Taming a horse in Minecraft is just the first step. To truly control your equine companion and experience the thrill of high-speed travel, you’ll need a saddle. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of acquiring a saddle, from the newly introduced crafting method to traditional techniques like trading, exploration, and even fishing.
A crafting table making a saddle. Mojang
Crafting a Saddle
The latest Minecraft updates have introduced the highly anticipated saddle crafting feature. Here’s how to craft your own:
Step 1: Gather Materials: You’ll need three pieces of leather and one iron ingot.
Step 2: Access Crafting Table: Open your crafting table interface.
Step 3: Arrange Ingredients: Place the iron ingot in the bottom middle square of the crafting grid. Position the three leather pieces in the squares directly above and to the sides of the iron ingot. The image above illustrates the correct placement.
Step 4: Retrieve Saddle: Your crafted saddle will appear in the output slot. Drag it into your inventory.
Step 5: Saddle Up: Equip the saddle and interact with a compatible mount to apply it. A new feature allows you to remove saddles from pigs using shears, offering a humane alternative to previous methods.
Trading for a Saddle
While crafting provides a convenient option, trading remains a viable way to obtain a saddle:
Step 1: Locate a Leatherworker: Find a village and identify the leatherworker villager.
Step 2: Level Up the Villager: Trade emeralds, leather, rabbit hide, flint, or other desired items to increase the leatherworker’s level. Saddles become available as a trade option at higher levels.
Minecraft Leatherworker Villager Mojang
Step 3: Master Level Trading: Reaching Master Level (Level 5) with the leatherworker significantly increases your chances of finding a saddle as a trade option, up to 50%.
Minecraft Trade with Leatherworker Mojang
Finding Saddles in Chests
Exploring generated structures offers another path to saddle acquisition. Chests within these structures have a chance to contain a saddle, though it’s not guaranteed. Here are some potential locations and their approximate saddle drop rates:
- Abandoned Mineshafts (percentage unknown)
- Desert Temples (23.5%)
- Dungeons (27.9%)
- End Cities (13.3%)
- Jungle Temples (12.9%)
- Nether Fortresses (35.3%)
- Strongholds (2.5%)
Minecraft Desert Temple Chests Mojang
Fishing for a Saddle
Fishing presents a less reliable but still possible method. While the chances are slim (0.8%), you might just reel in a saddle along with your usual catches.
Minecraft screenshot showing a fishing line and tackle Mojang
Using a Saddle
Once you’ve acquired a saddle, it’s time to put it to use:
Step 1: Approach Your Mount: With empty hands, interact with the horse or other compatible animal.
Step 2: Tame the Beast: The horse may attempt to buck you off. Persist until it accepts your presence.
Step 3: Equip the Saddle: Open your inventory while riding the horse. You’ll see a combined inventory view. Drag the saddle from your inventory to the designated saddle slot in the horse’s inventory (usually a gray saddle icon). The horse icon will change to indicate the saddle is equipped.
Minecraft Place Saddle on Horse Mojang
With the saddle secured, you’re ready to explore the world of Minecraft on horseback.
