You mean the Captains that improve our units and earn experience over time, yeah no idea what the real gain might be. Like most the people I RP with, yes we do assume we already have horses, several in fact since I don't like to wear out my powerful war horses while marching to the front, and marching on foot is for peasants.
Also, if we lose a captain, no big deal. I've had a +8 captain before, think I ever knew his name? Couldn't care less. He didn't require *anything* from me, and that's how I liked him.
Feeding the horse? Please, I have enough dull buttons to press already.