The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Horse Ranch in The Sims 4

The Sims 4: Horse Ranch is the fourteenth expansion pack in The Sims 4 franchise, focusing on the inclusion of horses as playable characters. Set in a new world with a ranch theme, players can experience a cozy Western lifestyle with its own unique challenges. This expansion is similar to Cottage Living in its emphasis on caring for farm animals and can also be seen as a continuation of The Sims 3: Pets, reintroducing horses to the game. However, the extent of the gameplay integration with other packs is not as extensive as the previous expansion, Growing Together.

Everything New In A Nutshell

New World (Chestnut Ridge)

Horses and Horse Related Activities

Mini Sheep and Mini Goat

New Social Activities (Ranch Gathering and Ranch Animal Day) and Line Dancing

New Skills (Nectar Making, Horse Riding, and four new Horse Skills)

New Aspirations (Championship Rider and Expert Nectar Maker)

New Traits (Horse Lover and Rancher, as well as a large set of Horse Traits)

New CAS, Build/Buy Items

Chestnut Ridge

Chestnut Ridge is the exciting new addition to the Horse Ranch expansion, offering a magnificent Western frontier lifestyle for all those who adore ranch living. Unlike previous worlds, Chestnut Ridge is a collaborative effort by multiple Simmers, showcasing the diverse talents and skills of many. The world's design is centered around equestrian activities, with each neighborhood featuring paths for Sims and horses to explore. Training horse skills is made convenient with interactive objects like Barrels and Jumping bars, eliminating the need to visit specific lots or make additional purchases.

One highlight of Chestnut Ridge is the New Appaloosa neighborhood, which includes an Equestrian Center rabbit hole. Here, players can engage in various horse-related activities. The neighborhood's name is reminiscent of Appaloosa Plains from The Sims 3, and throughout the world, players will notice that many names are horse-related, reflecting different breeds or horse-related objects. Overall, Chestnut Ridge comprises 13 lots, including 9 residential, 3 community lots (a bar, a nightclub, a park), and 1 rental lot. While some pre-existing Sims already occupy some of the residential lots, there are also three uninhabited houses and one completely empty lot, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the gameplay with a new character.

Horses and Horse Related Activities

The horses in the game are the most important feature to consider. They have an extensive Create-a-Sim (CAS) option, similar to Cats & Dogs, where players can choose from a wide range of breeds. Additionally, players have the freedom to customize their horses using a color wheel and free drawing tool. However, horses cannot be controlled like regular Sims.

In terms of gameplay, horses play a vital role in ranch life and require a significant amount of time from players and their Sims. Players not only have to take care of their horses' needs but can also train and breed them for various purposes. Although no new careers are introduced, taking care of horses can be seen as a career in itself. It offers the potential to earn Simoleons and other rewards through horse-related activities such as breeding, selling, competitions, community board activities, and utilizing Horse Manure for different purposes. The expansion pack also includes new non-player characters (NPCs) such as Ranch Hands and Horse Trainers, who assist with horse care and other aspects of ranch life.

Mini Sheep and Mini Goat

Mini Sheep and Mini Goat are incredibly cute additions to this pack, maintaining their adorable tininess as they age. Acquiring them is made easy through various new objects and locations. Similar to horses, they have needs that require attention. When taken care of and with a strong bond with their owners, they become highly beneficial for gardening. Mini goats can consume weeds, while mini sheep can devour bugs and pesticides around the crops.

These mini animals share similarities with farm animals like chickens, llamas, and cows from the Cottage Living expansion pack. It's no surprise that they integrate well with Cottage Living if players own it. With this pack installed, shearing and milking no longer only yield Simoleons. Instead, they provide milk and wool that can be utilized for various purposes.

New Social Activities and Line Dancing

The pack introduces two new social activities, called Ranch Gathering and Ranch Animal Day, that function similarly to other social events in the game. These events are goal-oriented and offer players rewards. Both activities center around ranch-related tasks, such as dancing to ranch music and participating in various social interactions. Additionally, Ranch Animal Day allows players to care for the ranch animals.

In addition to these activities, the pack also introduces line dancing, a new type of group dancing that caters to players who enjoy immersing themselves in the community and socializing in a western style. Line dancing is not a difficult activity and can be performed on medium and large-sized dancing boards and platforms. Thankfully, this pack includes suitable western-style boards and platforms. Line dancing also helps players improve their dancing skills. Players can try this feature in any suitable lot, but the new nightclub in Chestnut Ridge offers the most immersive experience. The addition of a Ranch radio station enhances the enjoyment of line dancing.

Nectar Making Skill

Nectar making is a skill that players can acquire in both The Sims: Makin Magic and The Sims 3: World Adventures. Unlike other activities in the game that focus on ranching or horses, nectar making offers the potential to earn a substantial income. This mini-skill has a level cap of 5 and enables players to create different flavored nectars using various fruits and herbs from their gardens. These nectars can be consumed to receive mood-boosting effects or left to age and increase in value for selling.

The mechanics of nectar making involve considering the quality and aging process of the nectars. By producing a large quantity and allowing them to age, players can generate a passive income. Additionally, the game provides Nectar Racks to efficiently store and organize the nectars without taking up much space.

Horse Riding and Horse Skills

The latest addition to the skills for human Sims is the horse riding skill, which is the main skill in this pack and has a total of 10 levels. Moreover, horses now have new skills too - Temperament, Agility, Jumping, and Endurance, all of which can also reach level 10 and can be trained through various interactions.

Having a mastery of the horse riding skill is closely linked to these skills, as it significantly aids in the training of horses. It is crucial to pay attention to these skills, especially when aiming to make money with horses. Improving these skills not only increases the chances of winning competitions but also enhances the selling value of the horses and medals earned from competitions.

New Aspirations

The Sims 4: Horse Ranch also includes two new aspirations, each consisting of only one level but with multiple steps to accomplish. Although they may appear straightforward, they can actually consume a considerable amount of time. Nonetheless, for those individuals who have a keen interest in pursuing these activities after fulfilling their aspirations, the rewards they offer are truly worthwhile. The following outlines the steps and rewards associated with each aspiration:

Championship Rider

Achieve Level 10 Horse Riding Skill

Compete in 15 horse competitions

Win Gold in five Master horse competitions

Place at the Ultimate Horse Championship

Expert Nectar Maker

Improved Reward: Grand Champ Rider Reward Trait - With this trait, Sims can enhance their horse training skills, accelerating the learning process and yielding valuable profits from selling them. Moreover, both the Sim and their equine companion experience sheer joy and contentment when embarking on rides together.

Achieve Level 5 Nectar Making Skill

Make 50 Excellent Bottles of Nectar

Earn 100,000 Simoleons Crafting Nectar

Reward: Nectar Know-It All Reward Trait - Sims who successfully achieve the Expert Nectar Maker aspiration will gain the ability to produce nectar that is already aged, reducing the time it takes to mature. Moreover, this trait will alleviate the negative consequences of consuming nectar, such as bladder problems and certain negative emotions. Overall, it will improve Sims' mood by diminishing the impact of negative moodlets.

New Traits

The pack introduces two traits for Human Sims:

Rancher (Lifestyle): These Sims excel at ranch life and take pride in their work. They enjoy ranch chores and caring for their livestock.

Horse Lover (Social): Sims who are passionate about horses form a deep connection with these majestic creatures. They excel in socializing with and tending to horses, surpassing the abilities of other Sims.

Moreover, this pack introduces 11 special traits for horses in Create-A-Sim (CAS), which influence their overall behavior and proficiency development. Additionally, there are 4 hereditary traits that can be passed down to foals, namely Well-Mannered, Hardy, Curious, and Playful, with one being randomly assigned upon birth. Furthermore, players can also unlock 2 additional traits through Horse Competitions. One of them is the prestigious Champion Horse trait, earned when a horse achieves a rank in the challenging Master difficulty. Horses possessing this trait can then produce offspring with Champion Genes, enhancing their value and accelerating their skill progression.

New CAS, Build/Buy Items

The content fragment has been

The primary focus of the pack is Western-style design, offering objects that allow players to create their dream ranch. Many of these objects feature a wood texture in various color options. In addition to introducing new items like the nectar maker and ranch activities, the pack also includes a wide range of daily lifestyle items for kitchens, social activities, comfort, and clutter, ensuring a fully cohesive collection.

Regarding Create-a-Sim (CAS) items, players can expect a selection of Western and indigenous-inspired hairstyles, accessories, and outfits. There are also options available that are well-suited for riding, including boots and hats. However, it's important to note that when it comes to CAS, the focus is primarily on the horses rather than the human Sims. Players even have the ability to create sparkling unicorns through CAS, although these magical creatures cannot be found in the world like their predecessors from The Sims 3.

The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S