Warhorse Training (sage ability)
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Warhorse Training is an authority-status sage ability in the study of Horseback Riding, enabling the character to train worthy horses for use in combat. Training a horse for war is the skilled practice of conditioning the animal to remain calm and obedient amid violent conflict. The horse must be hardened to the presence of clashing weapons, shouting, blood, sudden movements and the weight of a fully-armoured rider.
Contents
Inherent in the study of training horse is the ability to make the animal manageable by characters in the midst of battle, so that the horse does not easily shy from conflict, is less likely to break when charging or is otherwise able to support a combatant in full armour with weapons. The animal must respond to reins, knees and verbal commands without hesitation. Its stride must be steady even across uneven or dangerous terrain, and its confidence must be strong enough to press forward through crowds, over the fallen, or into the mouths of other creatures.
The training process requires time, discipline and repeated exposure to stress-inducing conditions. A warhorse must learn to withstand shouted commands, clanging weapons, flashing movement, dense formations, fire, wounds and the scent of blood. Training includes mock combat, introduction to loud noises, sudden movements and weight acclimation to fully armoured riders. Mounts must become accustomed to remaining steady while weapons are swung from the saddle, and to recover from momentary panic without fleeing or rearing.
Breeding
Before a horse can be trained for war, it must be judged upon its mass and its strength. Warhorses are trained from animals that have been bred for greater weight and courage. Of these, only 6 in 16 will be strong enough. Therefore it is important when selecting a horse for training that the horse be examined. Most warhorses were bred to be of a certain weight and strength, to ensure that good stock was available. Horses that are too light or too weak-willed will fail under the physical strain of battle or collapse under the stress of noise, wounds or the violent commands of a heavily armed rider.
Morale and Combat
A horse that has been trained to be a warhorse will nevertheless have a morale of 9 at the start of its association with battle. Like any other "follower," it must make its morale checks if it is injured or otherwise challenged on the battlefield. A horse with an excellent morale will be a dangerous mount when employed in charges and melee, as it is unlikely to break before the hit. Morale may be improved over time through success in battle, continued exposure to combat conditions and consistent handling by a trusted rider. As the bond between the rider and horse improves, performance in battle becomes more reliable, and the mount may eventually resist fear even in the most chaotic skirmishes.
If neglected, mistreated or inconsistently handled, a trained warhorse may revert in temperament, becoming unreliable, hesitant or in extreme cases, unmanageable. Care and familiarity are essential to sustaining a warhorse's discipline and usefulness.
