The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-10
THE STORY OF
A SADDLE-HOROE.
Black BGauty'S Narrative Starts Another
Pony to Talking.
Raven Tells of Something That Every Rider
or Driver Should Remember-How Poor
Rider Hurts a Horses Back.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

stood with one arm over my neck she said to
him:
81 have been reading new book about a
horse, and 1t reminds me so much of Raven"
that is the name she has given ME. 1.-THE
same glossy. black coat, the same star in
the forehead. the white feet and, more than
all, his disposition is almost precisely the
same.
Then she went on to say that the hero Of
this book was called Black Beauty. and that
he was very prince among horses.
felt highly flattered to be compared to SO
perfect horse. and loved nay mistress more
than ever for her good opinion. They stayed
awhile talking and watching US while We
ate our dinner, then walked away.
After had finished eating, got to think
ing over what had heard, and co included
that if one horse could tell story, another
could. and so / resolved to try. OF course
have not much to tell, as am only fairly
started in life, being between five andSix
years old. but there are a few incidents
which might be of interest to lovers of
horses, and also be of use to horses them
selves.
Up to the time came to live in my pres
ent home my life was very monotonOus.
My master was kind, but the only pleasure
he seemed to take in mo was in seeing how
fast he could make me trot aud l took not
the least interest in him. | was glad when
| heard him talk of selling me. | looked
forward to the change with delight. had
no fear of work. rather liked it. You see
had only little experience.
One morning was taken out OF the stable
where was kept 20 be looked over and tried
by my present master. He had brought
friend whose Judgment he had great faith
In to discover flaws if | had any. felt per-
feetly safe ON that score. had always been
called sound
Tn fha
my best for | had taken fancy to the gem
tlemaD, and from what they said / knew ii
he bought me l should have good care. L
seemed to give perfect satisfaction; the bar
gain was struck and Twas
LED TO MY NEW HOME.
On the way there l learned from their
conversation that | was to be present to
my new masters wife. She came out when
we reached the place and seemed overjoyed
to see me.
81 have always wanted black horse"
she said, and came close up to me, spoke
kindly 10 me and also looked me over. L
could see she was quite a horsewoman. She
asked if | was perfectly gentle and reliable.
A gentleman standing near said:
Madam, never be afraid to trust horse
with head like that" and master assured
her that as far as he could learn had al
ways borne the best reputation.
| felt proud and determined to be worthy
of their praise. | was led into my stall, a
large box one, with soft ground floor aud
made the acquaintance OF my new mate,
masters big bay Diamond. Instead of
greeting him kindly, as | ought to have
done, / gave most vicious snap at him,
which surprised him very much. Then it
came out that while being very kind-bearted
TO human beings l was an enemy to my
species. No attention, however, was paid
TO Ii, and / must say that the companion
snip of Diamond exercised a good Influence
I oil hnnt hain uolxr
Once or twice | came near hitting master
while kicking at Diamond, for which | got
what richly deserved, good thrashng.
My mistress was perplexed TO find a name
suited 10 me. She wanted that OF a bird,
for she said | was such a light stopper and
so airy in my movements. l always re-
minded her of one. AT last she hit upon
the name of Raven, which seemed just the
I thing. liked it, too, and soon knew it
very well.
fretted some. for l am what is called
single-fOoter. gait considered very line Tor
the saddle, both for ladies and gentlemen,
but | had never been ridden by
lady and began to tremble in
my shoes. While being kept in the livery
stable | had heard so much about it from
other horses, and had seen so much suffer
ing from it l could not help but dread it.
| had seen them put saddle on horse
while his back was CALLED from its use, strap
it on as tight as they could possibly get it,
without considering or trying in the least to
alleviate the suffering he must undergo be-
fore it would be taken off again.
When he came IN from one Of those trips
he had the sympathy of every horse in tn e
stable. He occupied the stall next to mine.
From him | learned something of what
LADY's sADDLE-HoRsE
Had to put up with. First" he said "the
saddles rarely. fitted him; then they were
''too high, which made them unsteady"
0n1 uf thpm the rIOht Slana
| for the rider, or large enough, which gave
| them cramped position and made the mo-
| ton very tiresome to him-that thump
| thump on his back all the time.
80 many ladies" he said, instead of
| sitting evenly on his back, hung on one
| side, which brought all the pressure onto
! the withers, making them very sore; the n
| the tight einch was so uncomfortable, and
| altogether the position OF ladies' saddle
] horse was very trying one"
The next day after being installed in my
| new home l was hitched TO a light cart
| They added to the harness a thick strap,
| which passed over my back above the tail
! and was fastened on each side to the shafts.
| A kicking-strap it is called. | had seen it
| used, but had never worn one. If had not
| felt little indignant | should have laughed
| However, L let 1t pass, and although L wore
| 1t for some time there was no need for it,
A fine eanopy-topped buggy was used
next and the kicking strap left off and then
| found out why so much precauton seemed
| necessary to them. One warm, bright morn
| ing we started out, carrying very precious
| i0ad-a young mother and her baby.
l felt very proud, but knew my mistress
| was nervous, | could not tell why. Not
knowing anything about babies / did not
understand that | was to travel very care
! fully and avoid jumping to prevent any
| likelihood of an accident but it did not take
me long to find out, as | afterward heard
my mistress say. When the baby was along
l Travelled so easy and gave her no cause for
anxiety, but when she was alone was full
of life as she liked to have me.
After that they often brought the baby
in to see us-a beautiful, dark-eyed little
girl. With much eoaxing she would just
touch our noses with her soft, tiny fingers,
and look at US with eyes as big and round
as II we were some horrible monsters.
Her fears gradually disappeared as she
grew older. Now she
OFTEN ToDDLES IN ALONE,
Carrying some of her playthings. Once it
was broom. next little parasol, both of
which she poked against our noses. Dla-
mond snorted and sprang back into his
stall, and stood there trembling He was
always foolish about such things-as if a
little baby like that could hurt great big
horse.
During this time / was being trained for
the saddle, and although a natural single
footer, had to be taught many things be-
fore was perfect, and that must be be-
fore lady could ride me. 1t all came very
easy to me, SO it did not take long, and one
day it was arranged that master and mis-
tress should go to ride together.
Diamond was also single-footer Of fine
style. The day / had dreaded came at last.
but things were not half as bad as / had ex-
pected the cinch was very tight of course,
but the saddle fitted me, and was padded to
give me the greatest ease. All this was
very well, and we started off in great glee.
My heart was almost broken to find that
after all | should so disappoint them, but
singlefoot easy | could not. The side
weight so mixed up my feet that it
GAVE AN UNEASY JERK