Description: Ninquelote is a glistening silver-white mare with large dark eyes. She has a snip of pink on her grey nose, but all four of her hoofs are black. She’s of average height, but great width. Her short back and wide loins give her the strength of a much larger horse and she is well able to carry a fully armored Hero into battle. Her broad base and solid weight helps to steady and brace a warrior fighting from her back with the lance or sword and she’s equally popular with archers for the same reason. Elves especially love a horse of this build since they often ride without saddles - her long, flowing stride give her soft gaits that in combination with her wide back make her an especially comfortable horse to ride.

Training and experience: She's trained for the use of edged weapons and battle ready, but steady enough to trust with the kids if you need to send them away to safety. She is an excellent choice in this because she won't be excitable or silly like a younger horse can tend to be in the midst of the excitement of an attack or the near-panic of a forced retreat. Her only real fault under saddle would be that she will sometimes question her rider's mental or emotional stability and if she feels such drastic inaction is needed will simply stop where she is and wait until the rider regains their senses.

Her greatest strength is that she truly loves traveling and seeing new places which makes her an enjoyable mount for a courier or anyone traveling long distances. While she has proven herself in battle and is an extraordinary choice as a war mare, you might think twice about risking her by riding her into battle, unless your very home depends on it, as she's an proven broodmare and has produced five extraordinary foals. As long as you have mares like this at home, you'll have a good source of future war-horses.

~ Morivanya (black beauty)

Description: Morivanya is a shining black mare with a pure white star on her forehead and a long snip of white that runs down between her nostrils. Although she’s tall enough for any rider but the tallest of Elfs, her proud beauty is such that a generous man will be compelled to gift her to his lady when he sees the sparkle in her eye and hears the catch in her breath as she reaches out her hand to stroke Mori's silken mane.

Training and experience: Morivanya is trained for battle. She’s light on her feet and has a nimble mind as well. It’s unusual to find such a strong battle spirit in a mare that has an otherwise kind and gentle nature, but the love of her rider, and their people, come through in her eagerness to charge into the fray. She’s quick to dart or lunge as needed to help her rider in the use of the lance and sword, but her eagerness and excitement make her less of a choice for an archer.

Although she’s an obedient mare, responsive to the touch of her rider’s leg and the lifting of the rein, she’s not recommended for a timid or new rider because her speed and great love of the chase typically put her to the fore of a charge. While she’s a fine choice for any experienced rider to race the wind for the sheer joy of the run, she needs a bold captain at the rein who can take full advantage for the kills when she brings him to the heat of the battle.

~ Rána (Wanderer)

Description: Rána is a bright bay mare. She’s predominately red with a thick, full, raven black mane and tail. She has black masking on her face and black stockings on all four legs that shades up onto her hips and shoulders. She small enough that a bold Hobbit or daring Dwarf could claim her as a pony, but her attitude is such that not many would dare to do so.

Although she’s not tall, she’s quite stout and is an excellent mount for most ladies, and even youths until they are ready to take the responsibility of a full-sized war-horse.

Training and experience: Rána is a bold and self-sufficient mare who needs either a truly experienced rider who has the skill to direct her will, or a true novice who will allow her to care for them. She has an eagerness for the trail and an unflagging ambition in chasing the far horizon. While she is trained and competent in the arts of war, her compact size puts her rider at a disadvantage if they are riding against other Cavalry. Unless the situation is so desperate that even women and children are riding to battle, Rána is better used as a courier, or for journeys of any length.

~ Fioroimo (Hunting Hawk)

Description: Fioroimo is a liver chestnut mare who fades to bright red in the summer sun. She has a wide blaze that covers her forehead and runs down over her nostrils. She’s of average height, but stout and full-bodied.

Training and experience: Fioroimo is a true Alpha Mare and not a mount recommended for the faint of heart. Aggressive in battle, attacking with teeth and hoofs both forward and back,she requires that a rider match her fierce spirit, unflagging endurance and bold fearlessness. She’ll acquiesce to handling by underlings and will tolerate such with gentle nobility as long as they maintain a respectful demeanor.

Fioroimo would be the match of a bold captain, a wandering Hero or an Elf-lord as she gives as much, or more, than she demands. The warrior with the strength to ride her into battle would hold her heart and have her unfailing loyalty at his command.

~ Naharion (Son of Nahar)

Description: Naharion is a black stallion, although his color shifts and shades from rich dark chocolate to glistening gold, reminiscent of the mighty Nahar himself. He has gleaming golden eyes, the color of raw honey, that captivate and enchant any who look into their depths. The unwary find themselves bent to his will, scratching his neck and feeding treats. When they're forced from his side, they find themselves forever longing to return.

His only marking is a bright white four-pointed star on his forehead, with the lowest point extending about halfway to his nostrils.

Training and experience: Naharion and all his family suffered greatly in the hands of Darkness prior to their being recovered while Naharion was still young. The band was held, tucked in a far valley, in the loving care of a small family who kept them wild. Naharion was pressed into service as a mature stallion accustomed to caring for his own. He’s generous and kind-hearted with a strong work ethic, but he’s also highly opinionated and sometimes requires a delicately balanced blend of patience and firmness.

While Naharion is harness trained and elegant in fine harness, he has the strength and work ethic to be put to the plow during times of peace. Additionally, he’d be an excellent choice of mount for a Ranger or wandering Hero, having lived through the Darkness and in the Wilds, he’s especially tough and self-sufficient.

He’d be an equally excellent choice as a war horse and would probably be taken in by the lord of a house if not the King himself. He’s fierce and aggressive in battle and requires a warrior who is both an extraordinary fighter and rider to match his rage in the heat of battle.

~ Elbereth Young grey mare.
While she's fully trained in the arts of war, Beri was, unfortunately, 'pet-raised' by a family with young children who doted on her. As a result, she tends to exhibit a rather fallible sense of humor at inappropriate moments. Most unfortunately, the children kept treats in their pockets and Beri will constantly nudge and sniff anyone standing near, even to the point of lipping and tugging at their clothing. She's also prone to search any packs and bags left in her reach, either digging at them with her hoof until the contents are scattered or by nipping the bag in her teeth and tossing her head. She'll go quietly for an unsteady rider, and is unflappable in most cases, but woe betide the seasoned warrior who gives her a moment of inattention. She's accustomed to voicing her opinions on issues that are primarily the riders decision. Of prime concern to her is the speed of travel, she much prefers a high rate. If forced to travel too slowly, she'll hang her lower lip, droop her ears to the sides, lower her eyelids as if sleepy and slow her steps, dragging her toes and working in the occasional stumble. Her preferred pace is the gallop and she embraces the wind with great exuberance, athleticism and the occasional hop and buck worked in between strides.

~ Anduril (Flame of the West)
Description: Anduril is a pale dappled silver mare with large dark eyes and silky black mane and tail. Her coat is mirror shiny with dense, feather soft hair. Her black hooves are hard as stone. She had a white stripe down her face as a youngster, but it is fading into the silver grey of her face as she ages, leaving a bit of pink on her nose. Her large expressive eyes drink in her surroundings, with long eyelashes and elegant black markings around the eyes. When excited by the chase or scouting ahead of the main party, her wide nostrils open like flower petals. Her ears are mobile and delicately pointed, a mirror of her thoughts. Her legs are solid and strongly muscled, her back exceptionally strong and coupled with her huge hindquarters, she is easily enough mount for the heaviest armored knight. She moves with amazing economy of motion, never a wasted step at any speed, saving her remarkable strength for the coming battle.

Training and experience: Anduril is an accomplished war-mare. In the stable, she is as gentle as a lamb with her handlers, but turns instantly into a dragon of fierce rage if irritated by disrespect or denial of her needs. Anduril is not the Meara to use on a scouting expedition unless you are sure you will see action at the end. Her best use is either on a raiding party, where her blood-thirsty ways will greatly enhance your chances of returning home with great honors, or on the front lines of the main formation, where her unconquerable spirit will be an inspiration of the lesser beasts. Anduril demands a knight equal to her own talents in battle, and will become angry and hard to control under an incompetent rider. She can be ridden by lesser riders on long journeys, but her competitiveness must be carefully managed by the herd-master to insure she doesn't cause undue trouble in camp and on the trail.

~ Fione Culina (Flame-colored Hawk)
Young chestnut mare. Just being started under saddle. Bold and eager for the work. She has a gentle nature in the stable or on the trail, but will be fiercely aggressive when facing danger. She'd make an excellent war-mare and should have the speed needed for the King's courier. Her combination of talents predispose her to make an excellent Ranger horse, but at her age, she needs several years of light duty before being pressed into full-time service.

~ Mireyenion (Jewel of the Ages)
Young bay mare. Miree is indeed a jewel, one of the rare breed who shines with an inner beauty that compliments and even enhances her extraordinarily eye-catching coat and eyes. The blood of Nahar shines through in this young lady, not only in her regal yet generous nature, but in the way her coat shifts in the changing light from soft cream to a rich shimmering chocolate.

She's a young mare, not yet in training, but shows the promise of an elegant build that will be fleet of foot or do well in leading a royal procession. She'd be an excellent choice for an Elven-lady or Queen due to her gracious acceptance of admiration.

~ Gwaihir (Windlord)
Young grey stallion.
Gwaihir is tall and lean, he's reached his mature height, but will continue to gain width for several years and promises to be a suitable mount for any great lord or even a king. The bold lady who rides this horse would be a Shieldmaiden or a Elf-maid as of old. His kindness and generosity tends to be overshadowed the bold and fiery nature typical of stallions. His balanced build and length of leg gives him extraordinarily fluid movement and lightness under saddle. He responds to the touch of the leg or the shift of the weight of the rider as if he truly answers to their thoughts. He's trained for courtly processions and displays, also well-versed and fearless in the arts of wars. He's extremely fast with great endurance, but in view of his other talents probably wouldn't be used as a courier except in the direst of times. He is a proven sire and would be a welcome addition to most breeding programs.

Tolkien wrote about Hobbit ponies being used for driving and as pack ponies, but Bill was evidently used to a rider, for he carried Frodo without the slightest trouble, even seemed to go out of his way to pick the smoothest way.

In looking at an agrarian society such as the Shire, and the level of technology Tolkien seemed to indicate, it's a reasonable assumption that plow ponies must have been used in the fields.

In fitting with the Hobbits' nature and lifestyle, it's likely that their ponies tend to be shaggy, relatively placid creatures on the whole. There is also the possibility of a second type that more closely resembled the Morgan horse (or the Arabs listed above), a more elegant animal designed to work the fields during the weeks, pull a buggy to a Highday outing then unhitch and saddle for the afternoon races. These horses would have to have a gentle temperment, suitable for the kiddos and ladies. It's worthwhile to note that Pippin and Merry riding around the Shire were noteworthy not so much because they were *riding* as the fact that they wore mail, also that it didn't seem to be a difficult for Merry to procure a string of ponies, which indicates they weren't uncommon. Bandobras Took rode a horse, in itself unusual because of its size, not because of the riding.

Any of the horses listed above could just as easily be written as a pony, using the same phyical description (with less height) and the same pesonality and training, with the addition of harness training.