Barding

All barding encumbrances listed in UA are reduced to 40% of their listed value when equipped. If not being worn by the mount, encumbrance is as listed.Ex1) Inspired by Dragon #118 Forum. Here is the reasoning:

Rules for barding were introduced in 19832) Dragon #74. and reprinted in UA in 1985. They are basically broken – mainly, the barding is far too heavy. Encumbrance was dramatically increased from the OD&D numbers, to the point where medium and heavy horses may not even be able to move at all.3)https://deltasdnd.blogspot.com/2023/07/how-much-weight-can-horse-carry-in-d.html This was brought up in Dragon #118, but via a forum submission which was apparently not replied to by TSR.

Barding	AC mod	Eq. cn.	Uneq. cn.	Base MV“ and Mi./day (L/M/H Warhorse)
Leather	-1	640	1600	21/17/15
Scale	-2	1000	2500	15/15/14
Chain	-3	1400	3500	—/12/13
Plane	-4	2000	5000	—/—/12