[RPG] required to only mount a creature

animalsdnd-3.5emount

I understand that the weight of the player and the player's gear must be within the mounts carry capacity, but is this the only requirement? Are all medium animals with a high enough strength allowed to carry medium sized players? Does the creature need to be trained in the general purpose of riding or combat riding?

Best Answer

A mount must be at least one size larger than the rider. So a medium rider requires a large mount. In addition, a flying mount can only fly with a rider that's within the mounts light load. (DMG 204)

For general purpose riding, training is generally not required. No Ride checks are required either, though if the animal is actively unwilling to bear a rider than your DM can require a Handle Animal check (a wild Dire Bear is probably not just going to let you hop on!).

Typical riding actions don’t require checks. You can saddle, mount, ride, and dismount from a mount without a problem.

For combat riding, things change and a Ride check is required if untrained:

As a move action, you can attempt to control a light horse, pony, heavy horse, or other mount not trained for combat riding while in battle. If you fail the Ride check, you can do nothing else in that round. You do not need to roll for warhorses or warponies.

Thus, combat riding training is required both to avoid the check, and to avoid using a move action to make the check.

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