The cost to rent a horse?

[Devious]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Can a character with Horsemanship start with a zero-training cost "pet horse" (as their one pet) or does that require Expert Horsemanship?


In that case a typical riding horse is half of your starting $1k when saddled.

I would say that a PC with Horsemanship would not start with a free pet horse. He would have to pay the horse's full market value including training, and it would be pretty much necessary that he also buy a bridle & saddle. Like I said: a trained ST 16 nag costs $941.

[Devious]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Can a character with Horsemanship start with a zero-training cost "pet horse" (as their one pet) or does that require Expert Horsemanship?


In that case a typical riding horse is half of your starting $1k when saddled.

An Expert Horseman can train a horse, so in the case of our ST 16 nag, he'd only have to pay $341 to buy the nag, then he can train it in his spare time up to IQ 5 for 6 months.

[Devious]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Can a character with Horsemanship start with a zero-training cost "pet horse" (as their one pet) or does that require Expert Horsemanship?

In game, a PC with the Animal Handler Talent (p. 37) can try to "make friends" with an animal.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Devious

In game, a PC with the Animal Handler Talent (p. 37) can try to "make friends" with an animal.

Which won't help much if someone thinks the horse belongs to them, so only particularly relevant if wild horses are available.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by Devious

In game, a PC with the Animal Handler Talent (p. 37) can try to "make friends" with an animal.

Most horses are either going to be owned by someone already, or be one of the "untamable" species/subspecies of equines.

It's worth noting that it often was considered a capital offense to steal a horse (or a camel), and usually incumbent upon the person in possession to prove the horse is legally their own.

So, it's a very risky proposition to go trying to make friends with random horses...

[Devious]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

Most horses are either going to be owned by someone already, or be one of the "untamable" species/subspecies of equines.

It's worth noting that it often was considered a capital offense to steal a horse (or a camel), and usually incumbent upon the person in possession to prove the horse is legally their own.

So, it's a very risky proposition to go trying to make friends with random horses...

In my game, in the plains (open country), there will be a chance of encountering wild horses, especially if the Tracking Talent is successfully used.

If the encountered horse has no bridle, saddle, and horse shoes, it is very safe to assume that it's wild and not belonging to someone.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by Shostak

That's entirely realistic. But if you want the PCs to have access to horses, just give it to them.

Or give horses to an enemy. As Shostak knows, in my game, sometimes a horse can be got from bandits who bit off more than they can chew.

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by phiwum

Or give horses to an enemy. As Shostak knows, in my game, sometimes a horse can be got from bandits who bit off more than they can chew.

And then you can ride into town with a really good explanation for the people the bandits stole the horses from.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by phiwum

Or give horses to an enemy. As Shostak knows, in my game, sometimes a horse can be got from bandits who bit off more than they can chew.

Never look in the mouth of a gift horse that has bit off more than it can chew.

[tomc]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Never look in the mouth of a gift horse that has bit off more than it can chew.

When you lead a horse to more than it can drink, you have to get right back on.