Then back to Turk, who seemed pleased to see him. As Jack tightened the girth, and made other adjustments, the war-horse's sinews became taut and vibrant, like the strings of a lute being tuned up. Jack checked his hooves and noted that Churchill had gotten some expert maréchal-ferrant to shoe him. 'You and me both,' Jack said, slapping his new boots so that the horse could admire them.