Other Mearas? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Hookbill the Goomba · 04-11-2004, 07:30 AM

Super horses? I can see what you mean, although they didn’t have anything distinctly different in appearance to normal horses, like say, an enormous growth, that would probably be the best way of describing them.

I assume that the mane difference would be that they would have longer endurance, run faster and perhaps live longer. SO I think that comparing Horses and Mearas to Elves and Men is a good analogy. Although it is rather easy for people to tell between Elves and men, as Elves have leaf shaped ears and are fair of face. But In Lotr an elf says that "To other sheep, sheep may look different" so that may be the case. Or could it be a case of "Sheep get like Shepard and Shepard’s get like sheep, but it is closer with horses and Mearas"?

Perhaps the Mearas looked some how different, being descended from a horse of Valinor that would be likely. As for Huan, what I meant was that If he had had offspring they would have become a new form of wolf, or wolf hound if you like. One could argue that Wolf and Wolfhound are perhaps as different as Elves and men also!

Firefoot · 04-11-2004, 08:29 AM

I think there must have been some physical difference. Not obvious, perhaps, but to someone who knew horses well they would be able to tell them apart relatively easily. For example, Legolas's "But there is another that strides ahead: a very great horse. I have not seen his like before." What made Shadowfax (and the other Mearas) great horses that you could tell just by looking at them? Perhaps they were larger, sleeker, and faster. Maybe it was just in their bearing, the way they acted. For myself, I think it is a combination of all of the above. They had all the attributes of normal horses, but they were mightier, stronger, more "powerful" horses.

symestreem · 04-11-2004, 01:49 PM

Perhaps Shadowfax was taking longer strides. This would account for his being faster. Or, perhaps he looked less winded than the others.
I'm not horse person, but isn't height in hands a measure of the quality? Then, the height of Shadowfax could also have been taken into consideration.
Remember also, the other two horses were saddled and bridled. Shadowfax was neither, but still came to Gandalf. There probably were not many horses that had that kind of agreement with their rider, and it suggests high intelligence. That kind of narrows down the field of possibilities.

ArathorofBarahir · 04-22-2004, 06:07 PM

How are the Mearas different from normal horses?

04-11-2004, 07:30 AM	#1
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Super horses? I can see what you mean, although they didn’t have anything distinctly different in appearance to normal horses, like say, an enormous growth, that would probably be the best way of describing them. I assume that the mane difference would be that they would have longer endurance, run faster and perhaps live longer. SO I think that comparing Horses and Mearas to Elves and Men is a good analogy. Although it is rather easy for people to tell between Elves and men, as Elves have leaf shaped ears and are fair of face. But In Lotr an elf says that "To other sheep, sheep may look different" so that may be the case. Or could it be a case of "Sheep get like Shepard and Shepard’s get like sheep, but it is closer with horses and Mearas"? Perhaps the Mearas looked some how different, being descended from a horse of Valinor that would be likely. As for Huan, what I meant was that If he had had offspring they would have become a new form of wolf, or wolf hound if you like. One could argue that Wolf and Wolfhound are perhaps as different as Elves and men also! __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket... Last edited by Hookbill the Goomba; 04-11-2004 at 07:33 AM. Reason: Spelling

04-22-2004, 06:07 PM	#4
ArathorofBarahir Wight Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Crickhallow Posts: 247	How are the Mearas different from normal horses? __________________ King of the Dead: The dead do not suffer the living to pass. Aragorn: You will suffer me.

04-11-2004, 08:29 AM	#2
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	I think there must have been some physical difference. Not obvious, perhaps, but to someone who knew horses well they would be able to tell them apart relatively easily. For example, Legolas's "But there is another that strides ahead: a very great horse. I have not seen his like before." What made Shadowfax (and the other Mearas) great horses that you could tell just by looking at them? Perhaps they were larger, sleeker, and faster. Maybe it was just in their bearing, the way they acted. For myself, I think it is a combination of all of the above. They had all the attributes of normal horses, but they were mightier, stronger, more "powerful" horses.

04-11-2004, 01:49 PM	#3
symestreem Face in the Water Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 728	Perhaps Shadowfax was taking longer strides. This would account for his being faster. Or, perhaps he looked less winded than the others. I'm not horse person, but isn't height in hands a measure of the quality? Then, the height of Shadowfax could also have been taken into consideration. Remember also, the other two horses were saddled and bridled. Shadowfax was neither, but still came to Gandalf. There probably were not many horses that had that kind of agreement with their rider, and it suggests high intelligence. That kind of narrows down the field of possibilities.