Horseback Riding (sage study)

In a departure from usual table-top fantasy rules, not everyone is able to ride a horse. Horseback riding is a skill that is acquired with knowledge points gained with sage ability. It is possible to ride a horse without this knowledge - but the rider must be led by someone with experience. See Assisted Riding.

Knowledge of horseback riding allows the character to make use of a horse in a wide variety of ways, with additional skills in training and managing horses, administering to their health, breeding and recognition of breeding, employing horses in combat and a proficiency in the skill of riding, driving or vaulting. Furthermore, this ability at riding will translate to an ability to master larger and more aggressive horses as knowledge is accumulated.

Horses are divided into several forms, based on size, physical ability and training. Warhorses different from riding horses, in that they will support a rider using weapons without adverse movement. Ponies describe both young horses that have not matured and certain breeds that are naturally small as adults. Draught horses, while heavy, are bred to be docile and usually move a walk (a trot could not be long sustained, while the animal would resist a canter or a gallop).

In most cases, a particular animal can be described by its weight: riding horses: 800 to 1100 lbs .............. (2d4 x 50 +700) warhorse, light: 1000 to 1300 lbs ......... (2d4 x 50 +900) warhorse, medium: 1300 to 1700 lbs ... (2d6 x 40 +1220) warhorse, heavy: 1700 to 2000 lbs ...... (2d4 x 50 +1600) draught horse: 1000 to 1500 lbs .......... (2d6 x 50 +900) pony: 600 to 800 lbs ............................ (2d6 x 20 +560)

A horse's total movement is typically 7 action points, or AP. It should be noted that some horses will be slightly faster or somewhat slower, with bonus AP potentially measured in fractions of 1/2, 1/3 or 1/6. This offers some question as to a horse's potential to win or fail to win races, when trained; details regarding these differences is left to discussions about the breeding of horses and racing potential of horses discussed in some of the links below. For most purposes, these details need not be considered.

For game purposes and random rolls, a horse's intelligence is judged to be 3-4; their strength, 2d4 +12; their dexterity, 2d6 +6. The strength of a horse will always be greater than most humanoids; but if the humanoid has control of the horse's bit, then the strength of the humanoid can be compared equally to that of the horse. Some fractious horses are immensely strong, however, and must be managed by guile, not strength.

Skills associated with the study of horseback riding include:

Amateur Domesticate Horses: gives the basic training to young or feral horses, enabling them to perform as ordinary working animals. Feeding & Diet: gives judgement regarding the physical size and needs of horses. Horse Handling I: enables the character to direct the horse or ride at various gaits with minimal skill. Horse-mounted Combat I: the character possesses enough skill to fight from a warhorse with minimal skill.

Authority Horse Handling II: provides the character with greater control in managing the horse's movement and gait. Horse Jumping I: permits jumping over low obstacles with a probable chance of success. Horse-mounted Combat II: expands the character's effectiveness as a mounted rider. Horse Physiology: maintenance and restoration of health in horses. Horseshoeing: care of the equine's hoof, including trimming, balancing and the placement of shoes. Warhorse Training: gives the basic training to young horses, enabling them to perform as horses effective in combat.

Expert Horse Breeding: selecting sires and fouls in order to produce a stock of horse suitable for a specific type of work. Horseracing: having the skill for pushing a horse past its ordinary endurance in order to win races.

See Also, Assassin's Sage Abilities Fighter Sage Abilities Paladin Sage Abilities Player Characters Ranger Sage Abilities