Converting DragN's Livestock Overhaul Horses to SWEM Automatically
Modded Minecraft worlds often evolve, and when you decide to fully embrace the Star Worm Equestrian Mod (SWEM) for its deep horse mechanics and beautiful models, leftover entities from DragN's Livestock Overhaul can feel out of place. This unofficial datapack steps in to handle the conversion silently, replacing every DragN's horse with its SWEM counterpart on the fly. No command blocks, no manual spawning, no interruptions to your gameplay.
What This Datapack Actually Does
The datapack monitors your world every tick using an optimized execute command. Whenever it detects an entity of type dragnlivestock:o_horse, it instantly summons a swem:swem_horse at the exact same coordinates and then removes the original. The result is a clean, lag‑friendly transition that feels like the horses were always part of the SWEM ecosystem. Whether you are running a modded server or a singleplayer survival world, the conversion happens entirely in the background.
Because the datapack operates purely through functions and predicates, it does not rely on repeating command blocks or chunk loaders. That means even if a chunk gets unloaded and reloaded, the detection logic picks up any stray DragN's horses immediately. It is a set‑and‑forget solution designed for players who want a consistent equestrian experience without tweaking mod configs.
Why You Might Need This Conversion
SWEM introduces realistic horse breeds, tack, health systems, and riding mechanics that go far beyond what DragN's Livestock Overhaul offers. Many modpack creators and server admins start with both mods but eventually want to retire the older horse system. Manually replacing every horse with commands is tedious and prone to mistakes. The datapack eliminates that hassle. It also preserves the immersion: you can ride through your base, spot a horse, and know it will behave exactly like a SWEM horse the moment you get close.
One of the best aspects of this approach is that it requires zero configuration. The original mod does not include a simple toggle to disable its horses in favor of SWEM, so this datapack fills that gap. If you have ever wished that SWEM and DragN's could coexist until you decide to phase out the old horses, this tool makes the transition painless.
Installation and Compatibility
Getting the datapack running takes only a few steps:
- Download the datapack .zip file (no external links, just grab it from the official distribution).
- Place the .zip inside your world's
/datapacks/folder. - Start your world or server. If the world is already loaded, run
/reloadto activate the datapack.
The datapack has been tested thoroughly on Minecraft 1.20.1 with the SWEM mod installed. It should also work on 1.18.2 because the datapack structure remains the same, but that version hasn't been verified. If you are running a custom modpack, make sure SWEM is present, otherwise the summoned entities will fail and you might see errors in the console. The datapack itself is extremely lightweight; it uses a single tick function and avoids heavy NBT checks, so performance impact is negligible even on busy servers.
For players who enjoy experimenting with mods and often switch between different setups, managing datapacks can become a chore. This is where a modern launcher like foxygame.net proves handy: you can install this datapack directly from its menu without digging through folder structures, and it keeps everything organized for quick enabling or disabling. The launcher's flexibility means you can test the conversion on a fresh world, then move it to your main survival save in seconds.
Behind the Scenes: How the Replacement Works
The core logic is deceptively simple. The datapack runs an execute command that targets every dragnlivestock:o_horse, stores its position, and summons a SWEM horse at that spot. To prevent infinite loops or duplicate spawns, the original entity is immediately removed. The command looks similar to this:
execute as @e[type=dragnlivestock:o_horse] at @s store success entity @s[y=-64,dy=320] Pos[1] double -2112 run summon swem:swem_horse
While a repeating command block could achieve the same effect, the datapack approach is cleaner and doesn't require keeping a chunk loaded. It also integrates seamlessly with server restarts and world reloads. The credit for the base command goes to GalSergey, who shared it on a Minecraft commands forum. This datapack simply packages that idea into a ready‑to‑use format.
Using This in Modpacks and Servers
You are free to include this datapack in your own modpack or server distribution. It does not alter any mod files, so it is safe to add or remove at any time. If you later decide to revert, just delete the datapack and reload; the SWEM horses will remain, but no new conversions will occur. For server admins, this means you can phase out DragN's horses gradually while players are online, with no downtime.
The datapack also pairs well with other SWEM add‑ons like custom tack textures or breeding configurations. Because the replacement happens before players interact with the horse, all SWEM features (taming, bonding, health, and training) work exactly as intended. There is no leftover data from DragN's Livestock Overhaul to cause conflicts.
Final Thoughts
Converting an entire world's horse population from one mod to another sounds like a massive undertaking, but this datapack proves it can be done with a tiny, efficient script. It respects your existing world, requires no commands, and runs silently in the background. Whether you are a server owner tired of mismatched horse entities or a singleplayer enthusiast who wants a fully SWEM‑themed stable, this tool delivers exactly what the original mods missed: a smooth, automatic bridge between two equestrian systems.
Download the datapack, drop it into your world, and watch every DragN's horse transform into a SWEM companion. Ride off into the blocky sunset knowing your modded world finally feels cohesive.