Upgrading my horse for combat

[Pseudonym]

I have a ranger who's animal companion, a Valenar riding horse, has been taught the combat training tricks. I am a little iffy on the monster rules, so could you please correct this if I am wrong?

The stat listing is normally a secondary attack at -2 doing a d4+1 damage. Upgrading this to a primary attack would give it a damage of d4+2 since it gets its full strength modifier to damage.

The base attack is listed at +2. Since animals use the cleric progresion equal to their hitdice, the BAB should be +2, -1 for being a large creature for a net of +1. However comparing to a light warhorse, which has a BAB of +2 and an attack of +4. Shouldn't that be +1. What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Scion]

noncombatant animals have a -5 to their attack, I believe because it is always considered secondary (which gives a -5 without the feat that makes it -2)

So, for the light warhorse:
+2 BAB (from 3 hd and medium progression)
+3 str (16 str)
-1 size (large sized)
= +4 primary and -1 secondary.

Does that help?

I also dont know of any way to change a horse from riding to warhorse. I am not sure that there is one in the rules.

 

[Pseudonym]

Does that help?

D'oh! Yeah, that helps. I was forgetting the STR modifier to attack.

Thanks.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

The Warbeast template from MMII can be applied to a normal riding horse (but not a warhorse) to make it useful in battle.

 

[TheYeti1775]

Reminds me of a cleric I had.
Everyone thought me made when I got magical barding for the war horse. Then would cast Neg Energy Protection on it.
They thought me mad until I charged into the center of the undead horde, and kicked a$$.

 

[Wolf72]

what level ranger is your PC ... that will also help beef up the horse some (more HD, better abilities, some special abilities).

a 2HD horse that gains a 3HD gets another feat, and at 4HD gets another +1 to any ability (this one is still debatable) ... saves go up and stuff like that.