I remember when...
You had to buy a regular stable mount for FOUR gold. No specific morale, and no super-fast run speed. You had to travel to Hengstacer Farms to do the quests that took you to North Gate, Michel Delving, and Othrikar, and then do the race where you have to run around the farms in under two minutes.
Unless you were a hunter or had a pocket-hunter, it took roughly 200 silver for the stable rides BACK to Bree, and there was no stable to the farms!
Not only all of that, but the horsies weren't even a skill. They sat in your inventory, and if you sold them, you were a #### outta luck unless you bought them back before you logged out.

All of that, and I had all four ponies Now I have about 42-45 horses, haha!