View source for Riding

{{Other|the basic Riding characteristic (Passive Skill)|details on its use|Travelling}}
__NOTOC__
<onlyinclude>{{Skill
| mode={{{mode|}}}
| disambigpage        = Riding
| name                = Riding
| icon                = Riding-icon
| characteristic      = y
| description         = You are able to ride mounts.
}}</onlyinclude>
== General Information ==
The '''Riding''' skill is required to ride any [[Mounts|permanent mounts]]. It is learned from [[Item:Trait: Riding Characteristic|Trait: Riding Characteristic]], and is auto-applied upon acquisition.

There are three Riding Traits available:
* Riding - Basic riding skill allowing a character to ride mounts for up to +68% mount speed, depending on the mount.
* [[Apprentice Riding]] - Boosts all travelling mount speed to +68%.
* [[Journeyman Riding]] - Boosts all travelling mount speed to +78%.

== How to Obtain ==
=== Free Quest ===
* If the "Shadows of Angmar" tutorial option is selected, then
: [[Men]] and [[Hobbit]]s can obtain this skill from [1] [[Quest:A Little Extra Never Hurts -- Part 2|A Little Extra Never Hurts -- Part 2]], bestowed by [[Jon Brackenbrook]] in [[Archet]] during the [[Introduction Quests|Introduction]].
: [[Dwarves]] and [[Elves]] can get the same quest from [[Dwalin]] in [[Frerin's Court]] during their introduction

* If the "Before the Shadow" tutorial option is selected, or the character's race is [[River Hobbit]], then
: The character's intro ends in [[Mossward]], and it is trivial to access the Blacksmith Shop and complete [1] [[Quest:A Little Extra Never Hurts -- Part 2|A Little Extra Never Hurts -- Part 2]], bestowed by [[Skardí Bendblade]].
* For others, who missed the quest in their introduction, as well as new [[Beorning]]s, [[High Elves]], and [[Stout-axe]]s, for whom the quest was not offered in their intro, they will need to get to Mossward to do this quest. This can be a bit of a logistical challenge, since the intro for such characters ends in [[Ered Luin]], [[Bree-land]], or [[the Shire]], and the travel routes from those areas are [[Swift Travel]] only.
** Fortunately, Mossward is '''auto-discovered''' from everywhere, meaning, that travel routes to it are open, as long as all other prerequisites are satisfied.
** If Swift Travel is unlocked on the character, then direct routes to Mossward are available from [[Celondim]], [[Michel Delving]], [[Thorin's Gate]] and [[West Bree]].
** Otherwise, a {{:Item: Writ of Special Passage|mode=imlink}} can be used to temporarily unlock Swift Travel. An account-bound version of this is obtained from {{:Item: Gift for a Starting Adventurer|mode=imlink}} the present received as a reward for attaining a [[Level#Character_Level|Character Level]] of 6.
** A single {{:Item:Mithril Coin|mode=imlink}} can also be used as a one-time override of the Swift Travel requirement for a stable-master route, or, for 2 Mithril Coin, to travel to Mossward from anywhere, via the [[Collections#Stable-masters|Collections Panel]].
** A [[Mariner]] of level 7 or above can port himself/herself to [[Tharbad]], using the {{:Sail to Tharbad|mode=imlink}} skill, and from there, take a stable ride to Mossward.
** A [[Hunter#Wayfaring|Hunter Port]], [[Mariner#Travel_Skills|Mariner Port]] or [[Summoning Horn Use|Captain Summon]] may be available from other players, or one of your alts on a different account. Note that the port or summon only needs to be to a stable-master in [[Swanfleet]], to [[Herne]], or to Tharbad, or somewhere near those locations, since a stable ride is available from all of those. Most convenient, however, would be for a Captain to summon directly into the Blacksmith Shop.
** The housing item {{:Item: Caras Gelebren Mural Alcove|mode=imlink}} can be used to teleport to [[Caras Gelebren]] in Swanfleet; there is a stable ride from there to Mossward. Publically-usable teleporters are available on all servers, check the forums for their locations. Travel to the relevant housing neighborhood is available for free from the [[Housing Broker]] in Bree.
** It is possible to get to Mossward overland from classic starting areas, even at low levels, but highly advisable to first obtain the 24-hour item {{:Item:Wrapped Horse Whistle|mode=imlink}} which summons a +32% mount, not requiring Riding Skill to use. This item is only obtained from {{:Item:Gift_Pack|mode=imlink}}, at level 5. The safest route is to take the portal from the Shire to [[Sarn Ford]] (the Shire-to-Cardolan portal is near the [[Shire Homesteads]] portal, south of [[Michel Delving]]), across land, following roads, to Herne, and then take a stable ride from there. Note that while the route is relatively safe, it is not without risks -- the hostile creatures between Sarn Ford and Herne range from the low to mid 20s. If your character is defeated at a low level -- less than level 20 -- you lose eligibility for one or more Survival Titles (see [[:Category:Survival Titles|Survival Titles]]).

=== VIP Subscribers ===
Players with a VIP Account can also acquire this skill for free by completing the level 20 quest [[Quest: Proving Your Quality|Proving Your Quality]], given by [[Éogar, son of Hadorgar|Éogar]] at [[Hengstacer Farm]], north of [[Bree]].{{Tooltip Coords|Bree-land|22.3S|52.3W}}

=== Mithril Traders ===
The skill can be bartered from [[Mithril Trader#Starter Areas|Mithril Traders]] in the starting areas for {{worth|mc=10}}.

=== LOTRO Store ===
This skill is also included as part of packages from the [[LOTRO Store]]. 

{| class="altRowsMed" style="text-align: center;"
! style="width: 50px;"  | 
! style="width: 175px" | Item
! style="width: 375px;"  | 
! style="width: 120px;"  | Uses
! styoe="width: 80px;" | Minimum Level
! style="width: 80px;"  | Points
|-
| [[File:Riding Trait-icon.png|50px]]            || style="text-align: left;"|[[Apprentice Riding Trait]] 
| style="text-align: left;"|Upgrades your mounts to have +68% speed.<br>''Includes basic Riding Skill, [[Item:Apprentice Riding|Apprentice Riding Trait]], and [[Item:Smell the Roses|Smell the Roses]].'' || Single Character || 5 || style="text-align: right;"| {{worth|lp=995}}
|-
| [[File:Riding Trait-icon.png|50px]]            || style="text-align: left;"|[[Apprentice Riding Trait (Account)]] 
| style="text-align: left;"|Upgrades your mounts to have +68% speed.<br>''Includes basic Riding Skill, [[Item:Apprentice Riding|Apprentice Riding Trait]], and [[Item:Smell the Roses|Smell the Roses]].'' || Account-wide   || None || style="text-align: right;"| {{worth|lp=1995}}
|-
| [[File:Riding Trait-icon.png|50px]]            || style="text-align: left;"|[[Journeyman Riding Trait (Account)]]
| style="text-align: left;"|Upgrades your mounts to have +78% speed.<br>''Includes basic Riding Skill, [[Item:Apprentice Riding|Apprentice Riding Trait]], [[Item:Journeyman Riding|Journeyman Riding Trait]], and [[Item:Smell the Roses|Smell the Roses]].'' || Account-wide   || None || style="text-align: right;"| {{worth|lp=2995}}
|-
|}

== Notes ==
* This skill is required to participate in [[Festival Horse Races]] during [[Special Events]].