[NancyBrooke]

Okay, all you horsey types (I know you're out there), how many miles per day might a horse and rider cover if the terrain is known and not particularly difficult? If you want to make the journey without wasting time but aren't rushing, say.

Whadja think? Lemme know.

[Andreth]

30-35 miles a day is usually a good round estimate. If you need to go further and the horse is in good shape and used to being worked, you could probably go twice that distance. You couldn't have them all out galloping for more than a couple of three miles, but they could sure go at a slow walk for most of the day, or a faster walk for a good portion of the day. The horse would need enough water and grain to keep their energy levels up. I've been told that Walers (a breed from Australia) can travel some ungodly distance per day, like 80-100 miles. Maybe if Jillian pops in any time soon she can tell us since she raises them. I know the Mustangs that we raise are very hardy horses, too, and have a lot of endurance.

Mostly it would depend on the type of horse you've got. If you've got an old mare who's been stabled or lazing around a field you're not going to go very far, but I would think that warriors in Middle-earth or those used to traveling would be riding conditioned horses.

[NancyBrooke]

Thanks, A! That's very useful.

And as for kind of horse (when will I learn to be specific in the first place?), this is for a time-line of Boromir's trip to Rivendell - or Tharbad as it's around there he loses his horse. I'm thinking the horse he takes from MT would be pretty well conditioned, perhaps even used to the trip, and the one he gets in Edoras in even bettter shape.

Using KWF's Atlas of Middle Earth I've got a pretty good idea of the mileage. Now, with your speed I can figure out the time.

Who said math wasn't useful in the 'real' world!

Thanks