Je suis monté à cheval.

Question

Why is it just à and not à + le = auJe suis monté au cheval.

Accepted Answer

Hi Dragana,
‘Monter à cheval ‘ is, to ride a horse.
‘Monter en voiture’ is, 'to get into a car’. 
I suppose the emphasis is more on the mode of transport than the action.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Ok. so the expression "Monter à cheval" - is a fixed expression for mode of transport. BUT I can say "J'ai approché au cheval - I approached the horse"?Is that right?

Answer

Hi Dragana,
In the case of getting near the horse you would say-
‘Je me suis approchée du cheval’ because the verb is
‘s’approcher de’ 
and 
de + le= du
Not easy I know....

Answer

I've seen this phrase used idiomatically (in a French newspaper) where "monté à cheval" was used to mean "get into a car" -- I knew what it meant literally and guessed the slang interpretation as based on analogy or synonym, without realizing the shade of difference that was being called upon.