So, what does Rainbow Six Siege have to do with horses? Probably nothing, right? Well, although these two worlds are unconnected, if we dig deeper, we can see that both the equestrian world and the world of Rainbow Six Siege rely on a strategy.
Yes, one might be about breaching charges, hostage rescues, and operators with more gadgets than a James Bond movie, and the other focuses on majestic animals, arenas, and squeezing every bit of performance.
But if we zoom in, we can see some similarities between high-level equestrian tactics and Siege strategies. How? Well, at first glance, they both require precision, reading the opponents, split-second decision-making, and mastering movement. This is what separates rookies from champions in both words.
So, since equestrian sports have been around us for thousands of years, can we really apply some of the strategies to Rainbow Six Siege and pray that they work? Absolutely. Here are some things we can learn from the equestrian world.
The Approach
Not many people know, but in equestrian sports, whether we are talking about full on horse racing, or show jumping, the approach is everything. Riders don’t just charge head-on toward an obstacle (even though it might look like that in horse racing). They calculate the stride, the angle, the speed, and of course, the timing.
Every movement before the jump determines whether the landing will be smooth or a yard-sale disaster. Then we have the approach of the horse and the horse-human bond, which can make or break championships.
When you think about it, in Rainbow Six, your “approach” is the setup before you breach. Charging into a site without droning, without checking angles, and without a coordinated plan is like trying to leap a water jump from the wrong distance. There is a great chance that you’re going to faceplant.
That’s why pros usually take their time in evaluating their options and setting up a play, just like in equine sports. The goal here is to identify advantage points, cut off enemy rotations, and position the team the best way possible.
Reading the Opponent
Even though it seems like the rider and the horse don’t communicate, in reality, things are different. They can feel each other’s emotions, fears, and state of mind. So, a good rider doesn’t just control the horse; they listen to it. They are trained to feel tension in the reins, notice ear flicks, or sense hesitation before a jump. This awareness is what enables them to react before things go wrong.
In equestrian sports, especially in horse racing, it is also about reading opponents and their horses. Experienced riders can detect when others are in trouble and use that to their advantage.
Even we bettors learn how to read horses just to increase our winning chances. So, observing the racetrack and everything that’s going in is very important in the sport, whether you are making a bet or a jockey racing down the finish line. But if you think about making a horse racing bet, it is always wise to take advantage of online horse betting promotions just to get that initial boost.
In Siege, if you master reading your opponents, then you are already a champion. You have to analyze the player’s behavior and their actions in the game. If there is a sudden silence, this could mean that they’re rotating, or the sound of a barricade breaking in the distance could mean that they’re setting up a flank.
Even tiny things, like an oddly placed gadget or a late reinforcement, can reveal their plan.
Feints, Fakes, and the Art of Deception
One of the most mesmerizing things about high-level dressage is how subtle cues—barely noticeable to spectators- can make a horse perform precise, unexpected maneuvers. Competitors use that same subtlety to outscore rivals.
In Rainbow Six, feints are a goldmine. Throw a flashbang through one window, but push from another. Let a teammate make noise at a reinforced wall while you silently slip in through a hatch. Pretend to rotate but actually hold your position for a sneaky pick. The goal is to make your opponent commit to the wrong action, just like an equestrian rider can make a rival misjudge their pace with one unexpected turn.
Controlled Aggression
In equestrian cross-country, there are moments when the rider has to unleash full speed to clear a long obstacle, but only after ensuring the horse is balanced and ready. Charging too soon burns stamina and risks disaster.
Siege works the same way. There are operators for aggressive playstyle that win games, but only if it’s timed. Pushing too early gives defenders easy kills. Waiting too long forces a rushed plant or a desperate last-second firefight. The pros know when to play slow, bait defenders, and gather intel, then explode into action with a coordinated breach that feels unstoppable.
Trusting Your “Horse” (a.k.a. Teammates)
Elite riders trust their horse completely. They know when to let the horse handle a jump and when to take control. Siege players need the same trust in their teammates.
If your teammate is watching a flank, believe them and focus forward. If they call out that a defender is holding a certain corner, don’t second-guess unless there’s a clear reason. Just like in equestrian sports, too much micromanaging ruins the rhythm. Siege victories often come down to trusting your squad’s strengths while focusing on your own role.
So in both Rainbow Six Siege in equestrian sports, we can spot preparation, execution, and adaptation. Who would have known that these very different things are so alike?