An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Arod Horse of Legolas. Arod originally belonged to a Rider of Rohan, but his master was slain in a battle with Orcs near Fangorn Forest on the night of February 28, 3019. The next day, Eomer lent Arod to Legolas and another horse named Hasufel to Aragorn on the condition that they later bring the horses to Meduseld. Arod was a fiery and restive horse, but Legolas rode him easily without saddle or rein. Gimli was not so comfortable on Arod, and he clung to his friend uneasily. The Three Hunters rode the edge of Fangorn Forest seeking Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took. During the night, a strange old man appeared at their campsite and then disappeared. Arod and Hasufel dragged their pickets and ran away. They heard Shadowfax, the lord of horses, and ran to greet him. The next day when Gandalf whistled to call Shadowfax, Arod and Hasufel returned as well. Legolas rode Arod to Meduseld and on to Helm's Deep. When Aragorn decided to take the Paths of the Dead, Legolas went with him, but Arod was reluctant to enter the Dark Door. Arod trembled in fear until Legolas laid his hands on the horse's eyes and sang to him. Arod then followed Legolas through the tunnels as the Dead gathered behind them. Legolas and Gimli rode Arod in the funeral procession of King Theoden from Minas Tirith to Meduseld.  Names & Etymology: Arod means "swift" in Old English. Sources: The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," p. 42, 45-46; "The White Rider," p. 107-8; "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 110, 113; "Flotsam and Jetsam," p. 165 The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 60; "Many Partings," p. 254

Arod in the New Line film

On October 9, 3018, Glorfindel left Rivendell riding Asfaloth in search of Frodo Baggins. The Elf-lord rode his horse down the Great East Road to the Last Bridge, where they encountered three Nazgul. They pursued the Nazgul westward and encountered two more before returning to pick up Frodo's trail. On October 18, they caught up to the Hobbits and Aragorn, and Glorfindel set the wounded Frodo upon Asfaloth.

As they approached the Ford of Bruinen on October 20, the Nazgul appeared. Asfaloth leaped forward, but Frodo reined the horse in, feeling a strange reluctance to flee. Then Glorfindel called out, "Noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth!" and the horse ran swiftly down the Road, outpacing the steeds of the Nazgul. Asfaloth passed right in front of one of the Nazgul and then plunged into the waters of the Bruinen, carrying Frodo across the Ford to the edge of Rivendell.

Asfaloth turned and neighed fiercely at the Nazgul on the opposite bank. Frodo, compelled by the Ring, remained facing them but he resisted their command to give up saying, "By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" (FotR, p. 226-7) Asfaloth reared and snorted as the Nazgul approached, but then the waters of the Bruinen rose commanded by Elrond and Gandalf and the Nazgul were swept away.

Names & Etymology:
The meaning of the name Asfaloth is not known. It may be derived from the root phal or phálas meaning "foam" and the word loth meaning "flower, white blossom."

Noro lim - Glorfindel's command to Asfaloth - means "run swift." (Reader's Companion, p. 195)

Movie Note:
In Peter Jackson's film version of The Lord of the Rings, Asfaloth was ridden by Arwen.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Flight to the Ford," p. 221-27
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #211
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," PHAL/PHÁLAS and LOT(H) entries
The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring: "Myths Transformed," p. 380
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Flight to the Ford," p. 195

Although the pony technically belonged to Merry, it was Sam Gamgee who cared for the animal and gave him the name Bill. Bill's health and spirit improved under Sam's care, and the stay at Rivendell worked wonders. Sam claimed that Bill could nearly talk, and would if he stayed at Rivendell much longer.

Bill was used mainly as a pack-animal. However, when Frodo became ill from the Morgul-wound, Bill carried him for much of the way between Weathertop and Rivendell. Bill became adept at picking out paths through the rough terrain to spare Frodo from being jolted.

When the Fellowship left Rivendell, Sam insisted that Bill come along or the pony would pine away. When the weather turned foul, Bill proved useful by carrying extra firewood and acting as a shield for the Hobbits against the driving snow.

But when the Fellowship decided to enter the Mines of Moria, Bill had to be left behind. Gandalf gave the pony a blessing to help him find his way back to Rivendell.

"Go with words of guard and guiding on you," he said. "You are a wise beast, and have learned much in Rivendell. Make your ways to places where you can find grass, and so come in time to Elrond's house, or wherever you wish to go."
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Journey in the Dark," p. 317

After the quest was completed, Sam's worries were put to rest. He was delighted to discover that Bill had survived and had made his way to Bree. Sam took Bill back to the Shire with him. When the Hobbits encountered the pony's former master Bill Ferny, Bill the Pony gave him a kick. Sam rode Bill to the Grey Havens to say farewell to Frodo, so the pony that had served the Fellowship was present at the end of the Fellowship in Middle-earth.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Knife in the Dark," p. 190-91; "Flight to the Ford," 211-16; "The Ring Goes South," p. 293, 301, 303; "A Journey in the Dark," p. 311, 315-22
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 273-74; "The Grey Havens," p. 307

Bumpkin

At the house of Tom Bombadil, the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin, and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs, they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the Hobbits still bearing their burdens.

At the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, Merry's ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin. They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur. The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob.

Names & Etymology:
The name Bumpkin may be derived from the Middle Dutch bommekijn meaning "little barrel."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Old Forest," p. 120; "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 190-91
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 145

Fatty Lumpkin

When Merry's ponies were set loose from the stables at the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, they once again ran off in search of Fatty Lumpkin. The ponies stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but were then sent to Barliman Butterbur.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 191

Felarof was a wild horse. As a foal, Felarof was captured by Leod of the Eotheod, who lived in the north near the source of the Anduin. When Felarof was fully grown, Leod tried to mount him, but the horse threw him. Leod struck his head and died, and his son Eorl vowed to avenge his death.

Eorl tracked Felarof down and called to him, and the horse came. Eorl said that Felarof owed him a weregild - meaning compensation for his father's death. Felarof was able to understand the language of Men, and he submitted to Eorl and gave up his freedom. He allowed no one but Eorl to ride him, and he wore no bit or bridle.

In 2510, Eorl rode Felarof to the aid of Gondor at the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. Afterwards, the Eotheod were given the land of Rohan and Eorl became the first King. Felarof had the life-span of a Man. He was buried in the mound of Eorl, who died in battle in 2545.

Felarof's descendants the mearas were magnificent, long-lived horses. The most famous of these was Shadowfax.

Names & Etymology:
Felarof was called Father of Horses because the mearas were descended from him. Eorl called him Mansbane because he caused the death of his father.

Felaróf is a poetic Anglo-Saxon word meaning "very valiant, very strong" from fela meaning "very" and róf meaning "valiant, strong." The name was given by Eorl.

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 112
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The House of Eorl," p. 346, 349
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 299, 314 note 28
Old English Made Easy

Firefoot Horse of Eomer. Firefoot was Eomer's mount during the War of the Ring. On the way to Helm's Deep, Gimli the Dwarf rode on Firefoot with Eomer. Source: The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 129

Eomer with Firefoot in the New Line film

Hasufel

Aragorn rode Hasufel to the edge of Fangorn Forest seeking Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took. During the night, a strange old man appeared at the Three Hunters' campsite and then disappeared. Hasufel and Arod dragged their pickets and ran away. They heard Shadowfax, the lord of horses, and ran to greet him. The next day when Gandalf whistled to call Shadowfax, Hasufel and Arod returned as well.

Aragorn brought Hasufel to Meduseld as he'd promised Eomer. He then rode Hasufel to Helm's Deep, where the horse bore him during the charge of the Eorlingas at dawn on March 4, 3019. On March 6, Halbarad and the Rangers of the North brought Aragorn's own horse Roheryn to him. Aragorn then rode Roheryn to the Paths of the Dead and beyond.

Names & Etymology:
Hasufel means "grey coat" from the Old English hasu meaning "grey" and fel or fell meaning "skin."

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," p. 41-42, 45-46; "The White Rider," p. 91, 107-9; "Helm's Deep," p. 144-46
The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," 51, 55

Lightfoot

Source:
The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 120

Roheryn

During the War of the Ring, Roheryn was brought from the North by Halbarad and the Dunedain when they came to find Aragorn in Rohan on March 6, 3019. Before that time Aragorn had ridden Hasufel, a horse given to him by Eomer. Aragorn led Roheryn through the Paths of the Dead and brought him to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Names & Etymology:
Roheryn menas "horse of the lady" from roch meaning "horse" and híril meaning "lady."

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 51, 55
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for heru and roch (The roch entry explains that Aragorn received the horse from Arwen.)

Shadowfax was a beautiful horse. In the daylight his coat appeared silver, while at night it was a shadowy grey that made Shadowfax nearly invisible in the dark. He was light-footed and extremely swift and could run great distances without tiring.

Shadowfax was the finest horse in Rohan, but no one had ever been able to ride him. On September 20, 3018, Gandalf met with King Theoden of Rohan to warn him of Saruman's treachery. Theoden would not listen to Gandalf and threw him out, telling him to take any horse and go. Gandalf saw Shadowfax running in the fields, and over a period of three days he persuaded the horse to bear him. Shadowfax would not wear a saddle or bridle, so Gandalf rode bareback. They went north at great speed, traveling all the way from Rohan to the Shire in only six days.

In the rough terrain of the Ettenmoors, Gandalf released Shadowfax. Shadowfax returned home, arriving in Rohan on February 24, 3019. But Shadowfax had become friends with Gandalf and would come if the Wizard called him.

On February 30, Shadowfax was in the south of Rohan when he became aware that Gandalf was directing his thoughts to him, bidding him to come quickly to Fangorn Forest. During the night, Shadowfax encountered Arod and Hasufel - the horses of Aragorn and Legolas that had gone astray from their riders. The two horses greeted Shadowfax with joy. The next morning Gandalf whistled and Shadowfax came to him, bringing Arod and Hasufel along.

Gandalf rode Shadowfax to Meduseld, where he freed King Theoden from Saruman's influence. Theoden offered a gift to Gandalf in gratitude. Gandalf requested Shadowfax and Theoden agreed.

Riding Shadowfax, Gandalf gathered the scattered Riders of Rohan and brought them to the Battle of Helm's Deep at dawn on March 4. When Saruman's forces saw the White Rider descending down the slope toward them, they were terrified. The Men surrendered and the Orcs fled into the forest of Huorns and were never seen again.

The next day, Pippin Took looked into the palantir and saw Sauron, and Gandalf took the young Hobbit up on Shadowfax and rode swiftly with him to Minas Tirith. When they reached the City, Shadowfax was housed in the stables on the sixth level. On March 10, Gandalf rode out of the City on Shadowfax to rescue Faramir and his Men from the Nazgul. When the Pelennor Fields were overrun by the Enemy forces on March 13, Gandalf rode out once more to the aid of Faramir's retreating rear-guard.

At dawn on March 15, the Great Gate of Minas Tirith was broken and the Lord of the Nazgul rode into the City. Gandalf was there to confront him, mounted on Shadowfax. Shadowfax was the only free horse in Middle-earth who was able to endure the terror of the Nazgul and he stood unmoving. Then the Riders of Rohan arrived and the Lord of the Nazgul departed. Gandalf rode Shadowfax up through the streets of Minas Tirith to save Faramir from the funeral pyre set by Denethor.

After the War of the Ring, in September of 3021, Gandalf rode Shadowfax to the Grey Havens. Gandalf boarded a ship and sailed to the Undying Lands on September 29. It is likely that Gandalf was permitted to take Shadowfax with him and that the horse accompanied his rider into the West.

Names & Etymology:
The name Shadowfax means "shadowy grey coat." It is an anglicized version of the name Sceadu-faex in the language of Rohan. The word fax is an obsolete English word meaning "hair." Also called Shadowfax the Great and Prince of Horses.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 276-78
The Two Towers: "The Riders of Rohan," p. 38; "The Uruk-hai," p. 56; "The White Rider," p. 107-109; "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 110, 113, 117-18, 126-29; "Helm's Deep," p. 133, 147; "The Road to Isengard," p. 148, 156-57; "The Palantir," p. 201-22, 205-206
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 19-20, 23, 25, 32, 34-35, 41; "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 46; "The Muster of Rohan," p. 66; "The Siege of Gondor," p. 82-83, 93-94, 103; "The Pyre of Denethor," p. 126-27; "The Houses of Healing," p. 140; "Many Partings," p. 254; "Homeward Bound," p. 276; "The Grey Havens," p. 310
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The House of Eorl," p. 346
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 372
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Shadowfax
The History of Middle-earth, vol. IX, Sauron Defeated: "The Epilogue," p. 120, 123 (on Shadowfax accompanying Gandalf into the West)
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #268 (on Shadowfax accompanying Gandalf into the West)

Sharp-ears

At the house of Tom Bombadil, the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin, and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs, they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the Hobbits still bearing their burdens.

At the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, Merry's ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin. They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur. The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Old Forest," p. 120; "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 190-91

Snowmane Horse of King Theoden of Rohan. Snowmane was the foal of Lightfoot. He was a great white horse.  During the Battle of Helm's Deep, Snowmane was kept in the inner court of the Hornburg. Then at dawn on March 4, Theoden led a charge out of the Hornburg mounted on Snowmane and drove through the enemy ranks.  At dawn on March 15, Theoden again led the charge of the Rohirrim onto the Pelennor Fields. He seemed like one of the Valar mounted on his great steed. Snowmane bore Theoden into the thick of battle, but when the Witch-king descended onto the field mounted on a Fell Beast, Snowmane was overcome with terror. The horse reared and was pierced by a black dart and then fell to the ground, crushing Theoden beneath him. The Fell Beast dug its claws into Snowmane but Eowyn slew the creature and she and Merry Brandybuck vanquished the Lord of the Nazgul.  Before Snowmane died, the horse rolled off his master, but Theoden was mortally wounded and died on the battlefield. Snowmane was buried on the Pelennor Fields and his grave was marked with a stone that bore an inscription in the languages of Gondor and Rohan: Faithful servant yet master's bane Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane. The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 120 The grave was known as Snowmane's Howe, and the grass grew long and green there. Names & Etymology: Snowmane's name in the language of Rohan was Snawmana. Sources: The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," p. 129; "Helm's Deep," p. 132-33, 144, 146 The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 51; "The Muster of Rohan," p. 65, 75-76; "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 111-13; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 114-15, 117, 120 "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Snowmane

Theoden on Snowmane  in the New Line film

Strider

Names & Etymology:
Frodo named the pony Strider after his friend Aragorn.

Source:
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 307

Stybba

Names & Etymology:
Stybb means "stump" or "stub" in Anglo-Saxon, so Stybba was no doubt a reference to the pony's small size.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 50-51; "The Muster of Rohan," p. 64-65, 75, 78; "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 278
Lord of the Rings Dictionary

Swish-tail

At the house of Tom Bombadil, the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin, and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs, they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the Hobbits still bearing their burdens.

At the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, Merry's ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin. They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur. The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Old Forest," p. 120; "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 190-91

White-socks

At the house of Tom Bombadil, the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin, and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs, they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the Hobbits still bearing their burdens.

At the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, Merry's ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin. They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur. The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Old Forest," p. 120; "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 190-91

Windfola

Names & Etymology:
In Old English, wind means "wind" and fola mean "foal" or "colt." This is probably a reference to the horse's speed.

The Return of the King: "The Muster of Rohan," p. 78; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 115

Wise-nose

At the house of Tom Bombadil, the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin, and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs, they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the Hobbits still bearing their burdens.

At the Prancing Pony in Bree during the night of September 29, Merry's ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the Hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin. They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur. The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Old Forest," p. 120; "Fog on the Barrow-downs," p. 155-56; "A Knife in the Dark," 190-91

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