Things have got better.

I realised I was in tank mode, so wasn't whacking out damage on the mob as I should.

After adjusting I was able to kill the boars.

I got my son to bring his 65 fury warrior along and he helped me do the first load of quests in HFP and my gear was upgraded. So my 59 is now a 60.

If you are horde I would thoroughly recommend going into RFC in Orgrimmar to level skills.

Especially on a palladin. I went in and killed the first few elites one by one, till I was skilled up enough to kill them easily. then I ran around aggroing absolute loads of the mobs in there standing with my back to a wall and letting them hit me. No danger of dying and my defense and sword skills rose rapidly.