Your Horse Ranch Rating!

So I give it an 8 because I think the horses are super well done, the world is amazing, I absolutely LOVE that family play is now a thing EA actually knows we want (so thanks for letting kids ride horses; maybe in TS5 you'll also let them do some actual magic :P), it really enhances farm gameplay, and everything just looks super gorgeous. Like really, the pack is just super fun to play with. I haven't regretted it over the past 20+ hours I've been playing it.

However, it's an 8 because I do think some stuff is missing like: (as always) updated Parenthood interactions, magic options (why can't we bind horses as familiars???), a place where you could keep horses if you don't own a ranch (like I feel like IRL you don't need to own a gigantic plot just to have a horse), etc.

It's just that these things really don't dampen my enjoyment of it so a solid 8. Very fun.

It's missing a few things (some might just be oversights, like Club Activities or Magic menu on horses), but overall: The horses are well done, the nectar making is decently sized and VERY profitable, the world is stunning and more diverse than I expected and so far I'm enjoying the very Sims-type humour of the text adventure in the caverns.

I'm voting an 8.

A high 8. So it's like 8.75 or somewhere around there.

I do have a preferential bias. I've been horse-mad from pretty much the moment I drew breathe in this world (I had my first pony ride at the age of 18 months, and have been a part of that world ever since.) The very fact that this pack had horses in it sold me from the moment we got all those hints in Growing Together and I was hoping against hope that there would be horses and I was going to buy them no matter what. Whatever pack they came out in, I was determined to buy it. Because I needs thems, precious, I needs thems!

It's in my mind, a solid pack, at doing what it does. Which is deliver us the horses. Now, they're not for everyone, I get that. Just like I wasn't wildly crazy about the idea of reliving my socially awkward secondary education years. And I'm sure there's going to be people with the opposite mindset, and I get that. Agree to disagree.

It's not perfect, I know. It has its flaws and inconsistencies. It could be better, which is why I'm not saying "10s". I'm not wildly crazy about the western theme even if I primarily ride western these days (I have a dressage saddle too and started as a hunter/jumper barn brat so I'm an equal-discipline equestrian). I was actually hoping for a medieval theme given how they'd made a couple of castle type hints with the one of the treehouse decorations and some of the other royal-looking BB they had, so western dude ranch town was kind of ... meh. I'll work with it, but meh.

But I'll take it. I'll take it cuz it's got the ponies. They look good, move good, and fit the world look. Works for me. I have plans, dreams and schemes. Finally, the horses are here and can take my game by storm!

Looks fabulous but functions ??? Bugs and I’m not talking about the insect variety! For me, it cost too much for the limited gameplay, limited BB and CAS, and lack of inter-pack compatibility, especially when compared to previous releases… and the very limited inclusions to what was a majorly highlighted factor in the pack’s marketing ie donation in recognition for collaboration... Very mixed feelings about this pack: despite all my disappointment, frustration, anger and feeling cheated of implied content. Hopefully, once again, the modding world will come to EA’s rescue. The pack gets a 5 because I do get to the horses (but no unicorns), goats and sheep and the limited nectar making!

I give it about an 8. There are features I would like to see that would add a lot to the horse gameplay.

The horses are great, animations are well done. I would have liked it if you could manipulate their shape more in CAS like you can with human sims. Coat painting is great, you can really make some unique looking horses.

The horse themed jobs on the job board are a nice touch.

Things I would like to see that are not there:

The ability to build and run a complete jumping course. If I am mistaken please let me know but I have only been able to get my horses to do 1 jump over and over. In the sims 3 we could build elaborate courses and run the whole course. I would like to have that ability.

There are no English themed riding clothes. I know it is a western themed pack but they gave us English saddles and show jumping so attire to go with it would be nice.

I would really like to see the ability to Breed your mare to NPC Stallions at the equestrian center and also to offer your stallions for stud at the equestrian center as a way to make money. These seem like things that should be in a horse themed pack. With the household limit still being 8 it would be nice if you could just have a couple of nice mares and pay to breed them just like you would IRL.

Other than those nitpicks I love this pack and had to have it. Horses are the only thing I wanted from the sims 4 and we have been waiting for a long time.

I give it an 8, I love the design and animation of the horses, I think they did a better job than the previous iteration, though I loved it too. I love the CAS, especially for the males, and that is not something I have been able to say for most packs. Love the vibe of build buy objects. I wish we could build our own training courses like we could in Sims 3 and I wish the nectar making was a bit more in depth. I am loving the personalities of the horses, the way they interact with our human Sims, it is so much fun to just watch them. Overall, I think it is completely worth being an expansion. I have been fortunate to not have any game breaking bugs introduced.

9 because it's not perfect but I am loving it!!!

10.5
Top tier pack.
I know some say it lacks gameplay objects but the animals (apart from horses) are the literal gameplay objects. And to me they have more replay value than object objects like the mechanical bull.
That's not to say I don't want those things because there is nothing I don't want in this game, but I'm satisfied with everything they gave us.
All the animals have high replay value, the world is on my top list next to Sulani. The textures in this pack is amazing. I'm not even replacing a lot of the b/b with my alpha cc because it looks so good as is. The world textures are even looking better and better. And it's just overall gorgeous and I never thought I could feel this way about a desert ? ?.

Big world. Nice variety of lots and I'm very pleased with the lot placements because that does matter to me. Plenty of space to roam.
Loving the new cowpoke dance ?
Western theme on fleet.
Cas is good but still didn't get a chance to play around with it too much yet.
Animations of everything are a total pleasure to watch they are just so good. The horses are so detailed and fleshed out I got nothing bad to say about them.
I can't wait to get to all the other stuff I didn't even try yet because horses alone bring so much gameplay for me and adds so much to my storylines.
I could go on and on but this pack just hits differently ?
I haven't loved any other game more than ts4 and this pack took my love for it to the next level!
They really bring us the best version of everything. ?

And shout out to the gamechangers for these amazing builds. I hate to even replace them but I want something a bit more apocolytic looking. But they are very beautiful.

It's been buggy for me, even made my gallery stop working.

After a few days of playing with TS4 Horse Ranch, I would rate it a 7 out of 10. Overall, I really like the pack, and this is coming from someone who wasn't all too excited about the pack's main feature. I don't have anything against horses at all, but I didn't play with them back in TS3 and didn't have horses on my wish list for TS4.

I really enjoy the new CAS and B/B assets. I like the western theme, but I think I'm bias towards the theme as I reside in Texas. The western assets are items I can see myself utilizing over and over again. I also love the new world of Chestnut Ridge. The new world has beautiful scenery (of course), and I personally feel like there is enough lots and things to do to get enjoyment while playing in it. Keep in mind, we all have the freedom to change the lots to fit our own creativity and that is exactly what I'm doing, so maybe that's why I think there's enough to do.

Now I will say I'm probably not the most suitable sims player to rate the horses and gameplay associated with them. I only played with horses for a few sim days purely to say I've experienced them. With that said, I do like Create a Horse and how customizable the horses can be. I've seen some really beautiful and unique horses on social media and the gallery. I think the horse gameplay has enough depth for me— things like socializing, skill building, breeding, skill competitions, and even just taking care of these horses add a bunch of new gameplay. I felt like there wasn't enough time in a sim day to do everything I wanted because there is so much gameplay added in for them. The sims team obviously spent a lot of time and resources creating the horses and new horse gameplay for us to play with and I think that shows.

As for the other main features advertised, Nectar Making and Mini Animals. I love the nectar making! I really like any new hobby addition. I wanted to see nectar making in an previously released game pack, so I'm happy to see it arrive in this one. The mini animals, specifically goats and sheep, are cute. If you're into cute little animals running around, then I think you'd like them. Not totally my thing, but they do add to the ranch-like aspect of the pack. There are some other nice additions that came with this pack too like the new Cowpoke dance, the Dreadhorse Cavern, the new ranch events, ranch-themed odd jobs, etc.

Though I do like the pack overall, I do have to consider how it compares to other expansion packs. This pack does not offer me much value as I do not see myself playing with its content as much as I play with other expansion pack's content. The main content is horse related, and let's face it, I won't get much out of the pack if I don't play with horses. If circumstances were different for me and I had a tighter budget, I would not have bought this pack until it was listed on sale. This pack is not one that I would recommend to a new simmer if they were just starting out their collection unless horses were a priority of theirs (or if farm gameplay was something they enjoy).

In conclusion, this is a good pack! 7 out of 10 is not bad at all. Just a little too niche for my personal liking, and that is why it fell short of a higher rating from me.