OK, now that is hard to read.
First, it could benefit a lot from blank lines between each order and much less use of bold face.
Second, spell out acronyms in full at least once in any document, no one who gets any benefit from this document will understand 'when FD or CE'.
Last, when I tried to open this on a mobile device (iPad mini if it matters) it wouldn't scroll past the first page. Rich Text format is not used equally well by everything, I suggest PDF instead.
Edit: since Horse Master is there to enable multiclassing, don't you want to mention something about possible multiclassing? Battle Herald at least?
When I go to the link in the 1st post, the guide flashes upon the screen very briefly and then I get the error message ".rtf files are supported but something went wrong."
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I would hardly call dipping going four levels off my main class. Multiclassing yes, but definitely not dipping. For the same reason, while you say the target of this guide is people who want a mount but do not want to abandon their main class, 4-levels multiclassing produces exactly the opposite effect. True, you would also get additional things, such as Challenge and Banner, but these are of no use if all I want is a mount.
For these people, it is probably wiser to simply pick the Nature Soul + Animal Ally feats, and eventually Boon Companion if they really need it. So it is a 2, at most 3, feat investment, versus 1 feat + 4 levels off your main class. Furthermore, most classes have other ways to get a mount via class features or multiclassing: Cleric/Inquisitor/Alchemist/Barbarian/... archetypes, Oracle Mysteries; any class with access to a Domain from a nature/animal-oriented deity can get an animal companion via the Animal Domain (either by getting the actual domain, or using an Icon of Aspects). Familiars can also be used as mounts, adding even more possibilities: a single level dip in Wizard/Sorcerer/Witch/Shaman/X, if your base class already does not, grant you a Mauler familiar of your choice (even a flying one!) whose HPs increase with your character level, and with Boon Companion you can unlock its Medium form. Small sized creatures can ride their Mauler familiar with no further investment, while Medium sized ones need Undersized Mount (+ maybe Ant Haul or Heavyload Belt or similar inexpensive items/effects).
In other words, if one really just wants a mount, chances are they are not going to multiclass 4 levels into Cavalier and waste a feat.
This guide seems more oriented towards builds already starting with Cavalier levels, that later want to multiclass away from Cavalier into something else, but do not want to lose their mount progression, for example Cavalier/Bard Battle Heralds.
Instead of going off the beaten path (taking levels in cavalier) my suggestion would be to pick up a Headband of Intellect +4 with the Ride and Animal Handling skills. Then talk to the GM about buying an exotic mount.
Depending on your build you may be able to get away with just grabbing an Equestrian Belt Now you don't have to mess with skill checks at all.
But I agree. The Cavalier option makes sense for some builds. But there are "cheaper" ways to get an animal companion and/or mount.
Heck, if you're a small character you can just grab the feat Wasp Familiar and give it the mauler archetype to get something that not only can you ride but it flies as well. Assuming that you're ok with your character being a CN worshiper of Calistria.
To be honest I've looked at this guide before and it inspired me to start developing one of my own on having multiple effective animal companions. But it's such a hyper specialized niche that I don't know how useful the guide is actually going to be to anyone.
This school will teach you how to train a mount alongside you for your entire career, with only four character levels and one feat!
This tactic is basically for the PFS player without access to Leadership for a cohort mount (or the player is in a campaign which allows it, but whose GM targets them, then penalizes the PC's leadership score after cohort death).
Necessary gear: the Hostling armor enhancement.
Necessary feats: Mounted Combat and Indomitable Mount.
The gates are open...
I recommend adopting the consensus of font styles and color choices that most other guides follow.
Good suggestions everyone!
LordKailas:
People tend to shout me down whenever I suggest having multiple familiars or multiple animal companions. It's definitely not intended by the developers, and RAW is unclear.
Multiple Familiars is not intended as most options that would normally lead to this sort of thing spell out very specfically that you can only have 1 familiar. I seem to recall there is atleast one loophole via the RAW that does allow this.
As for multiple animal companions.... well, this is absolutely something you can do both by RAW and RAI as its supported by multiple archetypes (see Packmaster, Packlord, and Beastmaster).
Based on your post, I feel like I do need to finish the guide just to clear up the misconception that having more than one animal companion some how inherently breaks the rules. Also, that it's possible to use those archetypes without having your animal companions be terrible.