Fernhoof Grove: Riding Academy officially opens its alpha playtest today, July 2, giving players their first chance to experience one of the most promising upcoming horse simulators in development!
Developed by Finnish solo developer Jessi of Miaumi Games, Fernhoof Grove isn’t trying to be another open-world horse adventure, MMO, super realistic, best horse game ever, etc. Instead, it focuses on something many horse game fans have been asking for: the experience of actually becoming a skilled rider and horse trainer!
At the heart of the game is Fernhoof Academy, where players begin their journey on school horses, taking riding lessons and learning the basics (from jumping to flying changes) before purchasing their own young horse to train.
A Horse Game Built Around Real Riding
Rather than relying on simple WASD mechanics, Fernhoof Grove aims for a much more realistic riding experience.
The game features mechanics inspired by real-life riding, including:
• Canter leads
• Striding between jumps
• Precision-based training
• First and third-person riding
• Horse-specific riding styles based on temperament and experience
Each horse also comes with its own personality, strengths, and weaknesses, meaning no two horses feel exactly alike. Finding a talented youngster or even a hidden “diamond in the rough” at the horse market is part of the progression, with players responsible for developing their horses into successful competition partners.
Horse Care
One feature that’s already catching players’ attention is the horse care. Instead of simply clicking a brush once and moving on, you’ll actually groom away dirt, prepare feed buckets by mixing grain, and manage your horse’s daily care before training or competitions. The feed mixing is reminiscent of My Horse from 2011, and it’s exactly the kind of small immersive detail that has been lacking in modern horse games.
While horse care chores do run the risk of becoming repetitive and, well, a chore – Fernhoof Grove takes a refreshingly player friendly approach. Brushing and preparing feed are entirely optional, and choosing to skip them after the tutorial won’t punish you by slowing your horse down or giving you a debuff. Instead, taking the time to care for your horse rewards you with training bonuses while riding. It’s a subtle but important design choice. Too many horse games rely on punishment to encourage horse care, whereas Fernhoof Grove motivates players through positive reinforcement instead. It’s clear the developer understands good game design and gamification, and it’s genuinely refreshing to see.
No Breeding
One thing some horse game fans may notice is the absence of breeding. According to the developer, breeding isn’t currently planned because the focus is entirely on building a relationship with your horses through riding and training rather than creating bloodlines. While that may disappoint players looking for that blind-box dopamine rush, it does allow development to concentrate on making the riding and horse management systems as detailed as possible.
RIP “Breeding Horses in [insert game]” fans and viewers! Looks like you’ll have to skip this one.
Early Impressions
Abigail Pinehaven and a few other content creators got early access to the game ahead of launch, and you can watch her full gameplay below.
The game also plans to include riding exams, equine theory lessons, and training commissions, although those don’t seem to be available in the early access just yet.
How to Play
The first Alpha playtest launches July 2 and is available exclusively through the game’s Patreon. Access requires a paid membership, and this is separate from any future Steam release. A full release date has not yet been announced.
If you’re interested, you can also wishlist Fernhoof Grove: Riding Academy on Steam while following development.
What do you think of Fernhoof Grove? Does it look like the realistic horse game you’ve been waiting for? And what features would you still love to see added? To discuss with fellow horse gamers, join the Discord or Reddit.
Note: We have only included English speaking videos in this highlight
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