Hi. I've been using the build from this link: (
http://forum.c-rpg.net/index.php/topic,9160.0.html) [hardest hitting HA build], and with 4 riding, there aren't a lot of choices for horses. I chose the Steppe Horse. High maneuverability seemed like a good idea when you're trying to dodge around others shooting arrows into unsuspecting enemies...
I hadn't noticed at the time, but pretty much no one uses Steppe Horses. Why? Because they're pretty terrible. They suck, hard. Instead of spouting opinions though, let's look at some numbers.
Let's compare it to the next lower level horse, the Rouncey.
Cost: +1502 Gold
hit points: -10
body armor: -2
difficulty: +1
speed: -5
maneuver: +6
charge: -6
The only benefit is the addition of 6 maneuverability. For that, everything is worse. And not by small amounts, either. 10 less HP + 2 less body armor mean that HX can 2 shot or occasionally 1 shot my horse out from under me. The -5 speed means that any lancer on a Rouncey can catch me and spear the crap out of me, and the reach of the lances means that I can't even maneuver away from them any significant amount before they spear the crap out of me.
Has anyone had any kind of success with the Steppe Horse? I really want it to be good, but I can't seem to work with it.
edit: Upon further examination, the problem may be that the Rouncey is way too good for it's location on the price/difficulty scale. Compare it to the Palfrey, which costs 3k more, it's ridiculous. The only thing the Palfrey has is 1 more speed, the Rouncey has everything else higher or the same. 10 more HP, 4 more Armor, 2 more charge. WTF...