No, not able to get my thralls to hang out in a particular place while still following. Stay was one of my most used commands; wanted my horse when riding around, but did not want my horse up in the way so I would typically have him “stay” a little ways back.

Did not use “stop following” or “guard here” because I didn’t want to be left or forget to set him back to guard once I got back to my base. This is particularly important when doing The Black Keep. The hallways are very narrow and a horse is very quick to block you and there’s not a place reasonably close to set to guard outside anyway. So I usually had the horse “stay” in the entrance.

Now, I struggle without stay. Had an event on the server I’m playing on the other night (whichever event it is with the darkness that summons a blood-moon beast) over right past the Bridge of the Betrayer. I attempted to use flee; not helpful.
I managed to run off (I was playing with someone else who had the attention of the boss momentarily) and tell my horse to stop following at the edge of the frozen lake down the hill. Ran back up to where the fight was, resigned to the fact that my horse would not get xp but at least wouldn’t die, and nope, boss decides to beeline away from both me and my partner fighting it, plus his thrall, to go engage my horse. Who is now not following and can’t be given commands.

Bring back the stop command.