[RPG] How do the rules work for a centaur being a mount

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In most places online I have found that centaurs act as a mount.
Though I can't find text that directly confirms this in Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica I tend to agree.

However this raises 2 questions.

A mount can act independently and has 3 actions (dodge, dash or disengage action).
So no action for the rider. My player considers his lower body to be the mount while his upper body as the rider. Is there anything RAW or RAI that would allow a centaur to take one of these 3 actions as a free action by considering his lower part his own mount?

This player also claimed that a mounted rider can charge by, attack and move on without provoking an opportunity attack.
Is this supported by any of the rules?

Best Answer

In Unearthed Arcana: Centaurs and Minotaurs, Centaurs have the following trait:

Equine Build. […] Finally, a Medium or smaller creature can ride on your equine back if you allow it. In such a situation, you continue to act independently, not as a controlled mount.

As to answer your question while mounted centaurs are not considered to be controlled mounts and as such they have full access to actions normal characters have though there are no rules stating that centaurs can consider their lower halves to be their mount and i would severely advise against ruling it as such as that would essentially give the centaur twice as many actions as a normal player.

As for your second question your player is wrong. You provoke an attack of oppurtunity and the attacker can choose to attack you

While you’re mounted, you have two options. You can either control the mount or allow it to act independently. Intelligent creatures, such as dragons, act independently.

You can control a mount only if it has been trained to accept a rider. Domesticated horses, donkeys, and similar creatures are assumed to have such training. The initiative of a controlled mount changes to match yours when you mount it. It moves as you direct it, and it has only three action options: Dash, Disengage, and Dodge. A controlled mount can move and act even on the turn that you mount it.

An independent mount retains its place in the initiative order. Bearing a rider puts no restrictions on the actions the mount can take, and it moves and acts as it wishes. It might flee from combat, rush to attack and devour a badly injured foe, or otherwise act against your wishes.

In either case, if the mount provokes an opportunity attack while you’re on it, the attacker can target you or the mount.

You can refer to this question as well as it deals with a similar topic.

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