While horses were a privilege only of the wealthy, it was indeed the wealthy religious establishment which commissioned and dispatched Saul--in effect, the full power of the state underwrote the venture. This, it would have seemed surprising if he and his traveling party were not provided with excellent horses. Thus, any artist failing to depict such steeds would be suspect for their omission.
Your self-proclaimed skepticism (as distinguished from cynicism) is healthy and important, and you are right to value it. Like every tool, it needs to be used carefully.
Thank you for your kind words in your closing.
Much damage has been done to our faith by those introducing and adding both logical and common sense thoughts to scripture.
From my experience, I must question all such additions. Were horses commonly used by Jewish leaders and their guards? I don’t know, but doubt it. May research it.
Stand by my position is we should not add - even in pictures and paintings, that which is not in scripture.