I am a new owner of a beautiful gold gelding Named Sir Maximus (Max for short), who was captured and trained by a wonderful ranger named Kasrendyr. I would recommend anybody who wants a good horse to talk to Kasrendyr.

I would like to share my experience so far for any advice or input from experienced and older Paladins.

I am only circle 26 (almost 27!) and so there are many things I cannot be trained for with my horse yet, unfortunately. But I trained in Basic Riding and Prepare from the stablemaster before I even picked up my horse. I also was trained in joust and combat from the stablemaster. Kasrendyr trained me in bareback riding. My horse was trained by Kasrendyr in leadrope, saddle riding, basic combat, jousting tricks, to not panic as spells are cast overhead, to not panic around animal-like races, to kneel on signal, to sit and beg, to do better on jumps, to rear and spin, and prance.

As I understand it, I cannot train in Advanced Riding until I am circle 40 (learned from a Trader), Load until circle 30? or later? (learned from a Barbarian), Grab until circle 40? (learned from a Bard), and Target Magic until circl 40? (learned from a Warmage.

First question: Am I correct with the above, and also, when and how do I learn to mount at melee?

I was also lucky enough to be gifted with a fine set of armor for my war horse, although I do understand armor is unnecessary and purely used for RP purposes at this time. Max looks magnificent in his armor!

I read all the posts and information I could find on horses and I read Candidus and Redarch's suggestions. One of their suggestions was to advance the horse until pole and then face another critter, or leave the room to remove the assess. The horse would then appear in assess during battle.

My first hunting trip with Max was in Gobs, and I was simply amazed and thrilled how fun it was to fight with my horse by my side. I fought on horseback and I fought beside him, and it was thrilling to see him devastate his opponents by my side. However, I did notice he was not fighting if I was mounted, only if I was beside him.

I then took him to Reavers, which he seemed to enjoy. I did not see any nervous behavior exhibited at all. I took him to Leth and we hunted Bone Wolves and Zombies. We hunted for about six hours real time that day and then I decided to take him to Riverhaven to stable for the night. I had to get used to manually walking to the ferry and all around because I had grown accustomed to travel scripts! But I found out on my trip to the Riverhaven Ferry that it was much better to manually take the trip because I was able to stop and notice all the things and the scenery along the way that I had missed by running so quickly back and forth! At sickle grove I stopped and we hunted fire sprites and cats for a bit. Max did beautifully there also, but I did start to notice a little bit of nervous tension. It could be that that level of critter was a bit too high for his first day, and also the firecats ambush, and that may make him nervous, and it had been a long day and maybe he just was tired of hunting and wanted to rest! So I took him to Riverhaven and stabled him, feeling very content. I had also groomed him about three times throughout the day and right before stabling him. I foraged for geo grass and wild corn and stocked up on windfall apples from Baerholdt's orchard, so he was well fed all day long.

My second day with Max was to bring him down from Riverhaven to Crossing again so we could play with young critters. I again started the day with the advance at pole and face other critter so that I could see him in my assess.

I had read on the boards about the danger of going through the volcano area riding the horse (I read this part after I had already traveled it once on the way to Riverhaven, fortunately unscathed.) This time, knowing the danger, I tried walking him through the tunnels. Then I mounted him. Too early, as it turned out, and I should have waited until I had passed "the flow" mark. The volcano rumbled and, yes, we fell, and he fell on me and crushed my legs. Fortunately I had a friend close enough to run and get me and fast travel me to Crossing (leaving Max behind temporarily) to be healed. I did not die, but it was an adventure! So I learned to walk Max throughout the ENTIRE volcano area.

Back at Crossing with Max we had another fun day starting with gobs and then potkins and badgers, using a halberd I picked up off a trollkind. I was also training other lesser weapons and really enjoying the hunt mounted and dismounted, learning new weapons and hunting with Max. However, I did wonder why he wouldn't fight with me on his back. I thought to myself it must be because we hadn't bonded yet and after I get "charge" and then "attack" maybe he will fight with me on his back, although it didn't seem like anybody else had that problem on the boards.

We again progressed to reavers and hounds, where Max seems very happy and at ease. I did not take him to anything tougher than that because I had been worried about him getting nervous after the day at fire sprites. I thought maybe I had gone a little too fast for him. Again, though, we spent at least six hours real time before I stabled him again for the night, this time in Crossing.

The third day (today), I fogot to advance him when I picked him up and we went straight out to gobs to begin the day and was I shocked when he began fighting all the critters immediately with me on his back! I didn't even have a chance practically to hit any of them, he was so quick. At first I thought, wow, maybe I'm beginning to bond with him! (Wishful thinking.) Then we progressed to reavers and hounds and he just went through them like they were butter. But he never showed up in the combat asssess. It was then I remembered about advance, so I advanced until pole and then faced another critter. Lo and behold, he went back to only fighting if I was beside him. He wouldn't fight with me mounted, although he was always face each critter I was fighting, and he was showing up in the combat assess.

So my question is, is this what everybody else has been experiencing? I don't think I will advance him if I want him to fight while I'm mounted. Although he sure kills the critters quickly! It's fun to watch him and I can just sit back and enjoy it. I sure wish, though I could grab items off the ground while mounted. That will take a long time, though, it looks like.

Sorry this is so long. Anybody have any advice or suggestions? I'm loving this experience, and the horse system is very fun, although I see where it can definitely be improved: 1)saddle bags 2) I need to transfer my vault wherever I'm stabling him if I want to do anything without him because I'm way too heavy carrying his things around if he's not with me. If I wasn't premium with free vault transfers, I don't know what I'd do. 3) Hunting grounds are and will be limited for Max and I to hunt together, although, on the plus side of that, he kills so quickly, I can hardly gain a lot of experience with him around (chuckle).

-Defender of the Faith Airoza and her Faithful Companion and War Horse Sir Maximus-

http://www.wyrblade.net/Xoops/modules/wfsection/viewarticles.php?category=5

I've found that link quite useful on the past. There are several others but most of your questions should be answered here.
Nice to see someone enjoying thier mount.

Cheers