Hi all,
I definitely agree that Merry would have had the money to buy the ponies with little problem. As has been said, he's from a very well-off family, the Brandybucks are the most powerful in Buckland. From the family tree, Merry's grandfather was Old Rory 'Goldfather', but he had died in 1408, Merry's father was Saradoc 'Scattergold' - not quite fairy godmothers but pretty good. Therefore cash doesn't appear to be an issue!
Likewise Pip could have chipped in too. Merry and Pippin were both aristocracy, and as close as you could get to being 'heirs to the throne' in the Shire. I guess they were probably considered the most eligible batchelors too!
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Rumil of Coedhirion
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