Horse Riding Games

Horse riding games let you race, clear jumps or run a stable. There are about ten, all free and with nothing to download: a small selection, but a varied one.

Three ways to play with horses

The first is racing. In Horse Racing 2D, Horse Race, Horse Racing Derby Quest and Stay The Distance Horseracing, whoever crosses the line first wins, and the trick is managing the horse's effort: a full gallop from the start can leave you with nothing for the finish. Stay The Distance, going by its title, is built around exactly that idea of lasting the course.

The second is show jumping, which on the list is Horse Show Jump Simulator 3D. In the real sport, a jumping course is a series of fences you have to clear in order without knocking them down, and every knockdown is penalized. You have to judge your takeoff point well: jump too early or too late and the horse knocks the bar.

The third is management. Sim Stables and Race Horse Tycoon are about caring for horses and running a business, at a calmer pace built for planning ahead.

Some background: the name Derby comes from a famous English race, the one at Epsom, which is why many horse races and games use it in the title. In real show jumping, a knocked bar costs four faults and going over the time limit counts too, so winning means being clean and fast at once. If a game shows you faults or penalties, it's that same logic.

Other options

The section also has Uphill Rush 9 and Jhansi's Ride, which stray from classic horse riding. If horses are what you're after, start with the ones above.

To play better

• In races, don't spend the horse's effort at the start. Save some for the home stretch.
• In jumping, approach calmly and jump a little before you reach the obstacle.
• In the management games, go slowly: money and time are better spent when you plan.
• If the horse has a stamina bar, watch it the way you'd watch a gas gauge.