People keep accidentally killing their horses in the wildly popular 'Red Dead Redemption 2'

Like many gamers who have plunged headfirst into the impressively immersive world of "Red Dead Redemption 2," I have been scarred for life by the death of my horse.

In "Red Dead Redemption 2" you play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw roaming through the American wilderness in 1899. Needless to say, your horse is pretty essential to tooling around looking for trains to rob.

I named my first horse Minty, and since the game rewards bonding with your horse by giving it improved health and stamina, I spent time dutifully brushing him, patting him, and feeding him sugar lumps.

Then the unthinkable happened. While beating a speedy retreat from the law, I rode Minty headlong into a tree. Then into another tree. Then off a small cliff.

As Minty lay dying, the game informed me I could not revive him, and I had to put him out of his misery. The experience was traumatic, but I was comforted to find out that I'm not the only one to lose my horse in unfortunate circumstances.