Heather 
Question for all #HorsePeople: What kind of things/mechanics/gameplay/features would you want in the Horse Game of your dreams? 🐎
Willow (she/her)* trail rides
* competitions and training that aren't black holes (so like dressage, cross country, jumping, racing, etc)
@MsHearthWitch 
Yesssss
Yesssss
Hollie@Rheall Honestly I want to stand there and be able to groom my horse. Scratch their ears, rub my hand down their noses, feed them treats. Pat them. Any horse game should absolutely have the ability to give a pat.
wb x64@hollie @Rheall adding onto the competition that's not a black hole thing, maybe if you place well and get prizes you can afford better shampoo that visually looks nicer. Like start the game with a garden hose and the cheapest human shampoo and end with your custom crafted SkinSoSoft blend or Mane and Tail bubble bath ;)
Upgrading stall mats and mucking tools is often unacknowledged. Random health issues you gotta ask a vet about. Wash, brush, and hoof cleaning minigame. Maybe randomized trails
@hollie @Rheall slightly randomized breed and individual characteristics could be fun for sure, ultimately this is like any other form of animal training we're just used to keeping predators as pets. Horses are prey animals and grazers who are on the lookout for threats to run away from or kick, so we often don't understand their instincts (like leaning into pressure vs moving away from, or other body language)
@hollie @Rheall having a horse is actually quite frustrating and a learning experience so there should be the highs of like actually connecting with the "virtual pet" over a good scratch or being excited to see you or obeying more, and the lows of a snake scare or bucking or external/internal accident/condition. Having the best gear and prettiest well behaved horse should be a reward for all this work, not default.
My mom bought a horse who literally ate fries and drank Coke and was insane lol
@Rheall @wilbr The horse I had when I was a kid was sassy as hell, I was ten years old and everyone kept telling me I was in charge and I was like are you freaking kidding me? She is definitely in charge. But she liked me and we were friends, so it worked.
My friend Stephanie came over one day and was all, "I'll show her who's boss," and I said sure, you do that, and watched Ginger buck her off four times before she gave up. (That friend is now a decorated female Army drill sergeant!).
Nik@Rheall if you want to really go the extra mile you can almost make it like a training sim where you research natural horsemanship resources and gamify the magic of actually communicating with an animal during training and seeing progress, being on the same team to have fun despite different species' idea of "fun" (like a good roll in the dirt after a bath!), versus the traditional "kick harder means go" which isn't really how it works
@hollie Yes, horses must get ALL the scritches!!! <3
zceline@Rheall haven't checked with our 🐎 yet, they may have opinions (this could be a really long answer LOL), but...
- to be able to interact & play with your horse would be awesome. i.e. something beyond riding, using them as only means of on-demand transport, or working a certain discipline.
- horses in herds, maybe them choosing you. avatar frontiers of pandora did this so nicely with the ikran (winged creature)
horses are so communicative and playful if we're listening and willing to engage!
Mecrisp@Rheall It should know and wish something that is non-obvious, and nudge me gently into finding out what it wishes for. And, of course, horses have character, some are curious and pick up something suddenly! Additionally, try to simulate herding behaviour based on characters and social interaction, and think of circus tricks lessons.
Jenn Turner@Rheall I want to pet the horse!
Amy Churchwell@Rheall I really enjoyed Red Dead Redemption for the horses — the different kinds (finding special horses that were faster/looked unique/.etc), and riding through beautiful landscapes.
@amy I'm playing through RDR2 right now, and I am absolutely amazed by the horses! It's definitely got my brain working about horses in games. :D
Waylon Jeggings@Rheall hello, my daughter is a Horse Person, here are some ideas, many of which are…ambitious
* design the interior of your barn
* choose among many horse breeds
* improve skills across multiple axes: western / English / uh jousting / archery?
* design your own jumping course
* networked racing “battle mode”
And some terrible ideas, from the rest of us that are not Horse Persons
* start with a Shetland pony, get XP until you move up to a Clydesdale
* secret unlockable Elephant Mode
* can the horses swim
* can the horses swim with me on top of them
* can the elephant swim in Elephant Mode
* nobody’s ever made a riding elephant game, it’s an untapped market is all I’m saying
DNA schedule
David JONES@Rheall pet, scritch, selfie (on- and off-). Also, mirrors? (i once rode on a manege with mirrors and it was very interesting and useful).
NAAN@Rheall I always loved Crystal's Pony Tale: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal%27s_Pony_Tale Some games have the intent of taking care of the horse but those always seemed boring ^_^;; Thus why I mentioned this game. Since I was also a huge My Little Pony fan as a child when I played it (the 80s version, I'll need to add now, hah!), for me, I'd love to play a game where every puzzle locks a new adventure or mystery. And of course, customizing colors for the horse would be awesome.
