So, Arthur, you want to learn how to unlock the stables in Red Dead Redemption 2? Well, this can be done by completing the story mission named Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego.
You can start this mission by talking to Hosea at Horseshoe Overlook; however, make sure that you fulfill the requirements below. Ready cowboy? Great! Let’s go because a new adventure awaits!
Description:
“After spotting a huge bear up by Dakota River, Hosea and Arthur ride out and track it.”
Mission Requirements:
- Complete one of the following missions in Chapter 2: Polite Society, Valentine Style, Americans at Rest, Who is Not without Sin
Gold Medal Goals:
- Track the bear within one minute and 30 seconds
- Shoot the bear at least six times
- Complete the mission within 12 minutes
Walkthrough:
While in Horseshoe Overlook check your minimap for an icon showing letter H. Hosea is a great hunter and in Red Dead Redemption 2 Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego mission that’s exactly what you are going to do. Hunt!
After you talk to Hosea, you’ll find out that he is going after a huge Grizzly Bear. And you, cowboy, will join him. But first, you need to pick another horse.
To do so, you have to grab your saddle from your current steed. Hold L2/LT to focus on your horse, then press Up on your D-Pad to place it on the one hitched horse nearby. This one is visibly larger.
Great now! Follow Hosea to Valentine, and he will lead you to the stables. Enter the stables and buy a horse, after you decide what you want to do with the current one. You can either stable or sell it.
The following steps depend on your budget, as it dictates what horse you can buy. Obviously, you can opt for an expensive steed, or just something cheaper. If you don’t know what horse to pick, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 Horses Guide.
Now, back on the road, with our friend Hosea. Your goal is to reach the hunting spot indicated by Hosea. You should be very close to Moonstone Pad as Hosea informs you.
Continue to follow Hosea who will soon spot some rabbits. Dismount when Hosea stops and head to the yellow area marked on your map.
Since you already learned how to hunt in Red Dead Redemption 2 while playing The Aftermath of Genesis, in Chapter 1; hunting a rabbit for Hosea is not a big deal. You killed deer before, remember?
You should be able to find a rabbit close to the main road. Once you kill it, pick it up and get back to Hosea. Now, it’s time to cook the meat!
Set up camp by pressing L1/LB and then selecting the camp icon from the Items menu. Release L1/LB to set your camp.
Next, press ▢/X to Craft/Cook, and choose Plain Game. Keep ▢/X pushed to cook, then R2/RT to eat. Now that you learned how to cook, it’s time to sleep for a few hours. Press △/Y then ▢/X.
Rise and shine Arthur! Time to hunt that bear!
Use your cooking skills to craft Potent Predator Bait for Hosea, then ride with him to O’Creagh’s Run in Grizzlies East. It’s the same lake where you have found one of the Map Fragments for the Jack Hall Gang Treasure Hunt. Remember, cowboy?
Activate your Eagle Eye to spot the bear’s scent near a large rock, then investigate the paw marks.
Continue to follow the scent through the woods until you find a half-eaten fish. Investigate it, then repeat the same step to find some bear dung. Unfortunately, after that, the tracks disappear.
Gold Medal Goal Tip: To track the bear within the time limit, it’s quite easy after you learn the locations of the tracks. Even if you don’t succeed at first, on your second try you should be able to find them in less than 1 minute.
Now, since you don’t know where the bear is, Hosea asks you if you two should split or place the bear bait at your current location. No matter what you choose you will end up facing the bear.
If you picked to bait it, simply approach the marked area and open your satchel. Place the bait on the ground, then hide close to Hosea. Unfortunately, you need to inspect the bait. And so is the bear!
Gold Medal Goal Tip: To complete the second Gold Medal requirement, make sure you hit the bear at least 6 times when the slow-motion sequence begins. If you are fast enough, you can even reload and shoot again.
After the bear runs away you have the option to follow Hosea back to your camp or continue to track the bear alone. It’s a Red Dead Redemption 2 Legendary Animal, cowboy! So, make sure you are equipped for this type of hunt.
Assuming you decide to return to your camp with Hosea, you will finish this mission the moment you arrive.
Completing Exit Pursued by a Bruised Ego in RDR2 is a requirement for unlocking The Spines of America. Finally, once you beat this mission you will unlock a Companion Activity, and obviously the Stables.
Don’t know what to do next? Check out Red Dead Redemption 2 Wiki Guide, or post your question in the comments section below. We can also be reached on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.