A few good ideas here
I think increasing the durability x2 would be good.
With reguards to horse barding, Miner has a good idea to use the charger graphics and hue it the colour of the ore just like with swampys. Will have to ensure its only plain old horses not dreads/firesteeds/mares ETC so its just another choice over riding a armorred swampy.
Id love pet dyes even if there just ore colours or current colours of pets we already have to start with, as most people are comfortable seeing red dragons, swampys with armour on, faction horse colours ETC.
Thunderz