Chapter 2 My Training
When I was four years old, Squire Gordon came to look at me. He examined my eyes, my mouth
, my legs, and I had to walk and run before him. He seemed to like me, and said,"When he
has been well trained, he will do very well." My master said he would traind me himself
because he did not like me to be scared or hurt.
Horse training means to teach a horse to learn to wear a saddle and bridle, to carry a
person on his back, and to go quietly just the way the rider wishes. Besides, he has to
learn to wear a collar and harness, and stand still while people put them on him.
He then has to walk with a cart put behind him. He must go fast or slow as his driver
wishes. He must never be stratled by what he sees, nor speak to other horses, nor bite,
nor kick, nor have any will of his own.
I was already used to being led about the fields and lanes with reins and a head harness.
Now, like all grown-up horses, I was going to have a bit and bridle. My master gave me
some oats as usual. He talked to me gently, and finally put the bit into my mouth and
fixed the bridle. It was a smelly thing! But I knew that my mother and all other grown-up
hoses always wore one when they went out. My master treated me very well, with nice
oats and kind words, so I got to wear my bit and bridle.
Next came the saddle, but that was not nearly so bad. My master put it on my back very
gently, while old Daniel held my head. He then tightened the strap under my body, touching
and talking to me all the time. After that I was given some oats and led out for a walk.
He did this every day till I began to look for oats and the saddle. My master continued to
ride me a little every day, so I soon became used to it.
I did not like the next step either: putting on the iron shoes. The blacksmith took my
feet in his hand, one after the other, and cut away some of the hard parts of my foot. It
did not hurt me, so I stood still on three legs till he had done them all. He then took a
piece of iron the shape of my foot, and suddenly put it on my foot. Next, he drove some
nails through the shoe quite into my foot so that the shoe was firmly on. My feet felt
very stiff and heavy, but in time I would get used to it.
There were more new things to wear. First, I needed to wear a stiff heavy strap just
on my neck. Second, I wore a bridle with great sid-pieces against my eyes, so I would
only see straight in front of me. Third, I had a small saddle with a smelly stiff strap
put right under my tail. I hated the strap. I never felt more like kicking, but of course
I could not kick such a good master. I got used to everything in time, and could do
my work as well as my mother.
I must not forget to mention one part of my training, which I have always considered
a very great advantage. My master sent me to another farmer's field on the edge of the
railway. I joined some sheep and cows there.
I shall never forget the first train that ran by. I was feeding quietly on an open land
that separated the field from the railway. Suddenly I heard a strange sound at a
distance. Before I knew, a long black train flew by with loud noises and smoke. I couldn't
breathe. I turned and ran to the further side of the field as fast as I could. I stood
there, breathing heavily wiht surprise and fear.
In the course of the day, many other trains went by, and sometimes made an awful loud
sound. I thought it very dreadful, but the cows went on eating very quietly, and hardly
raised their heads when the black scary thing rushed by loudly.
For the first few days, I could not feed in peace. As I found that this terrible creature
never came into the field, or did me any harm, I strated paying on attention to it. And
very soon I cared as little about the passing of a train as the cows and sheep did.
Since then I had seen may horses that were very alarmed and uneasy at the sight or
sound of a train engine. Thanks to my good master's care, I was not afraid at railway
stations or in my own stable.
My master often drove me together with my mother, because she was steady and
could teach me how to go better. She told me that the better I woked, the better
I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my
master. She said,"There are different kinds of men. Some, like our master, are good
and gentle, and some are bad and cruel. Besides, there are may foolish and careless
men who ruin their horses for no good reason. I hope you will fall into good hands. A
horse never knows who may buy him, or who may drive him. It is all chance for us.
Always do your best wherever you are, and keep up your good name."