I didn't add a stat prerequisite. I dunno if that's going to be standardized across other archtypes, but I don't think it fits here. If I were going to give it a prereq it would probably be some kind of armor or martial weapon proficiency.
I also changed the status bonus damage of Challenge to mirror Smite Evil, since the playtest versions were equivalent to each other.
And instead of a skill training I had the dedication include the Ride feat, because it is weird to be a cavalier without it. It doesn't actually do anything with a minion, but it is still weird to not have it. I wouldn't bother including a skill training unless I was also going to include a list of orders, tying the skill learned to each specific order.
Well it seemed that more than likely there will be no Cavalier class, so that would mean it would not be a Multiclass dedication feat, so wouldn't need to follow the Multi-class pattern quite as much.
I don't think it needs an attribute requirement, like Multi-class Archetypes typically do. I certainly would say the flavor that you can be a wizard, casting spells from atop the horse, I would suggest if you did require any attribute, it would not be STR. If anything it would be WIS to insure an aptitude for Nature/Ride checks and determination/will saves, or alternately perhaps CHA might be a good choice as you are learning to affect others (allies and/or mounts).
Otherwise, Prerequisites would include the given trained in Nature, and should probably include the first line of the description. (having given your service to a knightly order)
Looking at the Armiger feat mentioned in another thread, I suspect that it should grant a Lore (the order) as a trained skill (or expert if already trained in the lore).
Also based on it might be reasonable to grant the choice of Diplomacy or Intimidation as another trained skill. I don't feel comfortable allowing one of those skills to advance to expert, if already trained on one of these two, so instead if this skill is already trained, I would suggest a free skill choice then. If the GM defines a list of orders, with Anathema, I would suggest that each order could have a signature skill which they are associated, which might be substituted choice for diplomacy/intimidation)
Actually, you might be able to grant the 'equivalent' of the Ride feat, but only allow it to be used with your 'mount/companion' That makes it not quite a full bonus skill feat, on top of the animal companion feat... but does basically tie the two together. If the cavalier buys the ride feat. have this ability graduate instead to a +1 status bonus to fear checks the mount takes when being ridden by the cavalier.
The Ride feat being granted to using your minion is redundant. It doesn't do anything on a minion.
Minion trait doesn't actually guarantee that they do what you want, just that the one action used leads to them being able to use two actions. According page 301, according to summoned trait, for instance it is up to the GM, to what degree they follow their instructions, even though they are explicitly specified as having the minion trait. I had missed the part where animal companions, specifies that when you use the Command an Animal, you don't need to roll for a success. I had noticed how Ride offered that as a bonus to their command action, and didn't realize they would already have that bonus.
But, you are right, that ride would be unnecessary for an animal companion such as you get from the theoretical cavalier archetype, I missed that detail. Thanks.
Indeed. Which is why I think the archetype should just grant the Ride feat in general. It is weird for a cavalier to not know how to ride any horse but their own.