On the contrary, I would agree with you about the fact that the Ringwraiths probably broke their horse's minds and spirits. I used to work with horses and have owned horses so I can appreciate that it is possible to break a horse's spirit through a campaign of abuse. It's just that the horses must have started out with strong minds and spirits and rather than allow themselves to be treated so viciously, would have chosen to die instead. It used to happen sometimes "in the old days" when horses were a means of transport and not kept for the love of them.
You had to feel a little sorry for those horses when they perished in the flood near Rivendell. I wonder if Glorfindel's horse Asfaloth, if captured (yes I know wrong colour but even so) would have allowed himself to be treated in the same way?
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