it is a real pain that followers can't ride on a horse with you or even get their own horse. The only work around is to leave them at a fast travel point, ride to where you want to go then fast travel back to them.

I agree, they need to hop on with you, or pull out their own horse, something...
Is it just me, or can you also not tell them what to equip etc?

Otherwise I find that if I just ride my horse to where I need to go, and wait a good minute or two, the follower will catch up as long as I'm standing on a road, or a legitimate surface an npc can "see" in their pathing...
Like if I'm on the side of a cliff, it breaks the followers pathing, but as soon as I return to a road or meadow (w/e) they find me..

They catch up pretty quick except when they have pathing problems, like if you leave the trail.

Yeah, I agree, whenever I have a companion with me I never ride my horse because I feel like a jerk. :E

So yes, companions either need a horse of their own, or the better part, ride with you on your horse. God, I hope someone makes a mod like that. <3

I agree, hell my companion cant keep up when I sprint so I have to wait 1hour to find them again. When I run into enemies and they are not there is when it bugs me the most.
So I guess on foot speed them up and also give them a horse also.