Having to dismount to fight killed the joy for me. That's my only major gripe with the game (it would be spellmaking, but I never use magic).

There's no [censored] way I'm willing to dismount to kill one more wolf. That got out of my system in Oblivion. I consider them set pieces now.

Modded for extra speed and unlimited sprinting, they're fun to ride and make a good alternative to fast travel. But my computer can't really handle having to load and unload cells and textures at higher speed, so I get a framerate drop and frequent ctds. My current character just uses carriages and jogs from the nearest city. If the performance and speed issues were fixed, I'd use them all the time. Some other things that would help would be:

1st person horseback riding
adjustable AI aggression settings (Feel free to charge in there when I'm a low level archer that needs a tank, but just stay put once I can take care of myself. And in either case, go back to where I dismounted once combat is over.)
horseback combat
horses rideable by companions
horseback ingredient picking
horseback dialog

in roughly that order.

I have no issue with the horse's per se, it's just that I find myself jumping off them almost as soon as I've gotten on it so that I can pick a plant or soul trap something. They do not suit my play style is all.

I don't use them because I'm an alchemist and I also think it's unfair for my companions.

I like the horses just fine, so much so that I steal them every chance I get. So far I've made off with 7 of them in almost 70 hours of playtime They are much better than in Oblivion, I only wish we could have first person anims for them. Perhaps someone will be able to mod that for those fortunate enough to be able to use them.

No, they're way too sluggish! I spent 1,000 gold on one and ditched him after 30 seconds.

No, because they aren't useful.

They just barely run faster than me.

Don't even get me started on the forced third-person.

I just lost my horse I've been riding since the very beginning... It's a sad day.

It feels weird traveling around on foot now

It'd also be cool if there were a fence you could sell stolen horses to, become a career horse thief.

I'd be more tolerant of horses if my companion can get one too.

I think the OP is a little biased for a poll but..... I personally really enjoy the horses. I do agree they are a little too aggressive but I can get over that. As for their design, I love it. They are modeled after the Iceland Tolter; a horse built for cold and harsh conditions. So they are stouter, smaller, hairier, like http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Iceland_horse.jpg. They also have a "speed" most breeds of horse don't which is sort of like a fast trot which requires very little energy from the horse which allows them to move at a reasonable speed for a very long time without getting tired. So I commend the designers for not making American quarter horses in Skyrim, because an American quarter horse would die if forced to work in Skyrim.

I personally play in 3rd person (because I spent two hours creating my character I am going to look at her... ) so the forced 3rd person really doesn't bother me. Also, if they are not "maneuverable" enough for you, you are doing it wrong. My horse could be a mountain goat for all the mountain climbing I do with him. He defies gravity!

In all, I love the horses in Skyrim, they look and work great, and they are a good excuse for me to run around and avoid quests while I explore.

I hopped on mine and fast travelled to Winterhold College. It stuck me on my horse on that thin little ramparts path, I moved slightly so I could dismount, I jumped of safely and my horse plummeted 200 feet to it's death in the chasm below.

Climbing mountains is one thing, but have you ever tried to make a sharp turn, or just turn your horse around? Or heck, even back up?!?!

It's impossible. Your horse has to do a huge and wide 360 degree turn. Never take your horse on a pointed bluff over hanging a massive cliff.

The really need to make controlling a horse exactly how it was in Oblivion, at least there it was realistic.

Shadowmere is pretty useful. They definately need to add mounted combat though. I had mounted combat with the Deadly Reflex mod in Oblivion, and once i got used to it, it was bad ass. If you weren't experienced with the controls of slowing down to turn/maneuver though and when to swipe, it was rough. With the difficulty slider at max, it'd take me like 20-30 hits with a Daedric Battle Axe to kill a Brown Bear or Dread Zombie, but on horseback, i was able to kill them in 3-5 hits while at a full gallop. Was moving so fast too that they couldn't land a hit on me, felt like i was jousting their ass. I still remember the time i got attacked by 6 Necromancers along the road, and as i rode by, i swiped out with my Daedric Battle Axe and took the head clean off of one of them. Was totally awesome seeing his stump of a neck spewing forth a fountain of blood as his body sagged to the floor in slow motion while his head rolled down the road.

I use my horse to climb mountains occasionally.

I use horses to travel occasionally. My main deterrent is my horses keep dying from bears, bandits, or dragons. Also, they can not take fall nearly as well as the player. In short, I would use them more, but they keep dying on me. Feel guilty dooming any horse I buy.