Don’t ever say to me as a DM that you are going to gallop your horse for one hour, as per PHB (2014) “A mounted rider can move at a gallop for about an hour, covering twice the usual distance for a fast pace.” (PHB p181) I know we are in a fantasy world, but […]
Don’t ever say to me as a DM that you are going to gallop your horse for one hour, as per PHB (2014) “A mounted rider can move at a gallop for about an hour, covering twice the usual distance for a fast pace.” (PHB p181) I know we are in a fantasy world, but NO! I did biefly address the speed of horses in my post on Horses in D&D but have been mulling it over somewhat.
A fit horse can sustain a gallop for one to two miles at the most before needing a good rest. Different types of horses will go at different speeds in each pace. A smaller horse or pony will be slower than a larger one. A draft or heavier breed may be slower than a lighter breed.
They are flight animals and the gallop is gernerally only used when running away from a suspected predator. We, as riders, obviously have trained them to be less ‘flight’ oriented (I still maintain that there is at least 5% of a well trained domestic horse which will take flight at something that they feel threatens them). They may take flight and bolt, or spook, spin, or sometimes freeze and stop dead, but prepared to run.
| Walk | 3-4 miles per hour (4-7 kph) | Same speed as human walking speed. Can sustain this for at least 25 miles (40 km), with good stamina up to about 8 hours. Will need rest breaks to drink and eat. |
| Trot | 8-12 mph (12-19 kph) | Likely able to trot 20-40 miles (32-64 km) in an 8 hour day, but need regular breaks at walk, or resting. |
| Canter | 12-15 mph (19-24 kph) | Up to 12-15 miles (19-24km) before needing a rest. |
| Gallop | 25-30 mph (40-48 kph) | Not sustainable for than 2-3 miles (3-4 km) at the most. |
In endurance riding, with a fit horse, a 20-25 mile (32-40km) ride will take around 3 hours with an average speed of 5-9 mph (8-15kph) (Novice level) with short breaks for water. An average fitness horse may may manage 2 to 2.5 miles at top speed before resting. Other considerations are, age, fitness, ground and weather conditions.
The other thing is that horses should always have access to food. Their digestive system is designed to pretty much have access to a constant supply of food. Disruptions to this may cause colic or other complications. This also means the equines’ temperature is controlled. As an aside, their digestive system is also their internal heating system.
Pushing a horse beyond its limits, could kill it.
Resting
A fit horse, well-conditioned for the work, will travel up 10 25 miles a day. An average horse will maybe go 15 miles or so. I would probably rule that in a day of travel in D&D, a horse should get a couple of short rests, which is pretty much what the DMG (p84) states for the PCs. Also, I would indicate to players that they should offer the horses water at any opportunity presented to them; a pond, a stream, a river. The horse will take on water if they need it as well as take a snatch of grass, or other vegetation (don’t let them snack on something potentially poisonous).
If they are having to travel in trot, canter, or gallop (remember, no more than a couple of miles), they may need more ‘breather’ breaks to catch breath. A short time walking can warrant as a rest as long as water can be offered.
Signs of Fatigue
- Laboured breathing
- Slowing down or stopping
- Stumbling
- Irritable
- Restless
- Drooping head carriage
- Noticeable stiffness if they really have been pushed
On longer rides, definitely stop and check the horse after 30 to 40 minutes or so, and offer water.
Other factors in terms of the distance a horse can go without resting, or travelling generally include:
- Environmental factors – not only slow down travel, but will contribute to horse fatigue.
- terrain (boggy, hard, stony, steep slopes, etc.)
- Temerature (extreme heat or cold
- Weather
- Carry weight – an over-burdened horse with saddlebags and/or rider
- Fitness – one can assume the horses that PCs use in D&D will be average fit, if not in really good fitness and condition.
- Age – young and old horses may not have the stamina. They may be more prone to fatigue or injury
- Condition – a thin or fat horse would struggle.
Obviously, there are many factors when it comes to my opinion of the use of horses in D&D and I will implement somethings that I have touched upon here and in the previous post, however, I am very aware things need to be kept relatively simple.
Bibliography
Dean, C. (2025). How Long Can You Ride A Horse Before It Gets Tired – How To Own a Horse. [online] How To Own a Horse. Available at: https://howtoownahorse.com/how-long-can-you-ride-a-horse-before-it-gets-tired/ [Accessed 23 Feb. 2025].
Nate Dewsbury (2023). How Long Can a Horse Run: Equine Stamina Guide – All About Horses. [online] All About Horses. Available at: https://allabouthorses.org/basics/how-long-can-a-horse-run/ [Accessed 15 Feb. 2025].
Miles Henry (2023). Will A Horse Run Until It Dies? – Horse Running And Death. [online] horseracingsense.com. Available at: https://horseracingsense.com/will-horse-run-until-it-dies-running-death/ [Accessed 23 Feb. 2025].
Price, A. (2022). How Far Can A Horse Travel In A Day? [online] Justformyhorse.com. Available at: https://justformyhorse.com/how-far-can-a-horse-travel-in-a-day/ [Accessed 23 Feb. 2025].
