The Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Profit in The Sims 4: Horse Ranching

The highly anticipated expansion of The Sims 4 franchise, known as Horse Ranch, finally introduces horses to the game, along with other features related to ranch life. In this expansion, players have the opportunity to care for horses and other animals, as well as create nectar and participate in community activities in Chestnut Ridge. This immersive experience allows players to embrace the laid-back lifestyle of maintaining a ranch, which presents its own set of challenges.

Although The Sims 4 expansion patch does not include new career options, players can still earn a substantial amount of Simoleons in various ways, and even sustain themselves through different paths. For instance, nectar-making can serve as a supplementary source of income, but dedicating oneself to horse care can almost be a full-time occupation. This particular activity is immensely rewarding for those who have a genuine interest and willingness to invest their time in horse-related tasks.

Entering Horse Competitions

Earning money with horses can be done through horse competitions. Although there is an entry fee, especially at higher levels, the rewards make it worth it if the horse places well. While winning a gold medal every time is not guaranteed, players can increase their chances by training and improving their riding skills, as well as the horse's skills. By reaching higher difficulty levels, players can start earning money on a daily basis. To ensure a consistent income, it is advisable to own multiple horses, as each horse can only enter one competition per day while the rider can enter multiple competitions. This allows players to potentially earn more than many traditional careers.

In addition to the prizes earned from competitions, winning a competition also significantly increases the value of a horse for selling purposes. Furthermore, when a horse places in the master rank, regardless of the specific ranking, it will receive the Champion Horse reward trait. This trait enables players to breed horses with champion genes, giving them a head start in terms of higher value and easier skill training. Players should also be aware that if they are specifically aiming for a gold medal to increase revenue or horse value, they may consider saving the game before entering the competition. If a gold medal is not received, they can reload the game and try again.

Selling Horses

For players who have a keen interest in breeding and training horses, selling them can be a lucrative but long-term endeavor. The value of a horse is typically determined by factors such as its skill levels, age, competition performance, and overall care. Additionally, possessing Champion Genes can significantly increase a horse's worth. Therefore, players must consistently breed and train horses to maximize their potential profit.

Players have the option to sell foals once they are trained or to continue raising them until they reach adulthood and participate in competitions before selling. However, in order to achieve the highest profit, it is recommended that players first focus on obtaining the Grand Champ Trainer reward trait. This trait can be obtained by completing the Championship Rider aspiration. With this trait, Sims will not only be able to train horses more efficiently, but they will also be able to sell them for higher prices.

While completing the Championship Rider aspiration, players will also have the opportunity to earn Simoleons through competitions and obtain a Champion Horse. Breeding horses with Champion Genes will result in offspring that are more valuable for selling, as they will fetch higher prices and acquire skills at a faster rate. Therefore, it is advisable for players to keep at least one champion horse, rather than selling it, in order to facilitate the breeding process and maximize profits.

Participating In Community Jobs

Another option for earning money with horses is to participate in community jobs available on the Community Board. While players can commonly find these boards in Chestnut Ridge, they also have the option to purchase one from the Buy menu for greater efficiency and reduced travel time. Community jobs are similar to odd jobs in that they are small tasks, but they can be lucrative for skilled horse riders. These jobs typically take 4 hours to complete and often require a horse, although other farm animals like mini sheep and mini goats can also be used to earn money through community jobs.

Collecting Horse Manure

Revealingly, even horse manure can yield profits. Horses regularly leave manure scattered throughout the lot, which players can collect and stack to serve various purposes. While selling them individually yields relatively modest returns, ranging from 10 to 20 simoleons per pile, accumulated over time, they can generate a form of passive income. Alternatively, avid gardeners can utilize the manure as highly effective fertilizer, enhancing crop quality and generating income through this alternative approach. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this method alone is not recommended as the primary means of acquiring Simoleons, but rather serves as a supplementary source of income.

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