How would one control a dragon while riding it, especially if dynamic control is necessary?
Disclaimer: I have never ridden a horse, so my understanding here might be completely wrong.
The way I understand it, you control steer a horse using reigns by pulling it's head left and right to turn the horse, letting the reigns go to signal acceleration and pull the reigns close for deceleration.
What would be a good, "natural" control scheme to control a dragon while riding it?
Requirements:
- Control using hands, maybe feet. Magic, telepathic or voice-based control schemes are out of scope.
- Needs to be fast enough to facilitate dogfighting
- Should cover flying and landing/starting. Special attacks of a dragon (fire, claws, biting) doesn't need to be covered
- Doesn't need to be reigns, could also be rods or other types of mechanical controls
- The dragon is about as smart as a horse.
- The dragon can be "adapted" for riding/controlling it. So for example, it could be bread to have elongated spines or horns that the rider can grip to control the dragon.
- Medival setting, so no electronics, fly-by-wire or anything like that
