Iron Horse Armor is a mid-tier barding that protects tamed horses in Minecraft, adding 5 armor points of damage reduction once equipped. Iron Horse Armor cannot be crafted at a crafting table; instead, Iron Horse Armor spawns as treasure inside generated structure chests, including dungeons, desert temples, jungle temples, Nether fortresses, strongholds, village weaponsmith chests, and End cities. With a maximum stack size of 1, Iron Horse Armor sits between Leather Horse Armor (3 points) and Golden Horse Armor (7 points) on the protection scale.

To use Iron Horse Armor, mount a tamed horse and open its inventory, then place Iron Horse Armor in the dedicated armor slot; a dispenser can also equip it automatically. Iron Horse Armor fits only horses — donkeys, mules, and llamas cannot wear it, and unlike Leather Horse Armor it cannot be dyed. Players keep Iron Horse Armor for early- and mid-game mounted exploration, swapping up to Diamond Horse Armor (11 points) once they raid an End city or uncover richer loot.