I then found a narrow trail following a series of switchbacks. It was quiet until about two-thirds of the way up when I spotted a frostvenom spider on the trail. So I dismounted, went into sneak mode, and was about to get a shot in when that stupid horse galloped by and attacked the spider. He only did so briefly and came back. I finished the job, but when I turned round the horse had gone. I scouted up the path to the next turn and it was all clear. I told Lydia to wait there. I ran down the switchbacks and there was Gluepot, as I dubbed him, plodding down the hill.
I rode back up to Lydia, then realized I couldn't talk to her while mounted (dumb feature) to tell her to follow me. So I dismounted, and there was a sudden brown blur to my right, and Gluepot was gone again! This time we both went down, only a couple of levels, where we found his corpse. I resurrected him, and before he could wander off, I rode to the top again.
At the summit was some ruins and a couple of wispmaidens (?). I dismounted to investigate, but Gluepot started down the other side, so I ran to him and mounted up again. Having passed the site without issue, we came to a stream. On the opposite side was a band of guards that found an ice-troll. I dismounted and started shooting at it, and Gluepot ran across the stream, past the guards, pummeled the troll a bit, then headed back, or so I thought.
No, he went off somewhere. We continued up the path to Ivarstead, but he obviously didn't go that route. I think if I see that stupid horse again, I'll keep on walking!

