Other Mearas?

[Firefoot]

But why would the quality of the horses have decreased?

Well, the breeding stock of these Mearas probably started out relatively small, a few herds perhaps. These horses bred together, and then they probably peaked, perhaps around Felaróf's time, and maybe the horses didn't get better, and while they were still Mearas, they were not as mighty as the horses of old. These would be like Snowmane. Then these horses probably interbred with horses of lesser quality, which would still be of high blood, but not completely Mearas (Maybe where you get horses like Firefoot and Windfola?). Shadowfax must have received all the recessive genes from the mighty horses of old and would have been like them.

Compare it to the Dúnedain: their race was lessened because those of the line of Isildur married with those of lesser lineage, which resulted in shorter lifespan, which was why "the dignity of the kings of old was renewed" in Aragorn: in this respect Aragorn is comparable to Shadowfax. Both were the mightiest of their line for a very long time.

[Elianna]

This isn't related to resent posts, but still on topic:

Shadowfax went in the White Ship with Gandalf, of course. I saw that myself. I also saw Legolas let his horse run free back to Rohan from Isengard. Mr. Meriadoc says he does not know how many horses were lost; but there are more than ever in Rohan now, because no one steals them any longer...

Histories of M-E vol. 9. Sam's writing notes for the Red Book in this exert. The horses lost are the black horses stolen by the orcs mentioned by Firefoot.

Also pretaining to the original question: I don't think anyone's ever "possessed" a Mearas. Those noble horses only allow a few to ride them, I don't think that they're possessed....wait, "faithful servant, yet master's bane" servant, master, nevermind.

[Osse]

this is probably in one of my books... just that they are in boxes in australia! so pleae excuse me for asking it here...

When did the mearas 'lose' the ability to speak? or was it just Eorl's horse who could communicate with Men?


Thanks

[Firefoot]

I'm pretty sure that only Felaróf could understand Men. I don't remember anything about any other Mearas being able to do so. And also, Felaróf wasn't able to speak to Men, he could just understand their language, if my understanding is correct.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I think it was Tree beard that said at one point that all things can speak, but with there own tongs (Aka, the talking Trees, Old man willow, the badgers in "the adventures of Tom Bombadill ect). It is likely that the Horses had there own tong, therefore it is not beyond the realms of possibility that one of the Mearas at least could, with time, understand or comprehend the tong of men.
As has been said, the Mearas would only allow kings of the mark to ride them.

Perhaps Sahdowfax still had some pride about the tradition his kin had, and that is why he made Gandalf ride him bare back. Or did all have to ride the Mearas bare back.... I'll have to check! (Digs through large collection of books)

[symestreem]

Considering the elvish gift of linguistics, is it outside the realm of possibility that an elven rider and a Mearas (we'll say part-Mearas to meet Tolkien's canon) would be able to communicate with each other? Legolas talked to his non-Mearas horse.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

My point exactly, symestreem, It would make more sense to do so. If The Eldar, with there linguistic talent, could teach the horses the languages of Westerness and others, that way there would be more understanding between horse and rider, and a horse could tell someone to get off them if they did not wish them to ride them.

Besides, Orome may have thought his horse to comprehend the tong that he used (would that be Valinorian or something like that?) And Nahar being the father of the Mearas could have passed on the knowledge to his offspring, who passed it to theirs and so on. Plus the fact that the Mearas had to breed with other types of horse, the linguistic skills they had may have passed into other breeds also. If this is so, then this may explain why the Rohirum had such a close bond with there horses, Maybe, even if the Rohirum were not aware of the fact that the horses could understand them, that would be the reason behind the amassing faithfulness of the rohirum's horses.