Gnome on a horse?


Rules Questions


In my kingmaker game that I'm starting one of my players want to play a Gnome (Fey) Sorceror. So as not to slow the party when they're out exploring he wants to ride double with someone until such time as they can afford to order a riding dog from Restov.
My question is this: Can a small creature ride double on a large creature?
I already plan to add the -5 penalty for riding bareback to his ride checks but should I assess any other penalties for the horse being two size catagories larger instead of the usual one catagory?

Dark Archive

Unless the gnome puts the horse over its carrying capacity, I don't see why not.

Liberty's Edge

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Vanulf Wulfson wrote:

In my kingmaker game that I'm starting one of my players want to play a Gnome (Fey) Sorceror. So as not to slow the party when they're out exploring he wants to ride double with someone until such time as they can afford to order a riding dog from Restov.

My question is this: Can a small creature ride double on a large creature?
I already plan to add the -5 penalty for riding bareback to his ride checks but should I assess any other penalties for the horse being two size catagories larger instead of the usual one catagory?

No, he rides this.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Nah. If I was your GM, I'd just stick with the -5 for bareback. I might give the guy in the saddle a -2 if the gnome is up front and in the way though.


Velcro Zipper wrote:
Nah. If I was your GM, I'd just stick with the -5 for bareback. I might give the guy in the saddle a -2 if the gnome is up front and in the way though.

Way the ride checks? Are they in combat when this happens? Does the Gnome jump off whenever combat insues?

I would just stick the Gnome in the saddle bags... how much does a Gnome really weigh anyways?

PS... now that Dwarfs are Medium size (since 2nd edition) but I still consider it "wierd" for them to ride horses...

..so my DM has my Dwarf ride "Mountain Ponies"... same stats as a Large Horse (same size also).. but a little added flair can sometimes make a situation seem more believable...

Also... a regular Pony is cheaper I believe than a riding dog.. and the same size (medium)

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/classes/druid.html#animal-companions-pon y


A 12 year old can ride a horse... I really don't see why a gnome couldn't.

If he's riding behind someone I think he should just inflict a penalty (-2 to -5) to the person who's really directing the horse. The ride roll is more for controlling the animal; the gnome's just hanging on. That said, gnome shouldn't be able to do anything riding in this fashion.

The Exchange

Sekret_One wrote:

A 12 year old can ride a horse... I really don't see why a gnome couldn't.

If he's riding behind someone I think he should just inflict a penalty (-2 to -5) to the person who's really directing the horse. The ride roll is more for controlling the animal; the gnome's just hanging on. That said, gnome shouldn't be able to do anything riding in this fashion.

Because the gnome is the size of a 5 year old. Maybe a special saddle and diferent method of riding


6 years olds ride in shows here...and younger.
The trick is spurs. Lil ones can't get a big horses attention otherwise.
That and a kid saddle.


Rule wise i think the only 'issue' is that the gnome (small) on a horse (large) cannot use the fast dismount skill use under Ride. Being able to ride it? I see no issue just use total carrying capacity for the mount's adjusted speed.

The Exchange

skrahen wrote:

6 years olds ride in shows here...and younger.

The trick is spurs. Lil ones can't get a big horses attention otherwise.
That and a kid saddle.

i think folks don't get how little halfling and gnomes are, my nephew at 4 was bigger than the largest halfling. I say special saddle and call it good personally


My gnome druid rode a giant toad throughout the Rise of the Runelords AP. For long overland journeys the party had a wagon and Hoppy (Hoppiton Webfoot III) would ride in it so as not to slow the party. I took appropriate riding skills so as to fight mounted (which was no longer used once I could wild shape into effective combat forms).

Along the way Krundalbar had a special saddle and leather armor barding made for Hoppy, as well as a colorful caparison advertising an up scale brothel the gnome convinced the party to invest in.

Reaper makes a cool figure of a druid on a giant toad, which inspired the character.

Go to Gnome on Toad.


Andrew R wrote:


Because the gnome is the size of a 5 year old. Maybe a special saddle and diferent method of riding

Yeah, I know. I was just thinking that a gnome would be smaller but would have more coordination than a 12 year old to compensate.

Again, the OP asked about riding double. The ride skill/saddle issue I only see applying to the person actually directing the mount. The gnome is effectively baggage, though I'd say he'd have to use his hands to hold on.

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