What happens to my runes when I die?

You drop them at your death spot and can pick them up again. If you die before getting them back, they are lost permanently.

Do Golden Runes get lost on death?

No. Golden Runes in item form are not lost when you die, so you can hold them until you need them.

How do I get the horse?

You get the Spectral Steed Whistle from Melina after an accord, and Torrent appears when you rest at certain Sites of Grace.

Elden Ring Beginner Guide: Runes, Graces and First Hours

Elden Ring is open, huge and not shy about punishing mistakes. You do not need to be an expert to enjoy it, though. A few habits keep you moving. The facts below come from the Elden Ring Wiki (wiki.gg) and Wikipedia.

Key takeaways

Runes are both your currency and your experience points.
If you die, you drop your runes. Return to the spot to get them back. Die again before you get there and they are gone.
Golden Runes in item form are safe from death. Keep them until you need them.
Torrent, your spectral horse, makes travel and fights easier.

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree – Gameplay Reveal · YouTube

Runes: spend them often

You earn runes by defeating enemies and use them to level up and to buy items. The risk is dying with a big stack. After a death you have one chance to return to the spot where you died. If you die again before you reach it, those runes are lost permanently. The safe habit: level up as soon as you can afford it and do not carry a lot of unspent runes into a dangerous area.

Get Torrent early

Melina gives you the Spectral Steed Whistle after you accept her accord. Torrent then appears when you rest at the Gatefront Ruins or the Agheel Lake North grace, or after you touch three graces and rest at another. He can double jump in the air. You can heal him with Rowa, Sweet or Frozen Raisins, and if he dies, the whistle brings him back for one flask charge.