Well, I'm not going to go through and check the exact wording of everything to make sure, but my assumption would be...
1) Yes, as I don't see any other way it would work.
and
2) Only if you DID charge, and if that charge was equal to or less than your mount's speed. Pounce only works on a charge, and Mounted Skirmisher only affects your attacks, not your mounts. But if the charge is short enough, you should be able to use both independently.
I believe it'd work that way, yes.
But then the GM would cause flaming bovines to drop from the sky and kill you, no saving throw allowed, for such flagrant powergaming.
I believe it'd work that way, yes.
But then the GM would cause flaming bovines to drop from the sky and kill you, no saving throw allowed, for such flagrant powergaming.
Eh... depends on the GM. I play a paladin in an active campaign where the GM allowed me to have a Lion (which has pounce and rake) as my Divine Bond. I don't actually ride my Divine Bond, though... I moreso treat it as an animal companion that acts as a protector of myself and my allies, so it operates somewhat independently of me (but goes on my init). The GM is fine with it.
Note that I don't usually use it as a mount... I tend to ride a regular horse (or a magical summoned one ala Mount spell) instead to maintain the independent actions. The GM does make it a point to kill/dispel my horse as much as humanly possible...