Players in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have found a clever new way to tame wild horses-by building elaborate traps that turn the plains of Hyrule into makeshift corrals. What started as simple curiosity has turned into a growing trend among players experimenting with physics, patience, and ingenuity.
I have no real reason for needing to collect so many horses, aside from a dumb initiative I’ve invented, which is: All my horses need to have a Junior counterpart. For instance, my horse Larry has a son named Larry Junior, Fred has his son Fred Jr., and so on. (The horse used in the header image of the post is named Junior, and I’m still working on Junior, Jr.) All this is to say that I have struggled to catch horses for a while, continuously getting bucked off or sent into space by a hoof – until I discovered the horse trap.
Players much, much smarter than I am are creating traps to catch and tame wild horses. The key element is Ultrahand, the ability that lets Link glue random things together. The simplest of horse traps needs just some logs or lumber, arranged into a square with a long pole attached. It can be used like a fishing net, but for horses. More complex devices could have wheels or spring mechanisms, too. The core goal remains the same: Put the horse in the box, then jump onto them. You may still get kicked off, but the success rate is much higher when the horse can’t run away.
Unless your horse trap has wheels, you’ll need to use Ultrahand to extend the trap’s reach so as to not startle the horse with its presence. They’ll get scared once the box is around them, but you’ll be able to hop in, jump on, and start soothing your new steed.
The thing is, you do still need adequate stamina to be able to tame a horse, even with an ingenious trap. The trap itself is still handy for the catching part, although the taming is all on you.
Beyond horses, you’re able to tame other animals, like bears, in Tears of the Kingdom. The horse trap could be useful there if you’d like to give it a go – but you need to have a lot of stamina or face certain death. Other players have been using the trap method to easily defeat large groups of Bokoblins and their big bosses.
How to build a simple horse trap step by step in Tears of the Kingdom
Simple Horse Trap Steps
Gather 4-6 logs or wooden planks and one long log or pole from the environment or nearby construction sites. These materials are commonly found in Hyrule Field near horse herds.
Step 1: Form the Base Frame
Place four logs on the ground in a square shape, about two to three Link-body lengths per side, to create an enclosure large enough for a horse. Use Ultrahand (L button) to pick up and position each log precisely.
Step 2: Attach the Extending Pole
Fuse a long log or pole to one side of the square using Ultrahand’s rotate and attach function (hold A while hovering). This acts as a handle to extend the trap without approaching too closely.
Step 3: Position Near a Horse
Crouch and sneak toward a wild horse herd, then grab the pole end with Ultrahand. Slowly extend the frame over a lone horse from behind, dropping it once the enclosure surrounds it-avoid sudden movements to prevent spooking.
Step 4: Mount and Tame
Jump inside the trap and press A to mount the enclosed horse. Rapidly tap L to soothe it as its stamina depletes, filling your own bar if needed beforehand. Lead to a stable for registration once tamed.
Best materials to use for a cheap horse trap
Logs and wooden planks serve as the best cheap materials for a horse trap in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These items are abundant across Hyrule, often lying around near trees, ruins, or construction sites in areas like Hyrule Field where wild horses roam.
Wooden logs provide sturdy, lightweight construction that Ultrahand can easily manipulate for fusing into frames. Their length matches a horse’s size, minimizing the need for multiple pieces.
Planks or lumber offer flatter surfaces for stable enclosures if logs are scarce. Both materials break down naturally if the trap fails, avoiding permanent clutter.
