a successful breeding, it takes several in-game hours to determine if the mare is pregnant, with a notification confirming the pregnancy.
Caring for Pregnant Mares
During pregnancy, a mare cannot be ridden or trained for jumping or barrel racing and is ineligible for equestrian competitions. Ensure her comfort and happiness through regular brushing, interaction, a full feed bin, and a clean stall. Mares are typically pregnant for approximately three in-game days, during which their bellies will visibly expand. Labor usually begins on the third day and can last several hours. Sims can offer comfort during labor through the “Soothe Horse in Labour” interaction.
Upon birth, the foal will appear beside its mother, and you’ll have the opportunity to name the new colt or filly. The foal inherits one random trait from its dam and one from its sire, along with a third base trait. This highlights the importance of considering the parents’ traits when breeding for specific foal personalities.
The foal’s appearance, including body shape and coat coloring, is generally a 50/50 inheritance from both parents, with no mixing of colors or patterns observed.
Foal Care and Development
Newly born foals are initially clumsy and unsteady but require minimal direct care, as their dams provide nursing and grooming. Sims can also bottle-feed and brush foals. To encourage eating hay, Sims can hand-feed prairie grass or call foals to feed from a patch or bin.
It’s crucial not to neglect foals, as they need to learn to interact with Sims. Early development of their Temperament skill is vital for achieving the coveted “Well Mannered Foal” reward trait upon aging up, which significantly boosts all skills. Foals cannot be ridden or compete; they must mature before training in Agility, Jumping, and Endurance skills can begin. The time remaining until a foal ages up can be viewed in the Sim’s relationship panel.
Understanding Breedable Traits
For profitable Sims 4 horse breeding, understanding how to pass down specific traits is key. Some traits can only be acquired through the breeding and raising process. In addition to the three base traits inherited at birth, foals can be born with “breedable traits.”
- Playful: Some foals are born with the “Playful” trait, enjoying interaction with toys and Sims.
- Curious: Foals may be born “Curious,” leading them to investigate objects and showing a preference for jumps and barrels when older.
- Champion Genes: This trait is inherited only if the dam or sire possesses the “Champion Horse” trait, achieved by winning 20 equestrian competitions. Both traits significantly increase a horse’s value and skill gain.
- Well Mannered Foal: While not an inherent trait, foals can gain this by developing a high Temperament skill. It enhances all skill gains.
Maximizing Horse Value
To engage in Sims 4 horse breeding as a lucrative business, understanding how to increase horse value is essential. Horses begin with a base value of $1,000, which can be substantially increased through careful breeding practices.
Key factors to consider for maximizing horse value include:
- Selective Trait Pairing: Choose dams and sires with traits favorable for competitions to increase the likelihood of producing foals with similar advantageous traits.
- Prioritize Champion Traits: Breed horses that possess the “Champion Horse” trait to increase the chances of foals inheriting “Champion Genes,” directly impacting their monetary value and skill development.
- Competition Success: Horses with numerous competition wins become more valuable, and this value extends to their offspring. Continue winning competitions to further enhance a horse’s worth.
- Mature for Sale: While foals can be sold, selling them as adult horses with competition wins typically fetches a higher price.
Highly skilled horses with extensive competition records and desirable traits will produce the most valuable foals. While the premade horse Duke Gooseman is valued at $17,400, player-owned horses have been reported to reach up to $45,000.
For daily horse care, consult our comprehensive Horse Care Guide.
