HORSE

These animals are similar to heavy horses but are trained and bred for strength and aggression. A heavy warhorse can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.

These animals or similar to light horses but are trained and bred for strength and aggression. They usually are not ready for warfare before age three. A light warhorse can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.

The statistics presented here describe a small horse, under 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Ponies are otherwise similar to light horses and cannot fight while carrying a rider.

Combat

*A pony not trained for war does not normally use its hooves to attack but rather to run. Its hoof attack is treated as a secondary attack and adds only half the pony’s Strength bonus to damage.

Warponies are bred for strength and aggression, and are similar to light warhorses.

Combat

A warpony can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.

These long-eared, horselike creatures are surefooted and sturdy. The statistics presented here could also describe burros.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a donkey is up to 50 pounds; a medium load, 51–100 pounds; and a heavy load, 101–150 pounds. A donkey can drag 750 pounds.

Combat

A donkey bites only when it has no way to escape.

Mules are sterile crossbreeds of donkeys and horses. A mule is similar to a light horse, but slightly stronger and more agile.

Combat

A mule’s powerful kick can be dangerous.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a mule is up to 230 pounds; a medium load, 231–460 pounds; and a heavy load, 461–690 pounds. A mule can drag 3,450 pounds.

The statistics presented here describe an exceedingly light horse with short legs and a long body.  These horses are well known for their gentle gait and even tempers.  They easily can serve as mounts for women and the elderly without reservation.  Due to these qualities, many people seek these animals out as the preferred riding animal for leisure riding.  Nobles will often keep several of these horses around for pleasure riding as well as aiding visitors who may not be skilled riders. 

These horses are seldom trained in the art of warfare.  Their gentle natures tend to make them unwilling to tolerate melee combat.  Mounted archers sometimes train Riding Horses as their steeds to capitalize on the steady gait to minimize interruptions in their aim. A Riding Horse can live 30 years with good care.

These horses are the specially breed steeds of the barbaric wild elves.  Normally, these steeds are only gained by outsiders by either doing a service to the tribe or capturing one after slaying his rider. 

Sometimes, a Elven War Horse will walk away from the tribe and seek out some deserving paladin.  Nobody knows why this happens but the Wild Elves believe that the horse is "cursed by the gods" to leave the tribe.  Wild elves never seek to recover these horses but will grant their riders respect when encountered.

Elven War Horses will not submit to wearing armor.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a light horse is up to 150 pounds; a medium load, 151–300 pounds; and a heavy load, 301–450 pounds. A light horse can drag 2,250 pounds.

Long Lifespan: The horses bred by the Wild Elves have been bred for strength, speed, and health.  Consequently, these horses can live for up to 300 years.  A foal reaches maturity after 20 years.  After 250 years, the horse starts to show its age.   Most horses that reach this age are used to train its master's children in how to ride.

A Elven war horse’s powerful kick can be dangerous.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for an Elven war horse  is up to 400 pounds; a medium load, 401–750 pounds; and a heavy load, 751–1200 pounds. An Elven war horse can drag 6,000 pounds.