Dragoon Build

[Shfish]

So I have a particular build in mind for a mounted halfling on a flying mount. As I pour over the various material, I kept coming around to this main problem: None of the main sources have a mounted class with a stock mount that is flying at a reasonable level (if at all). So after doing my research, I have settled on the basic build below. I welcome any insight on how to improve it. Feat 3 and 5 will be spent on the mount itself, and this is not a thread to hijack for rules debate on "if" I can gain a mount this way. All other criticism/suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

Halfling Fighter-Dragoon Archtype
Stats: Bought 17, 12, 12, 10, 12, 11
Final 15, 14, 12, 10, 12, 13
Feats:
1:Mounted Combat
1:Skill Focus Ride
1:Skill Focus Knowledge Nature
2:Weapon Focus Lance
3:Eldritch Heritage- Fey modified with Sylvan=Animal Companion DL-5
4:Ride By Attack
5:Boon Companion DL-1
6:Spirited Charge
7:Death from Above
8:Wheeling Charge
9:Weapon Specialization Lance
10:?
11:?

Mount: I was thinking of either a Roc, Pteranodon, or perhaps a Dire bat...kind of torn between the Roc and the Bat. Either way, I will likely keep it at the medium size instead of increasing it. --This will allow me to actually have him in most dungeon settings.

I know that inherently this is not going to turn out as an "optimal" build. It is not meant to be that. It is meant to be a flying cavalry that can generate decent amount of damage, but that is not going to showboat the rest of the party into uselessness.

--That being said, what feats would you possibly suggest as alternatives, and why? This is a "playable to level 1-11" type build...there are several feats that I could put for 10 and 11...any suggestions? Obviously I could have gone Beastmaster Ranger and gotten similar, but the 4 extra feats with Dragoon Fighter are a bit more helpful overall.

[Joegoat]

A player in my current game had a kobold druid that had a dire bat, he used it as a mount and flew around casting and firing a bow, it was actually a pretty nice build until we went into a dungeon and he couldn't fly around, he was cornered and killed... but you shouldn't have that problem since you're a fighter, right?

[Shfish]

Basically :) also if I keep him medium then I have more maneuverability

[StreamOfTheSky]

Have you considered Roughrider instead? I like it a bit better than Dragoon, though Dragoon saves you feats. If the Dm doesn't count the Roughrider's weapon training replacement as weapon training, then ignore this suggestion. Gloves of dueling are just that good.

Might be worth checking with your DM if you can your mount could take Flyby Attack. And possibly combine that with the Vital Strike line, as a skirmishing alternative to charging (by all means still take the charge feats too, they're really good!).

I seriously would not worry about making the rest of the party feeling useless, unless they're all complete newbies to the game and really don't know what they're doing at all. It's not like you're a spellcaster...

[Shfish]

Stream...we already have enough experienced players who get sidelined with someones "great" character...and they have seriously stopped playing certain characters because of this. Their characters are built soundly, just not over the top...the other player's is way over the top...and he doesn't care that no one else's character is doing anything...I would like to avoid this.