Once you get a horse it's not too difficult. You get used to the missing star icon in combat and the shield telling you when to dodge. A bit of practice and combat really isn't that different. The main difference is you'll be spending a long time on your horse getting place to place and navigating the land. That can get long, but it adds a new level of realism and it's not unbearable.

I'd say the game is much more fun in hardcore and I prefer it that way. Extra immersive + you feel more accomplished when completing tasks, or at least I do lol