Saddle (AEG)

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==Saddle==
Saddle use is assumed in the Land-based Riding proficiency unless a character is specifically from a culture proficient in riding bareback. Any other character who tries to ride without a saddle is subject to special riding checks at the discretion of the DM. (A general no-saddle penalty of -2 is suggested.)
In a typical campaign, available saddles will be based on types used in the mid-to-late medieval period.
By this time period, the saddle had evolved through many changes in design. The basic saddle includes the frame (called the tree), the front end (called the pommel), and the back end (called the cantle).
Elven saddles are made of wood and pliable, fibrous plants. Halfling saddles are soft and well cushioned. Gnomish saddles are painted and decorated with thin layers of silver, gold, or semi-precious gems.
Orcs and goblins use saddles that are quite small, with fairly distinct pommels and nearly invisible cantles.
War Saddle: The knight's war saddle takes on huge dimensions. They typically exhibit high pommels and cantles, and are often covered with steel or brass plates or are decorated profusely with silver and ivory inlays. These usually have rings and straps for attaching barding and heavy stirrups.
==Saddlebags==
Saddlebags rest directly behind the rider, on the rump of the horse. They come in many different sizes and varieties. The most common type is made of leather and has two large packs, one on either side of the horse. Each pack or bag can hold about 3 square feet of material or about 25 pounds of weight (for the large saddlebags). Small saddlebags hold 2 square feet and 15 pounds. Saddlebags may also be made of heavy cloth. Variant saddlebag designs might have anywhere from one to four packs instead of the standard two.
==Saddle Blanket==
This is a typically a warm woven blanket laid underneath the saddle, protecting the animal from abrasion and preventing the saddle from shifting. A rider who uses a saddle without a saddle blanket will quickly wear his horse down (and might find himself unceremoniously dumped when the saddle shifts).
Elven and halfling saddle blankets are wonderfully woven and often decorated with colorful tassles or jingling bells.
Padded includes quilted armor.
Scale includes studded leather, brigandine, and ring mail (weights will differ).
Banded includes splint.
===Table 3: Optional Barding Armor Class===
(This can replace the Creatures with Natural Armor Class section in Chapter 6 of the Player's Handbook .)
 Table 3: Optional Barding Armor Class
Type of Barding 	ACBonus	MaximumAC
Leather (Padded) 	+1 	4
Scale, Brigandine,Studded, Ring	+2 	3
Chain 	+3 	2
Banded, Splint 	+4 	1
Plate 	+5 	0
AC Bonus is the amount of protection a type of barding affords. For example, a heavy warhorse (AC 7) in plate barding (+5) has an adjusted AC of 2.
Maximum AC is the best AC conferred by non-magical barding of this type. Past this point, the innate toughness of the creature renders this type of barding redundant.
===Table 4: Optional Partial Barding===
The following chart may be used to determine the armor class of partial barding. Bonuses are added to the mount's base AC.
 Table 4: Optional Partial Barding
ArmorType 	FullBarding	Chanfron/Poitrel 	Cuello/Crinet 	Flanchard/Crupper
Leather 	6 	————————(see notes)————————	————————(see notes)————————	————————(see notes)————————
Scale 	5 	————————(see notes)————————	————————(see notes)————————	————————(see notes)————————
Chain 	4 	** 	0 	**
Banded 	3 	** 	** 	**
Plate 	2 	1 ea. 	** 	1 ea.
Field Plate	1 	1 ea. 	** 	1 ea.
Full Plate 	0 	1 ea. 	1 ea. 	1 ea.
Notes:
: Leather: The only effective combination less than full leather is half leather, which gives protection to the front of the horse only.
: Scale: Half scale protects the front of the horse only. Any other combination of at least three pieces (except crinet) gives a +1 bonus to armor class.
: ** Any two pieces give a +1 bonus to AC.