I'm currently playing a ranger, and at the end of the last session I hit level 4 and got my animal companion. However, I already have a heavy horse that I've been riding around that I wanted to become my companion.
If I'm reading the animal companion rules right, they're saying that if I wanted my horse to be my animal companion it would actually become weaker than a normal animal of its type, and lose combat training. How the hell does this make any sort of sense? Aren't animal companions supposed to be better than standard animals? Why does my horse spontaneously become worse than a standard combat horse?
For reference:
A normal war trained heavy horse has
Str 20, Dex 18, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 17, Cha 11
Run as a bonus feat
+8 to perception
3 primary natural attacks (2 +5 1d6 hooves, +5 1d4 bite)
+2 natural armor
An animal companion horse at druid level 1 has
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
3 natural attacks (2 -1 1d6 hooves, +4 1d4 bite)
+4 natural armor