Question about mounted combat and the "Find Steed" spells...

[Cyber-Dave]

In both "find steed" and "find greater steed," the text says that the creature has the statistics of the creature you choose. It also says, "you control the mount in combat." I originally took that to mean that the player could choose what actions it takes during combat. However, on page 198 of the PHB, under controlling a mount, it says that when you control a mount "it moves as you direct, and it has only three action options: Dash, Disengage, and Dodge." Does this mean that the creature summoned by the "Find Steed" spell may not attack? Is there an official ruling on this anywhere?

 

[jgsugden]

There is Sage Advice: When ridden, it follows the normal mounted combat rules. Unridden, it has normal action options.

 

[Oofta]

I don't know if it's "official" enough but we've always run it that a paladin can let the mount act independently

While you’re mounted, you have two options. You can either control the mount or allow it to act independently....

An independent mount retains its place in the initiative order. Bearing a rider puts no restrictions on the actions the mount can take, and it moves and acts as it wishes.​

Since you are bonded to each other, you can communicate telepathically with the mount and it is relatively intelligent (minimum int 6), the mount pretty much does what the paladin wants.