Really, zedd_owd, at least know what you\'re talking about before you try and add some insightful comment. Skill-based systems are far more realistic than level-based ones; and also, if I do say so myself, far more enjoyable and personable.
Back on topic, I don\'t think that specific races should be disallowed certain types of transportation unless the other races were also equally penalized. So this may be an instance where it would be better to drop realism in favor of fun and fairness.
Also, Crj, if you were speaking about my remarks (if you weren\'t, disregard this), I don\'t think its quite animal training, although it certainly overlaps with it a bit. What I meant is that characters need to establish trust with their mount. I would imagine a mount with a trusted rider would be far more apt to go into battle, or traverse a dangerous road, or even trust that its rider will know when to feed it. This trust could be used as a substitute for proper training, or be used along with it to maximize the mount\'s effectiveness.
Just my two tria, I\'m not sure if the system would work that well, or even be that fun or rewarding; I can\'t think all that deeply about it, at the moment.