I am currently running a campaign with one player running a typical halfling theif. Because we have been playing alot of outdoor type adventures (with a lot of travel involved) the player is complaining that he should be able to ride a horse. We looked for any ruling to this effect but did not find any (quick search during play). Logic notwithstanding regarding how a 2'10" halfling would ride a full size horse I would like to find a rule spelling out the issue. Don't have access to the books right now and would love to have an answer for the player. Oh if there isn't a rule then suggestions on how to handle the situation would be great....thanks.
Halflings on horses????
- Thread starter Funkthis
- Start date
He can't. I don't have the rules onhand either, but the fact of the matter is that his tiny tiny legs can't reach far enough to get to the stirrups - he can't mount the beast without assistance, he can't control it at all, and isn't all that stable up there anyway.
Tell him to get a pony, war- or not, and note that, in proportion, it's a horse to him. Alternatives include riding dogs and saying 'suck it up, halfling'.
Your milage may vary, of course - I've got an entire party of like-sized characters, though, so I'm not speaking entirely out of my rear. ;-)
Tell him to get a pony, war- or not, and note that, in proportion, it's a horse to him. Alternatives include riding dogs and saying 'suck it up, halfling'.
Your milage may vary, of course - I've got an entire party of like-sized characters, though, so I'm not speaking entirely out of my rear. ;-)
Elder-Basilisk
First Post
Actually, rather young children can and often do ride full-sized horses--and they're typically a LOT weaker than halflings. (For that matter, full grown men have been known to ride ponies and donkeys though they are much slower than horses (and in D&D will generally be encumbered by even an unarmored man)). You might give a halfling a penalty to his ride skill for riding an "unsuitable" mount, but I don't think there are any explicit rules on this. -2 to -4 wouldn't be out of line.
theRogueRooster
First Post
Having been around and ridden horses when I was merely "halfling-sized" I agree with Elder-Basilisk: halflings can ride horses. It may require the stirrup straps to be hitched up abnormally high or, failing that, the halfling in question may need to keep a firm grip on the pommel, but it is very reasonable for someone of that size to ride a horse. Of course, a halfling fighting on horseback is something entirely different. I would impose penalties on the halfling's Ride skill check unless his mount has a saddle built specifically for a halfling. In fact, I'd go with Elder-Basilisk's suggestion of a penalty to all Ride checks unless he has the proper equipment.
Also keep in mind that horses come in different sizes. A Clydesdale is a good bit taller (and wider) than a Quarter Horse. You could consider limiting halflings to light horses, again unless he has a custom saddle built for just such purpose.
Regarding Patlin's comment, a halfling shouldn't need a howdah to ride a horse (just like humans don't need howdahs to ride elephants) but wouldn't that make for an interesting visual? Four halflings armed with shortbows riding in a howdah atop a charging Clydesdale is no more ridiculous than a single halfling riding a charging "war dog."
-tRR
Also keep in mind that horses come in different sizes. A Clydesdale is a good bit taller (and wider) than a Quarter Horse. You could consider limiting halflings to light horses, again unless he has a custom saddle built for just such purpose.
Regarding Patlin's comment, a halfling shouldn't need a howdah to ride a horse (just like humans don't need howdahs to ride elephants) but wouldn't that make for an interesting visual? Four halflings armed with shortbows riding in a howdah atop a charging Clydesdale is no more ridiculous than a single halfling riding a charging "war dog."
-tRR
Sejs
First Post
A halfling would be able to ride a horse just fine, they would just be seated in a different manner than a medium size rider would be. Similar, I would imagine, to how a human rides a camel. As for mounting, again - like a camel: you guide the mount to kneel, hop up into the saddle, then guide the mount to stand up. Or heck, they could probably climb up the saddle, blanket and stirrup given that they have a racial climb bonus and the fact that they weigh next to nothing.
Heck, in theory a halfling could even be a better horse rider than a human - don't forget, the weight of the rider is counted towards the encumberance of the mount. A lighter rider means a faster horse. The same reason race jockeys are always really small, thin guys.
Heck, in theory a halfling could even be a better horse rider than a human - don't forget, the weight of the rider is counted towards the encumberance of the mount. A lighter rider means a faster horse. The same reason race jockeys are always really small, thin guys.
Years ago I played a gnome who was basically a "sidekick," and he rode a horse just fine. Of course the way he rode was to have a comfy basket in the place of a saddle bag.
What's to stop the halfling from simply riding as a passenger on someone else's horse (or for that matter simply allowing it and applying a circumstance modifier of -4 or -5 to any Ride checks he makes?)?
What's to stop the halfling from simply riding as a passenger on someone else's horse (or for that matter simply allowing it and applying a circumstance modifier of -4 or -5 to any Ride checks he makes?)?
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