Animal Master optimisation

[Anger Nogar]

After deciding to take a break from high fantasy adventuring, in our next campaign the following restrictions are in order:
- no traits (I don't really agree with this one, but the choice is not mine)
- only humans
- 10 point buy

The other party members ended being:
human wizard
human archer bard (arcane duelist)
human gunner ranger (trophy hunter)

Seing that we are range heavy, I wanted someone who can hold the front line. I am considering a cavalier/fighter (dragoon) with eldritch herritage for sylvan bloodline (getting a wolf animal companion).
The animals won't suffer from my otherwise not-so-kind for martial classes point buy and amplify the benefits from the bard performance.

Key Feats: Horse Master, Eldritch Herritage (Sylvan), Boon Companion, Mounter/Ride-by/Spirited Charge.

Is there any feats/items that I should have in mind? Is sticking with wolf, rather than getting into tiger-punce-rake frenzy - a viable choice or I am shooting myself in the foot?

Is Improved Eldritch Herritage for improved invisibility SLA worth it, considering that I can share it with my mount? Following with Arcane Strike?

[Captain Zoom]

Check with your GM. Not everyone agrees that you can use eldritch heritage to get an animal companion through Sylvan Heritage since it replaces the arcana and first level bloodline power. I take no position here, just warning you to see what your GM thinks.

A possible second option (2 feats) is to take Nature's Soul and Animal Ally from Faiths & Philosophies.

You could also go Mad Dog Barbarian to get someone who can fight well and has a full animal companion.

Otherwise, an animal companion sounds like a great idea for a 10 pt buy game.

[Anger Nogar]

Animal Ally does not work unfortunately, since I already have sort-of animal companion. Mad Dog Barbarian is nice, but I was going for at least a bit more refined character, rather than a raging beatstick.