A horse is a horse of course of course

[Zaruthustran]

What kind of "warrior" are you? If you're a ranger, you'll soon get an animal companion. Choose a horse. Consider a 1- or 3- level dip in Druid. You'll lose 1 BAB but get spells, skills, ability to use wands and scrolls, and other abilities. The armor restrictions can be overcome with exotic armor materials.

Consider taking ranks in Use Magic Device and getting somebody to make you a wand of Phantom Steed. Or if you and your DM are prepared to go through the process, an item of Phantom Steed 2/day (command word activated).

Other magic item options:
Obsidian Steed
Stone Horse
Various figurines of Wondrous Power

 

[nittanytbone]

1) Get a Special Mount (Paladin, Cavalier, Halfling Outrider, Wild Plains Outrider all advance this mount).

2) Get an Animal Companion (Ranger, Druid, Beastmaster and the above Outriders help here. So does a feat from CAdv which gives +3 to your effective level).

3) The Leadership feat could give you a mount cohort. Or it could give you a druid cohort, who wildshapes into a horse for you to ride. And can cast spells for you! And who comes with his own Animal Companion!

4) The wild cohort feat could work, but it is underpowered compared to Leadership IMHO.

5) You could buy several warhorses and keep the one(s) that have superior above-average HP. Sell the others at 1/2 price, to recoup some of your cash, resell them to the other PCs, or donate them to a worthy cause or NPC you want to suck up to. This is a stop-gap solution.

6) Find a better mount, such as a Dire Wolf.

7) Convince your party's druid to wildshape into a heavy horse for you to ride on.

 

[Aeric]

-Have someone cast Awaken on the mount.

-Take the Leadership feat and make it your cohort.

-Give the mount class levels in fighter.

-Equip your new friend with Magical barding, Horseshoes of Speed, Legbands of Protection, etc.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Also, if you were to allow a straight warrior to get a poke-mount, what would you make her give up for it?

Alcohol, red meat, and sex.

 

[kirinke]

Alcohol, red meat, and sex.

You are just mean....

On a more serious note, there are ways to make a mount stronger.
I mean, you could cast various enchantments on bits, bridles, saddles, horseshoes leg-bracers etc and get them to have the same effects as say, rings of strength, dexterity, constitution etc. That is if your DM is willing and you're willing to pay the price those specialty items will entail. And for less permanent solutions, just cast the appropriate spell (bull's strength etc) on the critter or magic fang.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

You are just mean....

On a more serious note, there are ways to make a mount stronger.

Steroids, amphetamines, that sort of thing, yes? Isn't that illegal? Can cost you your charter and anything.

 

[ValhallaGH]

We used a house rule of being able to increase a single mount's HD by 1/3 your Handle Animal bonus. Since everyone used horses, it was difficult to break. If you allow other mounts then it could become very problematic (+12 HD to the Battle Titan, anyone?).

 

[Klaus]

There's also the Brass Steed golem from Heroes of Battle, for a meager 19,000 gp.

 

[Goldmoon]

What kind of "warrior" are you? If you're a ranger, you'll soon get an animal companion. Choose a horse. Consider a 1- or 3- level dip in Druid. You'll lose 1 BAB but get spells, skills, ability to use wands and scrolls, and other abilities. The armor restrictions can be overcome with exotic armor materials.

Consider taking ranks in Use Magic Device and getting somebody to make you a wand of Phantom Steed. Or if you and your DM are prepared to go through the process, an item of Phantom Steed 2/day (command word activated).

Other magic item options:
Obsidian Steed
Stone Horse
Various figurines of Wondrous Power

By straight warrior, I mean just a garden variety Fighter.

 

[Vanye]

If your DM has access to Champions of Valor (an FR supplement) there are some variants on your garden variety of horses in the back. They tend to cost significantly more than your average horse, but they are worth it (many of them are stronger, or faster, or have a better Con, or are just easier to handle (+1 to Ride checks)).

It's been a nice addition to my game.