Dwarves and Ponies


Rules Questions

The Exchange

Can a Dwarf ride a pony properly? I ask because there seem to be some contradictory passages in the books about it.

In the Core Rule book on page 162 it describes a horse thus:

Quote:

Horse: A horse is suitable as a mount for a human, dwarf,

elf, half-elf, or half-orc. A pony is smaller than a horse and
is a suitable mount for a gnome or half ling.

But in the Bestiary under the "Horse, Pony" entry:

Quote:
Ponies are smaller breeds of horses better suited to halflings, gnomes, and dwarves, but they also make fond pets for humans as well.

I do recall reading somewhere that a mount should be one size category larger than the rider, but I can't seem to find it(it may have been in a DnD 4e book). Dwarves and ponies are both medium creatures. That rule does make sense to me, but then again the very foundation of the fantasy genre is pretty much based on Dwarves riding around on ponies.

Liberty's Edge

By RAW, Dwarves cannot ride ponies properly. The Core Rulebook will always trump a supplement (even one as neccessary as the Bestiary) unless it specifically states that it overrules the Core Rulebook.

That being said, there's no logical reason for a Dwarf to not be able to ride a pony, and I would allow it in my games.

The Exchange

Is that "mounts must be at least one size larger than you" rule in pathfinder?


VikingIrishman wrote:


That being said, there's no logical reason for a Dwarf to not be able to ride a pony, and I would allow it in my games.

Ponies do have some pride left.


In that same regard, my DM let a 5 ft bard ride a Mule, which is perfectly reasonable in the real world even though in the game they both count as Medium sized creatures. I think it's just the fact that both riding and size catagories are simplified to ease up on having heavy calculations that sometimes what is plausible seems to scuff at the rules. That's what DMs are for, to rule on all the exceptions that haven't been accounted for.


Ion Raven wrote:
In that same regard, my DM let a 5 ft bard ride a Mule, which is perfectly reasonable in the real world even though in the game they both count as Medium sized creatures. I think it's just the fact that both riding and size catagories are simplified to ease up on having heavy calculations that sometimes what is plausible seems to scuff at the rules. That's what DMs are for, to rule on all the exceptions that haven't been accounted for.

Plus it's also to simplify the fact you won't see a halfling riding an average sized dog no matter the strength of creature.

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