Pardon any ignorence on my part as I have not studied up on the direction animal lore plans to go, but this may be a good thing if it is a new concept I present to be pondered.
The proposed system would incorporate the horse training system requireing animal lore. It is understood the Paladins are masters of horseback offence but in this system other guild types could achieve such ability with training. Additional verbs could be added to riding manuveurs as skills progressed as could stable status.
It is understood that familiars are not truely animals but animal lore could play a part in the 'upbringing' of a familiar. It could obtain further abilities as the skill was trained.
The same notion could be applied to moon mage and necromany creations.
Just tossin it out there ,.. Xixist