I took everyone's helpful advice and began my foray into Oblivion totally vanilla, with the exception of the Mountain Shack house, which I am loving! (Note to self: must remember to endorse file!) But, I think I have at least played enough that I have an idea or two that I am looking for. So far, I haven't been able to find some of this which is why I'm asking for your advice.

1) Is there no mod out there that will allow you to shoot your bow or use your sword on horseback? (If not, WTF was Bethesda thinking? It's just a royal pain in the azz to be galloping down the road or through the mountains and a dang wolf start nipping at my old nag's heels and I have to stop, get off and kill the dang wolf. It REALLY breaks the immersion for me.)

2) I have looked for it under key mapping and didn't see the option for it, but is there a mod (or another way) to set your "A" key to "Take All" when you open a container just like Fallout 3? It's just automatic for me to do that as long as I played FO3, lol.

3) What does the "CM" in the "CM Companions Mod" stand for? And is that mod any good? It looks really good, lol. Since I joined the Blades I want to assemble myself a little team of Blades to use from time to time.

Fighting on horseback: A slightly buggy one for using spells on horseback (I have limited experience with it). Bow or sword, wait for Deadly Reflex 6.

There's a mod actually called "A to Take All", I think.

Don't know about the CM. Could be the initials of the creator. Could stand for "Companions Mod".

Great Thanks for the help! I actually saw the Deadly Reflex 5, but I felt it was too much on an overhaul for my first time playing. And I swear, I searched the Nexus for that take all mod and every combination I put in gave no results, lol. methinks their search engine leaves a little to be desired at times, lol. But thanks again!

There is already take all button when you open a container. I guess I just do not get the appeal of saving yourself one click...

Did you find the "take all" one: There's this: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=27638

And this: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=28461

Turns out CM stands for "Cutthroat Mods" the people who created it.