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Red Dead Redemption 2

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The Sheep and the Goats, John Marston
Chapter 2 โ€“ Horseshoe Overlook

The Sheep and the Goats

John Marston

Arthur helps John with a plan to rustle a herd of sheep and sell them at auction in Valentine. After selling the sheep, Arthur, John, Dutch and Strauss are confronted by Leviticus Cornwall and his henchmen, which turns into a shootout.

Mission giver
John Marston
Playable
Not stated
Location
The Heartlands, New Hanover
Target
Not stated
Unlocked by
Not stated
Unlocks
Not stated

Player notes

Arthur meets John Marston beside the auction yard in southern Valentine. John has found sheep that can be taken and sold, but first leads Arthur to the gunsmith for a Rolling Block Rifle, as he cannot deal with the shopkeeper himself. Walking through town, they discuss Blackwater, Dutch's hopes of returning there, and the changing world. They leave Valentine on horseback, with Arthur warning John about neglecting Abigail and Jack.

John takes Arthur into the Heartlands and explains that a herd from Emerald Ranch is being driven toward Valentine for auction. From a ridge above the trail, Arthur uses the rifle to fire near the ranch hands, sending them away without harming the animals. The shots scatter the sheep. Arthur and John ride down, gather the strays, and drive the herd back to Valentine's auction pen, where Arthur takes charge of moving the animals.

The auctioneer doubts the sheep are legitimate and demands a large share of the sale. John bargains him down to eighteen percent to keep him quiet. The pair then go to Keane's Saloon, where Dutch van der Linde is arguing with Leopold Strauss. Dutch sends John and Strauss to collect the money, then asks Arthur to stay for a drink.

Leviticus Cornwall arrives outside with armed guards, demanding Dutch after the gang's robberies. His men hold John and Strauss at gunpoint. Dutch draws their attention long enough for Arthur to shoot the captors, and the gang fights through Valentine. Strauss is wounded during the escape, so they use a wagon for cover before Arthur lifts him onto John's horse. Dutch rides away with John and Strauss, while Arthur escapes Valentine and loses the law in the Heartlands.

Objectives

16 steps

In the order the game gives them. The unnumbered steps only appear if you go off script.

  1. 1Hitch your horse at the hitching post .
  2. 2Speak to the gunsmith .
  3. 3View the Rifles section at the catalogue.
  4. 4Meet up with John .
  5. 5Shoot near the ranchers to scare them off.
  6. 6Mount your horse .
  7. 7Ride to the herd .
  8. 8Return the separated sheep to the herd.
  9. 9Mount your horse .
  10. 10Meet Dutch in the saloon .
  11. 11Eliminate the Henchmen .
  12. 12Get to the cart and cover gang.
  13. 13Pick up Strauss .
  14. 14Put Strauss on John's horse .
  15. 15Escape from Valentine.
  16. 16Escape the law.

Gallery

01

Screenshots from The Sheep and the Goats, mirrored from Red Dead Wiki.

The Sheep and the Goats

Trivia

  • โ—†This mission's title is taken from the title of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (which is actually more of a lesson of the coming of Christ to judge the world according to its deeds), included in Matthew 25:31-46.
  • โ—†The mission name could also be a reference to the sheep in the mission and the goats referring to Arthur and John.
  • โ—†Even if the player has the money to purchase the rifle, the rifle will still be free. If the player doesn't have the money, Arthur will tell the gunsmith that he'll take it on credit. This dialogue doesn't trigger if the player has enough to purchase it otherwise. Despite the gunsmith telling Arthur to pay him later, the player isn't required to after the mission.
  • โ—†If Arthur has robbed the gunsmith before the mission, his conversation with Arthur will take a more hostile tone.
  • โ—†If Arthur gains a wanted level near the southern entrance of the auction yard before triggering the mission, John will engage in a shootout with lawmen for a few moments before mounting his horse and firing at pursuing deputies whilst attempting to escape; if the player also mounts their horse, he will follow them instead. Once the law is shaken off, John will trot around on his horse for a little bit before despawning. Oddly, he appears to take pleasure in the violence and chaos of the situation, mischievously grinning and shouting various taunts during the fight.
  • โ—†One of Arthur's lines can be reflected upon in the epilogue in either "Fatherhood, For Idiots" or "Jim Milton Rides, Again?" (whichever mission was completed first before the other).
  • โ—†If the player locates John beforehand, the mission's icon will be transported to Keane's Saloon, and a short cutscene of the player entering the saloon can be seen.
  • โ—†For some reason, if the player headshots Strauss's captor, he will not fall dead and Strauss will still wrestle his gun out of his hand as if the captor had not been shot.
  • โ—†The player can ignore John's instructions and kill one of the ranch hands or sheep with the rifle, prompting exasperation from Marston.
  • โ—†If the player takes too long to fire at John and Straussโ€™ captors, Dutch will grow impatient before yelling at Arthur to shoot one of them, which will immediately result in Strauss and John being killed, thus failing the mission.
  • โ—†A rare glitch can sometimes happen where Arthurโ€™s horse will catch fire (due to being hitched near a campfire) and die during the final leg of the shootout and before the escape, forcing you to quit and reload the mission.
  • โ—†The sheep in this mission are painted with a unique "ER" symbol on their flanks, denoting that they are from Emerald Ranch. This is not seen outside of the mission.
View on Red Dead Wiki โ†’

Mission data from Red Dead Wiki, CC BY-SA. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games.

Last verified September 14, 2026