can you ride the horse to travel faster? if so how can I do it?
Yes you can. First you must build the stable at your hut, then receive a horse for Gunnar. A horse will be send to your stable (if you have it. But if you don't have it, a horse will be send to a stable at Bareshade and will send to your stable when you have one.) After that, click on tools icon at your hut and check on the animals (horse icon). You can ride it from here.
I'm not actually sure myself this will answer your question or not.