Need help with Hecarim Top

Hi I am currently Gold IV, and throughout most of S3 and S4, I've played many Hecarim games as jung, and have now started playing Hecarim top lane becaseu of S5.

I still do very well as Hecarim, but I always find myself getting pressure in lane phase. Typically I don't outright lose lane phase, but generally I am always behind in cs, or getting zoned causing me being forced to cs under tower. It might have to do with the fact that the last 3 games I played against riven, darius (I got completely detroyed by Darius), and Gnar.

I don't usually lose lane very hard, only maybe behind 10 cs or so. But after I get homeguards, I become a monster with roams, teleports and all that. I am decent at playing Hecarim post laning phase. But it's the laning phase that I need most help with.

I constantly get zoned and chunked to a point where I have to back a lot, causing my turrets to take lots of damage, and losing some cs as well. But usually I have homeguard which makes it sort of ok.

TL:DR: How can I prevent constantly getting zoned and chunked as Hecarim top? Do I always have to play very safe? Is it normal and okay to be constantly zoned and chunked, but abusing constant backs because of homeguard to not miss much cs? Is it just a problem because I played Riven, Darius, and Gnar last 3 games, which are very tough opponents for Hecarim?

Also, it would really help if someone can give me a list of tougher opponents for Hecarim in Top Lane

Note: I understand abusing Q because no minion aggro, and most of the common laning tricks as Hecarim. It doesnt really help me because Riven just all ins me every time I try to harrass her with Q. Darius absolutely fks me even if I go anywhere near. Gnar just non stop harrass with his Q in ranged form

Thanks