Why does the beast rider get so many mount choices if he can't ride them?

[GroovyTaxi]

"The animal chosen as a mount must be large enough to carry the beast rider (Medium or Large for a Small character; Large or Huge for a Medium character)."

"Medium beast riders can choose a camel or horse mount at 1st level. At 4th level, a Medium beast rider can also choose an allosaurus, ankylosaurus, arsinoitherium, aurochs, bison, brachiosaurus, elephant, glyptodon, hippopotamus, lion, mastodon, megaloceros, snapping turtle (giant), tiger, triceratops, or tyrannosaurus as his mount. Additional mounts might be available with GM approval."

I looked at nearly every single mount in that list and none of them becomes Large before the 7th level... and the Beast Rider receives another mount at that level. Basically, the way I read it, the 4th level upgrade is meaningless because it gives the cavalier access to mounts it cannot ride until level 7, where it gets another mount selection upgrade anyway.

So what's that level 4 upgrade for?

[Nefreet]

I believe it's been discussed before (at length) that this particular ability was either ill thought out or edited strangely before it went to print.

It is what it is. Stock up on potions of Reduce Person for a few levels.

[GroovyTaxi]

You're right. I just read a lot of old forum threads and realized it has been pointed out by the community... and the designer's answer to my question just doesn't make any sense.

I guess I'll just ask my GM if he can allow me to use a large-sized mount that has the exact same stats than a medium one, otherwise the class loses all its appeal before level 7.

[kikidmonkey]

if you aren't playing in PFS just ask your DM to get rid of the line "The animal chosen as a mount must be large enough to carry the beast rider."

I played one with a tiger mount and until level 7, it was just my terrifying flanking buddy.

With a combination of pack attack and vital strike, we were highly mobile and almost always flanking in combat

Otherwise, yes, it is very poorly written.