To brush your horse in Red Dead Redemption 2, get off, stand next to it, hold the focus button (L2 on PlayStation, LT on Xbox, right mouse button on PC), and press the button shown next to “Brush” in the prompt list (B by default on PC, per community keybinding lists). Arthur runs the brush along the horse’s coat, removing mud and building your bond. Below we cover the controls on every platform, how to brush from the saddle, other ways to get a horse clean, and exactly why cleanliness and bonding matter.
This guide covers Story Mode in the current build of Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4, Xbox One and PC (Steam and the Rockstar Games Launcher). PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players run those versions through backward compatibility, so the console buttons are identical, and as of this writing Rockstar has not announced a native current-gen version.
How to Brush Your Horse on Foot
This is the standard method, and it works at hitching posts, in camp and out in the wild.
-
Dismount and walk up to your horse’s side.
-
Hold the focus button while looking at the horse: L2 on PlayStation, LT on Xbox, right mouse button on PC. A list of horse interactions appears in the bottom right of the screen.
- Press the button beside “Brush”. On PC, community keybinding lists put Brush on B by default. On console, use the button the prompt shows; the list changes with context, so reading the prompt is more reliable than memorizing a button.
- Repeat if needed. A very muddy horse can take more than one pass before the coat is clean.
Our video at the end of this guide shows us brushing a horse on PS4. The screenshots above come from the same recording.
Get into the habit of brushing whenever you hitch your horse outside a shop, since you are already standing beside it and the dirt never builds up.
How to Brush Your Horse From the Saddle
You can also brush while mounted, which is handy on the trail. Use the item wheel:
- Hold L1 on PlayStation or LB on Xbox (Tab on PC) to open the wheel.
- Tab across to the horse items (R1 or RB on console; on PC use the key shown at the bottom of the wheel).
- Highlight the Horse Brush and release to use it.
If the brush does not appear there, fall back to the on-foot method above.
Other Ways to Clean Your Horse
Brushing is free and fast, but it is not the only option.
- Water. Riding through water that is deep enough to splash, but not deep enough for the horse to swim, washes off mud. Take care in rivers: a horse that gets out of its depth can drown. Water rinses Arthur off the same way, as our guide to washing your clothes explains; for a full scrub, see our bathing guide.
- Rain. Riding in the rain gradually cleans the coat too.
- Stables. You can pay a stable to have your horse cleaned, which is also where you can buy tack, change saddles and store more horses.
Why Brushing Matters: Cleanliness and Bonding
A dirty horse is a weaker horse. Failing to clean your horse makes its health and stamina cores drain faster, which means slower recovery on long rides. Brushing fixes that, but its bigger long-term payoff is bonding.
Every horse you own has a bond level from 1 to 4, shown on the horse’s info card when you focus on it. The bond rises as you:
- Ride it, especially at a steady pace for long stretches.
- Brush it when it is dirty.
- Pat it, from the same focus prompt list, or by patting its neck while riding when prompted.
- Feed it with horse food such as carrots or apples from your satchel. Horses carry weight too, which our guide to losing weight covers.
- Calm it when it is spooked, rather than letting it throw you.
Higher bond levels bring real gameplay gains: the horse answers your whistle from farther away, holds its nerve around gunfire and predators, gains small stat increases, and unlocks moves such as rearing, skidding, drifting and a piaffe (dressage) trot. Donkeys, mules and gang horses cannot be bonded, and each horse bonds separately, so pick one you like before investing time.
Long rides count toward bond, so the cinematic camera auto-ride from our fast travel guide is an easy way to rack up riding time. A brave, well-bonded horse is also a better hunting partner, since it is less likely to bolt near predators; our guide to perfect pelts covers the hunting side.
Brushing in Red Dead Online
Red Dead Online uses the same brushing controls and the same bond system. The difference is ownership: only horses you have bought and stabled can be bonded, while stolen or wild horses are temporary. See Rockstar’s Red Dead Online page for current horse events and discounts.
For more help with Arthur’s journey, see our Red Dead guides hub, or learn how to use Dead Eye for when those rides turn into gunfights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you brush your horse in RDR2 on PS4 and PS5? Get off the horse, hold L2 while looking at it, and press the button beside “Brush” in the prompt list at the bottom right of the screen.
What is the brush button on PC? Hold the right mouse button to focus on the horse, then press the Brush key, which community keybinding lists put on B by default. The prompt on screen always shows your current binding.
Why won’t my horse get clean? A very dirty horse can need several brush passes. Riding through shallow water or rain also cleans it, and a stable can clean it for you.
Does brushing your horse increase bonding? Yes. Brushing a dirty horse raises your bond, along with riding, patting, feeding and calming it.
Can you brush your horse while riding? Yes: open the item wheel, tab to the horse items, and use the Horse Brush.