'Lord of all horses' Shadowfax from 'The Lord of the Rings' dies

14 April 2014 - 10:51 By Times LIVE
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A scene from 'The Lord of the Rings', where we meet Shadowfax, the lord of all horses and Gandalf's friend.
A scene from 'The Lord of the Rings', where we meet Shadowfax, the lord of all horses and Gandalf's friend.
Image: YouTube LLC

The horse who played the wizard Gandalf’s glorious steed and friend in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ has died, according to reports.

Blanco the white horse was euthanised after the horse got too sick, says TMZ.

Blanco’s owner Cynthia Royal says the horse suddenly fell ill at home and was rushed to a vet, but after a few days, things took a turn for the worst.

In a statement posted to theonering.net, Royal explains that Blanco had suffered from “serious issues with his intestinal tract and liver”.

"Although my heart was breaking," Royal explained, "as my final gift to him, I stayed strong, balanced and focused, gently repeating "Relax Blanco. Let go. Walk into the light. Relax and let go” as the Blanco I’ve known so well and loved so deeply slipped away.

Blanco was equine celebrity, with hosts of TV and film credits that also include Hercules and Horse Medicine, said The UK Independent.

The majestic animal burst into shot whenever Gandalf whistled for it in the fantasy series, his brilliant white coat gleaming in the sun.

He was first seen in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and gave rise to one of the film's oft-quoted lines: "Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste."

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