I go with the Gandalf proposition- I think it was Legolas who said that the horses sounded like they had met a long lost friend, so that wouldn't be Saruman.
There is a problem though: would Gandalf have been riding Shadowfax around if he was hazy on his identity? Why would he say he wasn't there if he was? (even if he didn't remember his identity, surely he would remember walking round in Fangorn).If it was Saruman, why did the horses sound as if they were glad to see him? Or, was it another Enigma (note the capital letter)? OR, was it a mistake, passed over in the editing process, and then retained in future editions because it was published before?
The final possibility is that it was Grima, prentending to be Saruman to get his kjollies, on the way back from meeting Saruman.
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-Halbarad to Aragorn, 'The Passing of the Grey Company' Book V, Return of the King."A little people, but of great worth are the Shire-folk. Little do they know of our long labour for the safekeeping of their borders, and yet I grudge it not"
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