I saw mention of renting a metal horse, but could a character re-appropriate one from the bandits, if they can manage to get over to one? Do the metal horses have any personality, AI, etc?

Characters may steal horses from the bandits, but be careful -- if they bandits aren't "disposed of," they may be looking to take their property back! As for the horses themselves, they behave like living horses but aren't sapient in any way.