Mounted Combat and Horses

[galaga88]

I've got a few questions I'd like cleared up. In 3.5, I'm a little confused as to how reach and being mounted on a horse works.

Unlike 3.0, you are considered to occupy the entire space of your horse now. Does this mean that lances stick out 10' in front of the horse now? If so, when you charge somebody with the lance, do you stop when they're 10' away, or would you continue moving up to them?

 

[Ranger REG]

Usually your movement ends when you make the attack -- unless you have Ride-By Attack feat -- which is a good idea since the lance is a reach weapon. If your opponent takes a step toward your or your mount, he provokes AoO by leaving the lance's threatened area, giving your lance one free attack before your resort to a close-quarter weapon like a knightly sword and/or command your mount to make a natural attack.

 

[Darklone]

Ranger is right... as long as the opponent does not only take a 5ft step towards you (without provoking AoO).