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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkwpeter" data-source="post: 6918544" data-attributes="member: 6804713">Hey,yesterday we had a situation, on that we had to fight while mounted on "normal" travel horses. We came to a discussion concerning the following points. 1.) The rider's actions require no ability checks for riding:Problem: Some of our group took the view that taking actions while mounted would/should require special ability checks. E.g. using an object or attacking would require a DC X check to succeed, because it seems harder to succeed on these actions while riding at the same time.My interpretation: For dependend mounts (like travel horses are) PHB 198 states that you can direct it. Directing a mounts costs no action (otherwise the rules would say so). The mount can use its own action to Dash, Dodge, Disengage. So the rider still has all his actions left to use. There are no rules about restrictions on the rider's actions. Furthermore there are several situations on that you have to succeed a DC10 check to not fall off your mount (I don't want to go into that). But nothing says the rider needs to succeed a check for a normal attack, drinking a potion, grabbing a rope, etc. Again: There are no restrictions, except maybe for risky maneuvers that do not guarantee success (like everything else that would require a normal ability check). So in my opinion you do not need to make riding checks, unless you do some extra ordinary maneuvers or the rules explicitly say so. You can cast, use objects and attack (even with 2 handed weapons).Is this correct?2.) Type of horse / horses actions:Problem: We were kind of unsure which type of mount a "normal travel horse" is. The MM 336 includes a "Riding Horse" that seems to fit perfectly for our usage. But the description says it has a special action called "Hooves" (special attack), although mounts can only Dash, Dodge or Disengage while directed.My interpretation: The horse can only use its "Hooves" action while not being mounted. While directed by a rider its actions are restricted to Dash, Dodge, Disengage. So the riding horse seems to be the "correct" horse, unless you ride a war horse. This has nothing to do with it's "Hooves" action. Correct?3.) Mount fleeing from combat:Problem: So if the Riding Horse is the correct horse we somehow end up with the starting question again: Does a "domesctic" riding horse have to make special ability checks while directed(!!) to see, if it's going to panic and flee from combat? Or isn't that a real option in a "normal" fight, unless there is something extra terrifying happening that would require a ordinary WIS-DC (like Fear or other spells)?My interpretation: No, it does not flee from combat, only because it is not a war horse. Otherwise the rules would say so. So unless the horse doesn't get affected by a spell or condition that let's it run away/flee (like the Fear spell) this is not happening. Concerning this riding horses and war horses follow the same rules, but war horses additionally benefit from specific rules like higher stats and being able to wear armor.4.) Can War Horses act independendly?As I have described before (what - of course - may be wrong) directed mounts can only Dash, Dodge, Disengage. The War Horse has a feat called "Trampling Charge" that allows it too shove creature prone after moving 20 feet and attacking. So because I can only direct a horse to dash, dodge and disengage: When would it be able to use this action? Can it act independendly or are there any rules for directing a war horse that I missed?Okay, so that a lot of writing. I tried to find answers via Google, Sage Advice, Twitter, but unfortunately I wasn't able to find some. So I would be happy about some clarification and I will update this first post and add a summary of all the answers posted to help people in the future.Thanks in advance!Peter</blockquote>

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