Ability: Dexterity.
Requires Training: No.
Classes: All.
The character has spent time training to ride mounts, and can perform actions unskilled people cannot.
Riding a horse provides several default benefits.
Armor class:
If the horse has a higher armor class than the rider, the rider is given a natural armor bonus equal to the difference in armor class.
Hit points:
The rider receives half the hit points of the horse in the form of temporary hit points.
Speed increase:
The rider receives a 50% bonus to movement rate. The speed at which a mounted rider can move further improves in proportion to the rider's ranks in the ride skill. Speed increases from barbarian and monk levels are negated, though.
Skill decrease:
The rider receives a -50 penalty to disable trap, hide, move silently, open lock, pick pocket, set trap, and tumble while riding. (The armor class bonus from tumble is not negated.)