The question is whether the combat training of the Cavalier's mount is actually tricks known by the mount and takes up trick slots.
After reading the rule over and over, this is what I think RAW. It may be overpowered, but I think this is exactly what it says.
So a cavalier gets his mount and doesn't teach it anything using Handle Animal. The Mount (Ex) says it’s always considered to be combat trained (the 6 tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel). It’s the cavalier’s ability not the mounts ability. The mount has actually learned nothing. So it’s only "considered to be" combat trained but also only by the cavalier and only when using the Mount (Ex) ability, which admittedly is automatic and continuous. But the mount doesn’t actually know those tricks. So If there were some spell or supernatural effect that blocks a cavalier’s Mount (Ex) ability, then the mount would not have those tricks either unless they were specifically taught to it using Handle Animal. Likewise if anyone other than the cavalier tries to ride it, it will only actually know it what was specifically taught to it using Handle Animal. The mount has actually never learned any tricks. Therefore the combat training tricks that it is always considered to know with respect to the Mount (Ex) ability doesn’t actually take up any animal trick slots. They are essentially free. QED
Is there any official errata about this? If RAW is correct, that means that a 1st level Cavalier (with enough time and money and Handle Animal checks) could potentially have the ability to use his mount with all the 6 basic combat tricks, plus 1 bonus tricks, plus 6 trained tricks.
