[sinnereso]

SWEET! its working now with this code but isnt saving to variables file so its resetting to nil on reload/relog:

RidinDirty = {}
 
RidinDirty.svName = "RidinDirtyVars" --name of the SV table.
--Dont forget to add the ##SavedVariables: MyAddonSavedVariables tag to your manifest txt file!
RidinDirty.savedVariables = {} --empty SV table of my addon
function RidinDirty.Initialize()
RidinDirty.savedVariables = ZO_SavedVariables:NewAccountWide(RidinDirty.svName, RidinDirty.variableVersion, GetWorldName(), { lastMountOwner = nil }, nil, nil)
end

--EVENT_MANAGER:UnregisterForEvent("RidinDirty", EVENT_ADD_ON_LOADED)

local function OnAddOnLoaded(eventCode, addOnName)
    if (addOnName ~= "RidinDirty") then return end

	ZO_CreateStringId("SI_BINDING_NAME_MOUNT_OWNER", "Mount Owner")
	ZO_CreateStringId("SI_BINDING_NAME_SAVE_MOUNT_OWNER", "Save Mount Owner")
        
	RidinDirty.Initialize()
end
 
--Define the function to save the target displayname below the retilce to the SavedVariables
function RidinDirty.SaveMountOwner()
   local displayNameToTaxiWith = GetUnitDisplayName("reticleover")
   if displayNameToTaxiWith == nil or displayNameToTaxiWith == "" then return end
   
   RidinDirty.savedVariables.lastMountOwner = displayNameToTaxiWith
end
 
--Define the function to Mount with the last saved target
function RidinDirty.MountWithSavedOwner()
   local lastMountOwner = RidinDirty.savedVariables.lastMountOwner
   if lastMountOwner  == nil or lastMountOwner  == "" then return end
   
   UseMountAsPassenger(lastMountOwner )
end

--EVENT_MANAGER:RegisterForEvent("RidinDirty", EVENT_ADD_ON_LOADED, OnAddOnLoaded)

I had one other question.. are the event manager lines needed? they migrated in from a previous version and i dont fully understand them. its working with them commented out but like i said isnt saving to file so it resets on reload/relog.