Horses have two skills: Racing and Jumping. And Sims who ride horses quickly develop the Riding skill. As with all previous skills, these appear in the Skills tab as a series of 10 bubbles. If you hover the cursor over a skill, a tooltip pops up with an explanation of the skill and a bar showing the progress of that skill. Click on the icon to the right of the skill to open the Skill Journal.
Jumping Skill
The Jumping skill allows horses to jump over obstacles and compete in Show Jumping Competitions. And if they also have the Racing skill, they can compete in Cross-Country Competitions.
Horses can learn to jump on their own, but they rarely do this autonomously. They’ll learn much faster when directed by their rider, especially if that Sim has high level Riding skill or the Equestrain trait. The easiest way to learn the Jumping skill is by training on the Cavaletti Jump Trainer object, because it’s always successful. But if a horse gets lucky and successfully jumps any jump object, that will build skill. Participating in Show Jumping competitions also builds skill.
As the horse gains Jumping skill, and the rider gains Riding skill, they can attempt jumps over increasingly difficult objects. At first the horse might balk at a jump, or even throw the rider. But as horses gain skill, they become more adept until they can jump even the toughest obstacles flawlessly.
A horse can only train for so long before becoming fatigued. When fatigued, the horse cannot continue gaining skill. Take a break when your horse gets tired.
Jumping Skill Progression
There are 10 levels of Jumping skill. As a horse progresses, different options unlock.
Level 0: Horse can enter Beginner-level Show Jumping competitions (if the rider also has enough skill). Horse can enter Beginner-level Cross-Country competitions (if Racing skill is also high enough).
Level 1: Unlocks the Jumping Saddle Outfit.
Level 3: Horse can enter the Advanced-level Show Jumping competitions (if the rider also has enough skill).
Horse can enter the Advanced-level Cross-Country competitions (if Racing skill and rider’s skill levels are high enough).
Level 5: Unlocks the Nothing But Air positive moodlet from highly successful jumps.
Level 7: Horse can enter the International-level Show Jumping competitions (if the rider also has enough skill). Horse can enter the International-level Cross-Country competitions (if Racing skill and rider’s skill levels are high enough).
As horses gain levels, they can train for longer before becoming fatigued. And of course, the higher level the horse and rider are, the more likely they are to win competitions.
Jumping Skill Journal
The Jumping Skill Journal shows the description of the skill: Some horses might be content to stay on the ground, but <horsename> has taken a different path. Becoming a skilled jumper will take a lot of practice on different jumping obstacles and courses, but with dedication and the right rider, <horsename> could become an equestrian legend.
Then it shows the Jumping statistics: Jumps Attempted, Poor Jumps, Perfect Jumps, Show Jumping Competitions Won: Beginner / Advanced / International, Cross-Country Competitions Won: Beginner / Advanced / International.
And lists the Jumping skill–related Challenges:
Jumping Star
Jumping Stars have won more than 15 Advanced or International Show Jumping Competitions at the Equestrian Center. Their jumping fame makes them and their offspring far more valuable to horse buyers and breeders.
Tireless Leaper
Tireless Leapers have attempted more than 100 jumps on jump obstacles. They’ve tried jumps and run jumping courses so much that they no longer get fatigued from any jump training.
Frequent Flyer
Frequent Flyers have made more than 50 perfect jumps over jumping obstacles. They’ve become so confident in their jumping abilities that they’ll never refuse a jump, no matter how daunting.
Finally, at the very bottom is a panel showing that horse’s riders, with their Riding skill level, relationship, and the number of competitions and jumps they’ve made riding that horse.
See the Horse Competitions section, following, for a discussion of the different competitions.
Racing Skill
Does your horse have what it takes to become the next Seabiscuit or Man O’ War? Train her to race and find out!
To start training your horse to race, just start riding around or practice on the Dashing Training Posts objects, either on by placing the object on your own lot or by using the one at the horse park. You can also direct your horse to Gallop Around or Train for Racing (on the training post object).
As with the Jumping skill, horses become fatigued when they train. In fact, both the Jumping and Racing skills share this fatigue, so don’t think that when your horse is tired of racing, you can teach jumping. Give your horse a rest!
Tones
When you’re training your horse on the Dashing Training Post object, you have access to different tones. At first you only have the Basic Training option, but as your skill improves, you gain access to Jockey Training, which improves the rider’s Riding skill, and Endurance Training, which allows the horse to work out for longer before becoming fatigued. At level 6 you gain access to Hard Gallop which makes for faster skill gain but the horse gets tired and thirsty faster. At level 8, you get Perfect Pace which allows the best skill gain rate.
Racing Skill Progression
Level 0: Horse has first level o gallop speed. Horse can enter Beginner-level Racing competitions (if the rider also has enough skill). Horse can enter Beginner-level Cross-Country competitions (if Jumping skill is also high enough).
Level 1: Unlocks Racing Saddle Outfit.
Level 3: Horse can enter Advanced-level Racing competitions (if the rider also has enough skill). Horse can enter Advanced-level Cross-Country competitions (if Jumping skill is also high enough).
Level 4: Horse gains second level of gallop speed.
Level 5: Training for Racing earns the horse the Pumped Pony positive moodlet.
Level 7: Horse can enter International-level Racing competitions (if the rider also has enough skill). Horse can enter International-level Cross-Country competitions (if Jumping skill is also high enough).
Level 10: Horse gains third level of gallop speed.
Racing Skill Journal
The Racing Skill Journal shows similar statistics. It starts with the Racing skill description: <horsename> feels the need...the need for speed. She might be pokey now, but if she keeps galloping to and fro, follows a race training routine, and finds a good jockey, she could join the storied ranks of the greatest racehorses of all time.
Racing challenges:
Champion Racehorse : Champion Racehorses have won more than 15 Advanced or International Racing Competitions at the Equestrian Center. Their racing fame make them and their offspring far more valuable to horse buyers and breeders.
Long Distance Racer : To be a Long Distance Racer, a horse must gallop more than 8,000 meters. After achieving this milestone, every second spent galloping brings the utter joy and satisfaction of knowing one was born to run with the wind.
Endurance Equine : The title of Endurance Equine is given to horses that have spent 12 hours Training for Races. These horses have built up their endurance to the point that they no longer get fatigued from race training.
Riding Skill
Obviously, Riding skill is a Sim skill. But it’s inextricably linked to horses, so we cover it here. Sims can learn to ride in the usual ways: by practicing, by reading a book, and by taking a class. As a Sim’s Riding skill improves, new interactions become available. Sims can start earning serious Simoleons in competitions, receive lucrative opportunities to demonstrate riding on community lots, train other Sims’ horses, and even tame wild horses. If you plan to spend much time around horses, start training your Sims’ Riding skill right away.
The Riding skill class at the Equestrian Center will give you a big boost on the Riding skill.
Increase your Riding skill by just riding your horse around (faster gaits give extra skill increases), training for jumping, jumping objects, training for racing, and entering competitions.
The higher a Sim’s Riding skill, the better they are at mounting and dismounting. Novice riders sometimes mount the horse backward, and look puzzled until they figure it out. Skilled riders also can ride longer before getting the painful Saddle Sore negative moodlet.
Advancing in Riding skill also means that Sim gets better at training their horses. Horses ridden by Sims with high Riding skill gain Jumping and Racing skills faster.
Skill Progression
Level 0: Walk gait available
Level 1: Trot gait becomes available
Level 2: Gallop gait becomes available. Train for Racing interaction becomes available. Can enter Racing competitions at the Equestrian Center
Level 3: Can enter Jumping competitions at the Equestrian Center
Level 5: Can ride bareback
Level 6: Can enter Cross-Country competitions at the Equestrian Center
Level 7: Gain access to the Heroic Pose interaction.
Level 8: Gain access to the Adopt a Wild Horse social.
Level 10: Gain access to the Whisper to (Horse) social.
Riding Skill Journal
As you would expect, the Riding Skill Journal starts with the description: <Simname> has decided to see life from the back of a horse! It takes more than a rear end to sit in the saddle, but after a little riding time with a patient four-legged partner, <Simname> will soon be blazing trails, leaping gates, and training horses like a pro.
Statistics tracked in the Skill Journal are: Successful Jumps, Number of Best Friend Horses, Racing Competitions Won: Beginner / Advanced / International, Show Jumping Competitions Won: Beginner / Advanced / International, Cross-Country Competitions Won: Beginner / Advanced / International, Wild Horses Adopted,
Riding Skill Challenges:
Equestrian Champion : Equestrian Champions have won at least 20 Equestrian Center competitions at the Advanced or International level. They are so well-known in the racing world that they receive extra prize money from sponsorships at every competition they win.
Mustang Master: Mustang Masters have adopted at least 3 wild horses, so they know how to bring out the best in a horse. When a Mustang Master adopts a wild horse, he can choose some of the horse’s traits.
Horse Friend : Horse Friends have been Best Friends with at least 10 horses. They’re at ease around their equine buddies, and the horses know it. Horses rarely shy away from being handled by a Horse Friend.
Rider of Legends : To become a Rider of Legends, a Sim must win all three types of Equestrian Center competitions at the International level. For their dedication to the art of horsemanship, these Sims receive a truly epic equine statue.
Finally, a panel at the bottom of the Skill Journal lists each horse, with Racing and Jumping skill levels and number of each type of competitions won.
If you have Ambitions installed, you can sign up for the Horseman/Horsewoman Profession once you gain at least one level of Riding skill.