Making a mount fight in combat

[Oryan77]

1. Does the rider make a mount fight in combat or does the mount decide if it fights?

2. If a mount can do things like shoot fire from its mouth, does the mount decide if it wants to use that attack? Or can the rider make the mount use that attack instead of doing a bite or claw attack?

3. Does the rider need to make a Ride check to control the type of attacks the mount executes?

4. I don't see any rules in the PHB for making the mount fight. Is this explained anywhere?

 

[Viashimo]

From the d20srd

<QUOTE>
Fight with Warhorse

If you direct your war-trained mount to attack in battle, you can still make your own attack or attacks normally. This usage is a free action.
</QUOTE>

So, it's a free action to let the mount know it should be attacking an enemy. When you direct it to attack, it looks to me that through training you also let your mount know which target and which attack to use.

I'm not 100% sure, but a mount not trained for war may not be able to attack in combat (you need to make a ride check to use it in combat as a mount).

The rules should be in the PHB under the ride skill.