When you're mounting up for combat there's a few really specific things to watch for timing-wise. Your horse gains experience from completing story battles but youll get bonus progress by actively charging through enemy formations, which is crucial to master early. The assault timing is super precise - watch for that brief moment when enemies are clustering together, then hold the charge command to maximize impact. Really important detail about positioning: stay mobile and circle around larger groups, maintaining just enough distance to avoid getting surrounded while still being close enough to dash through them effectively.

Most players miss this but the recovery window right after a charge is perfect for weapon attacks, especially if you're using a faster weapon type. During officer encounters, watch their stance carefully - when they flash that distinct glow it means they're about to unleash something that could knock you off your mount, so that's your cue to create distance. The sweet spot for mounted combat is usually keeping about 15-20 feet between you and major threats, giving you enough room to build momentum for charges while staying close enough to react to their patterns.

Always watch your mount's stamina gauge in the corner, particularly when chaining assault moves. A good rhythm is dash-attack-circle-dash which lets your stamina recover between charges while keeping pressure on enemies. Maybe interesting: you can actually "cheer" your horse mid-battle to instantly refresh some stamina, super useful when you need that extra burst of speed during critical moments.