"Oblivion Remastered's 'Spookmane' Ghost Hunt: Community Seeks Origins"

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is brimming with eerie elements — from skeletons and spirits to zombies — yet no one recalls encountering a mysterious 'ghost horse' in either the original 2006 release or its 2025 remastered version. The intrigue began with a Reddit post by user TaricIsNotASupport, who shared their unexpected encounter with what appears to be a spectral horse.

Uhhhh, guys, is this new?
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

"So I was crafting stupid spells in Frostcrag Spire, as it's possibly my favorite way to have fun in this game. However, this time when I left the Cosy Chaos Spire, which has divided this community so very much, I noticed something suuuuuuper strange in the distance," TaricIsNotASupport recounted.

"I did as any of us of the right mind would do and B-lined it over there like a maniac. To my amazement, there was this spectral horse with no name.

"I have played thousands of hours of the original Oblivion — and have already sunken over a hundred hours into the Remaster — yet this is the first I have ever seen this horse.

"I don’t know if it’s something new that’s been added, or if I’ve just missed out on it before and never knew."

TaricIsNotASupport appealed to the community for insights, sparking a digital ghost hunt. Players scoured the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages website but found no mention of a spectral mount in the original Oblivion.

To the people asking if I can ride or interact with the spooky horse, yes! 1/2
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

Could it be a mod? TaricIsNotASupport clarified they were playing on a PlayStation 5, where mods are not available. They also shared a video clip of their character riding the ghost horse. Despite its ethereal appearance, the horse functions just like any other in Oblivion. "He fast travels and even gets stabled!" TaricIsNotASupport exclaimed. "By all accounts, it's now my steed!"

Some speculate that the ghost horse might be a glitch, possibly resulting from a spell gone awry. Bethesda games are notorious for their bugs, and this spectral steed could be another addition to that list.

"Very weird, the wiki says there's only two unique horses, Shadowmere and unicorns," commented ClaymoreBeatz. "And there's no horse mods that I can see that do this, so I highly doubt you're lying about not being on PC. This is probably some sort of glitch that the new Remastered has or a glitched magical effect. Armored horses' names change to 'Armored horse,' I think, so maybe it's an Armored horse that got hit by a spell and now its name and spell effect are glitched."

I was asked if Spookmane* can be buffed and if it stays spectral; the answer is yes!
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

Others wonder if Bethesda and Virtuos might have added this ghost horse as a hidden Easter egg for players to discover in Oblivion Remastered. While less likely, it's an exciting possibility that hints at other secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Many players are eager to replicate the phenomenon and claim a ghost horse of their own. However, no specific method has been identified by TaricIsNotASupport or others yet.

In the absence of an official name, TaricIsNotASupport has affectionately dubbed their ghostly companion 'Spookmane.' They've vowed to continue their adventures with Spookmane by their side. Whether it's a one-off glitch, a secret addition, or a bug, Spookmane has certainly captured the imagination and affection of the Oblivion community.

"This creature might be my favorite new friend I’ve made," TaricIsNotASupport said. "Spookmane, you’re glorious and I love you."

Oblivion Remastered, crafted by remake specialists Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, boasts a plethora of visual and feature enhancements. It delivers gameplay at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, alongside significant improvements to leveling systems, character creation, combat animations, and in-game menus. New dialogue, a refined third-person view, and advanced lip sync technology further enrich the experience. Fans have praised these changes, with some suggesting that Oblivion Remastered might be better described as a remake. However, Bethesda has clarified their decision to opt for a remaster.

With the game now released, players are advising newcomers to tackle Kvatch early on to avoid the challenges posed by level scaling. Additionally, there's buzz about a player who managed to venture beyond Cyrodiil into Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the speculated setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.

For a comprehensive guide to Oblivion Remastered, be sure to explore our resources, including an expansive Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and all Guild Quests, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, a list of Things to Do First, and a catalog of PC Cheat Codes, among other valuable insights.