I always thought that it was Saruman that they saw in the night, and Saruman who set their horses free. It would have been easy for Saruman to get a Gandalf-style hat (thought I'm not sure why he could have wanted to wear one. A disguise, perhaps? Maybe Saruman was the one trying to confuse us).
And as for the horses sounding glad when they were set free, we know that Saruman's voice has many powers, so I'm assuming he could have easily spoke a few words to to calm them.
Would Gandalf have had a reason for setting the horses loose? I think that Saruman would be interested in spying on Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and by taking their horses he was effectivley slowing them down.
And of course, Gandalf said that they must have seen Saruman, and I think that's an important point too [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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'What news from the South, O sighing wind, do you bring to me at eve?
Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve.'
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