Developed by Facepunch Studios,Rustis the ultimate test of survival. Players must brave the harsh wilderness of the game’s open world and do everything they can to stay alive. Whether facing off against wild animals, NPCs, or even other players,Rustpresents a brutal challenge for fans of thesurvival game genre.

RELATED:Rust: Pro Tips You Need To Know

One key element ofRustis how players are able to use resources to their advantage. Resources include food, weapons, and even horses. But horses require a lot more care than other features of the game. Players need to choose the right food for their equine friends, which can be a tricky task.

15Cactus Flesh

This first entry may be the only source of food for players building their base in the desert. Found by harvesting cactus plants, cactus flesh is a decent option as it provides a modest stamina top-up as well as some health restoration.

Cactus flesh can also be eaten by players, but for those braving the blistering desert, it may be better to save it for their horse. Cactus flesh can be tricky to obtain in large amounts, so it’s certainly not the most ideal option.

Rust Cactus Flesh

14Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a great food option as they can easily be found in any kind offorested environment. Players will likely be familiar with mushrooms as a resource due to their use in early-game PvP.

For horses, mushrooms restore a mild amount of both health and stamina. However, the ease at which mushrooms can be found makes them a highly accessible option for players to quickly stock up on.

Rust Mushroom

13Pickles

A stack of sixty pickles goes for only ten scrap at the food market in the Outpost, so they’re a fairly cheap option for players heading that way. It’s also more than enough to fill a trough overnight, which is often the trickiest time to keep horses healthy.

Given how cheap pickles are when compared with farming crops or hunting animals, they’re a great option for players looking for an easy food source. By turning horse dung into fertilizer and selling it, players can even have their horse pay for their own meal once in a while.

Rust Jar of Pickles

12Cooked Wolf Meat

While wolves may be a lower priority hunt for human consumption, they are a high priority for thoseseeking to craft armor. Using the meat acquired from a successful wolf hunt, players can also provide food for their horses.

Cooked wolf meat restores the fourth-highest amount of health for horses while also restoring a decent amount of stamina too. If players are headed out to get themselves a Wolf Headdress anyway, they should consider bringing some cooked meat back for their horse.

Rust Cooked Wolf Meat

11Cooked Pork

Pork can be acquired from the boars roaming any biome inRustand is a great source of food for both horses and humans alike. Unlike wolves, boars are relatively slow and easier to kill. This makes them an excellent option for less-equipped hunters.

Cooked pork restores the same amount of stamina and health that cooked wolf meat does, in addition to being able to be harvested in higher amounts. However, some players might consider it a waste of good food.

Rust Cooked Pork

10Cooked Fish

Another food resource that restores the same health and stamina as cooked wolf meat is cooked fish. This resource is even easier for players to get their hands on, as all they’ll need to do is go fishing at their closest body of water for a while.

RELATED:Rust: Tips For New Console Players

Different fish types will yield different amounts of meat, with the best being catfish, salmon, and small sharks. This is perhaps one of the most relaxed ways to keep your horse well-fed in the game.

9Blueberries

This rare food item can only be found in food crates, making them a hot commodity that players may not see very often. In addition to their great restoration value for players, they provide the highest possible health boost for horses while also restoring a modest amount of stamina.

Due to their rarity, they’re not the most reliable food source for horses, but they are handy if players can find them. They are also best saved for player combat, so blueberries shouldn’t be given to horses too often.

Rust Cooked Fish

8Black Raspberries

In the same category are black raspberries, which also can only be found in food crates. In line with their higher restoration levels for players, black raspberries restore the most health for horses and a bit more stamina than blueberries do.

Despite their higher value, black raspberries are at the same level of rarity to find within the game. Much like blueberries, players will need to choose carefully whether to feed them to their horse or save them for themselves.

Rust Blueberries

7Cooked Bear Meat

Hunting down a bear inRustis no easy task, but the payoff can certainly be worth it. In addition to the other essential resources, bears are an excellent source of meat. Giving a maximum of nineteen meat depending on what weapon players use, bears will keep players and their horses well-fed.

Bears are powerful predators in the game and can easily take down both beginner and proplayers. They’re often found in forests, but players may want to avoid them until they have the allies or theweapons to take them down.

Rust Black Raspberries

6Corn

A more passive food source is corn. Corn is one of the bestnatural resourcesfor new players as it grows freely along the rivers in the game. It can be harvested fairly easily so long as players don’t find themselves competing with others nearby.

RELATED:Rust: Beginner Tips For Improving A Building’s Stability

Corn heals the third-highest amount of horse health as well as the third-highest amount of stamina. This makes it a great passive and budget-friendly option for players’ horses.

Rust Cooked Bear Meat

Rust Corn