Horses

Horses are the dominant animals for battle and work in Middle-earth. Both forces of good and evil used them, mostly as mounts. In the Third Age, there were a couple of races recognized by their horses. The nine Nazgul were most famous for handling black horses. The Rohirrim, however, got their name after their horses, Rohan. The story doesn't mention any specific breeds except for The Mearas, a type of free horses that originate from the northern parts in the Middle-earth. Horses of Middle-earth existed in a few different colors, such as black, white, brown, and grey, and small horses were called ponies.

A grey-whiteish horse that, at first, belonged to one of the Riders of Rohan. Arod is mentioned in The Two Towers after his master fell and got slain during a fight against orcs around Fangorn Forest on the night of February 28, 3019. On the day that followed Eomer borrowed Arod to Legolas. With him, Eomer gave Legolas one more stallion who had the name Hasufel, under one condition. They returned both of them to Meduseld later.

A restless and fiery stallion should not be tamed easily, but Legolas managed to guide the horse comfortably without a seat or halter. Gimli, however, barely stayed on, as he clasped Legolas so he wouldn't fall off. While they were looking for Mery and Pippin, the group rode on Fangorn Forest's side. While they were resting at their campsite, a strange older man appeared and then vanished. Arod and Hasufel heard Shadowfax, who they respected a lot. That distracted the horses and made them run away to welcome him. They were missing until the next day when Gandalf summoned Shadowfax, who brought Arod and Hasufel with him. Legolas took Arod to Medusled and towards Helm's Deep. Also, they went through the Paths of the Dead together.

Aragorn chose to go that way, and Legolas followed, Arod however, was anxious to step on the path. He was frightened until Legolas hummed to his ears and closed his eyes. After this, Arod and his master went into the mines, while the Dead assembled after them. After the War of the Ring, Legolas and Gimli guided Arod in King Theoden's burial parade out of Minas Tirith until Meduseld. It was heartbreaking for Legolas to give up Arod, considering all they have been through together. Arod served his Elf courageously through all of their journeys. Legolas rewarded the horse's loyalty by giving him the nicknames "Brave" and "Defender of the Elves". His original name, Arod, came from and was developed from Elvish, and means swift. His name has the meaning "swift" in the Old English Language.

Arroch was the horse of Hurin Thalion in the First Age.

Elf Glorfindel was Asfaloth's mount. He was a quick horse, with an energetic and steady pace. White-colored. Glorfindel managed him on a seat that had stirrups and a headstall decorated with ornaments. Glorfindel rode Asfaloth when he left Rivendell to find Frodo Baggins. On October 9, 3018, they through the Great East Road toward the Last Bridge. That is the place they met and pursued three Nazgul. They went after them westward and stumbled upon another couple of them before turning to pick up the Frodo's tail. They eventually located Aragorn and the companion on October 18, when Glorfindel placed the injured Frodo on Asfaloth. Nazguls appeared as they got to the Ford of Bruinen on October 20. Asfaloth jumped forth, but Frodo held the animal, experiencing an unfamiliar hesitation to escape. Glorfindel reacted immediately after and shouted out, "Noro lim, noro lim Asfaloth!" [1] and the horse rode rapidly down the Road outrunning the Nazgul's horses. Fearless Asfaloth galloped right by the Black Riders as he was going for the rivers of the Bruinen, taking Frodo over the Ford on to the side of Rivendell.

On the way from the Shire to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins decided to spend the night with his friends in The Prancing Pony inn in Bree. Unfortunately, this is where their ponies would get stolen. This turn of events forced them to buy a new pony from someone. That would be Bill Ferny, the one actually in alliance with the people who took their horses in the first place. After being tormented by his cruel owner, the poor horse's life would improve significantly.

After he joined the Fellowship on their quest, Bill matured into a lot more playful horse. The name Bill was given to him from Sam Gamgee quickly after they left Bree. In Rivendell, Bill had the opportunity to meet with the horses of the elves, which influenced him greatly. He left Rivendel a whole lot wiser, and of course, happier and healthier. He started the journey with the hobbits at Rivendell and carried on with them until the gates of Moria.

Unfortunately, this is where they had to part ways. Being a pony, Bill wasn't fit to go within the burrows of Moria. After leaving him, everybody thought that this is where his journey ends. But Bill, even though a pony, was pretty wise at this point and succeeded to endure and carry on to Bree. In Bree, in The Prancing Pony, he was nurtured back to shape. He rejoined Sam when he was going back toward the Shire. Sam allegedly brought Bill back to Hobbiton for the remainder of his time.

The hobbits set out on their journey on September 26, 3018. Merry had four ponies prepared at Crickhollow intended to be given to hobbits to take on their travels. One for each hobbit, and one to carry the extra baggage. Bumpkin was one of those ponies. The ponies met a friend at the residence of Tom Bombadil. Tom had a pony named Fatty Lumpkin. It is Fatty whom the ponies ran off to find when they were terrified when they stumbled on a haze of the Barrow-downs. Tom summoned the horses by their new given names, Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-Socks, and all returned to the companion carrying their burdens after all. While the Fellowship was at The Prancing Pony in Bree, somebody tried to delay their departure and let out their ponies from the stables. The ponies ran away to the Barrow-downs to find their friend, Fatt Lumpkin. The ponies then spent some time with Tom until he learned what happened. Afterward, he transferred the ponies back to the owner of The Prancing Pony, Barliman Butterbur. They settled in Bree, the place they served hard, but Bob took good care of them.

Tom Bombadil mostly handles this, a little bit wild, pony. Although he belongs to Tom, Fatty spends a lot of time wandering in the open wilderness. The ponies that went on the quest with the hobbits( Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Frodo) met Fatty Lumpkin, immediately becoming friends. After being frightened during a fog on the Barrow, the hobbits' horses ran and managed to see Fatty.

Firefoot was a horse of Rohan. At least for some time, he was ridden by the Marshal Eomer. Starting at Edoras, and until Helm's Deep, Firefoot carried Eomer and Gimli before the Battle of the Hornburg.

Felarof was the original Mearas horse. [2] Described to be as smart as humans, Felarof understood the language of humans. Leod, who tamed horses often, captured him while he was still a desert foal. Even though nobody was capable of taming it, Leod attempted to climb it. The animal threw him off, and Leod died. His son, Eorl, the Young, vowed to retaliate for his father's death but did not kill the horse. Instead, he named it Felarof and commanded the horse to follow him. Eorl rode Felarof without halter or harness. Together, they were in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant.

When Legolas and his companions, including Gimli, and Aragorn were going after the Uruk-hai, Eomer met them and gifted them some horses. Among others, Eomer included Hasufel, who was a gift to Aragorn. Hasufel carries the meaning "grey coat" from the Old English hasu which means grey, and fel or fell, meaning skin.

His name was born out of Valarin Naechaerra. He was mounted by the Vala Orome. When Quendi was coming near them, Nahar's neighing alerted Orome to the closeness regarding the Quendi.

His commander was Fingolfin, who ruled Noldor. The mighty horse carried his leader upon Angband. That is where his hopeless and courageous King challenged the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, to personal battle.

Aragorn's lady-love Arwen gifted him this stallion. That is why his name is Roheryn. His name originates from Sindarin and it translates into "horse of the lady". Halbarad, Aragorn's relative, accompanied Roheryn to the South, while the War of the Ring was going on, before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Shadowfax is a famous horse of Rohan. He would not tolerate a bridle or saddle, and no man could tame him. Shadowfax, the chief of Mearas, [3] was tamed by Gandalf or carried only him by choice. Gandalf borrowed Shadowfax for some time but was later gifted the horse by King Theoden of the Rohirrim. The Mearas chief horse also bore the dwarf Gimli and Pippin, the hobbit, for a slight time through the War of the Ring. Just like all the members of his race, Shadowfax, a grey/silver stud was humanly intelligent and was able to recognize the language of humans. Shadowfax seemed brave and could galop quicker than any separate horse in the Middle-earth. When it mentions Gandalf being near a "great" grey horse at the pier just before leaving.

The Lord of the Rings only hints that it is Shadowfax that took Gandalf to Valinor. However, Tolkien confirmed this in unpublished letters. Almost every horse that appears white is, in fact, grey, including all the "white" horses from Lord of the Rings. Likewise, in Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Two Towers and The Return of the King, two grey horses of the Andalusian breed portray Shadowfax.

Snowmane was most likely less sturdy compared to Shadowfax, that Gandalf commanded, but King Theoden [4] mounted Snowmane who was Lightfoot's offspring. That means he probably came from the Mearas breed himself. King of Rohan managed Snowmane into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Also, in the Battle of the Hornburg, he was mounted on the last attack outside of the citadel. His famous fall happened in the battle of the Pelennor. After a dark arrow pierced him, Snowmane had fallen and crushed Theoden beneath him. The survivors buried him with honor on the battlefield. They named his mausoleum Snowmane's Howe, and it carried the writing:

Stybba was the pony owned by Merry Brandybuck. Described as tiny, long-haired, and grey Stybba wasn't fit for battle. Theoden realized that Stybba couldn't follow the horses, and the riders couldn't bring Merry. That is why he gifted the pony to Merry. He then traveled for Gondor, but Merry and Stybba stayed at Edoras. The name Stybba comes of Old English styb, stub, or stump. Icelanders use the word stubbur to often summon their sheep as well. Stybba makes a short presentation in the film version of The Return of the King.

Windfola was mounted by Eowyn. His grey Mearas horse. Eowyn, hidden as Dernhelm, [5] used Windolfa to ride into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields accompanied by Merry.

1. ^Noro lim, Asfaloth, Noro lim (sound file).
2. ^Noblest of the horses of Rohan.
3. ^Shadowfax, Chieftain of the Mearas.
4. ^The swift horse of Théoden.
5. ^The steed of Dernhelm.