7.20 Ride (Dex)

The Ride skill represents your ability to ride and control horses and other mounts. Typical riding actions don’t require checks. You can saddle, mount, ride, and dismount from a mount without a problem. However, some special actions require Ride checks.

Unless an ability says otherwise, you can only use this skill to ride allies that are exactly one size category larger than you.

7.20.1 Common Ride Modifiers

If a creature is not trained as a mount, the DV to ride it increases by 5. If it lacks a saddle and other riding gear, the DV to ride it increases by 5. If it takes a standard action other than movement, such as attacking, the DV to ride it that round increases by 5. If it uses a movement mode other than a land speed, the DV to ride it that round increases by 10.

7.20.2 Common Ride Tasks

Guide Mount: When riding on a creature, you can make a Ride check to direct your mount’s movement. While travelling, this check is only necessary when giving the mount directions. In battle, this check must be repeated at the start of each round. If the mount is trained for battle, the difficulty value of this check is 0. Otherwise, the DV is 5. Success means the mount understands your direction, and will obey if it is willing and able. Failure means the mount does not understand your direction, and acts of its own volition.

If you can communicate with your mount in other ways, such as by speaking with it, this check may be unnecessary.

Maintain Ride: Whenever you take damage or your mount makes a sudden motion, you must make a DV 5 Ride check to continue riding the creature. Sudden motions include jumping, attacking, and moving at more than half speed. Failure means you fall off of your mount.

Take Cover: You can make a DV 15 Ride check as a movement to drop low and take cover behind your mount. This requires the use of a free hand. Failure means you can’t get low enough and gain no benefit from the action.