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Chapter 5 A Fair Start The name of the coachman was John Manley.
He had a wife and one little child and they lived in the coachman's cottage,
Very near the stables.
The next morning he took me into the yard and gave me a good grooming and just as I was going into my box,
With my coat soft and bright,
The squire came in to look at me and seemed pleased.
John,
He said,
I meant to have tried the new horse this morning but I've other business,
You may as well take him around after breakfast,
Go by the common in the highwood and back by the watermill in the river,
That will show his paces.
I will sir,
Said John.
After breakfast he came and fitted me with a bridle.
He was very particular in letting out and taking in the straps to fit my head comfortably.
Then he brought a saddle but it was not broad enough for my back.
He saw it in a minute and went for another one,
Which fitted nicely.
He rode me first slowly,
Then a trot,
Then a canter and when we were on the common he gave me a light touch with his whip and we had a splendid gallop.
Ho ho my boy,
He said as he pulled me up,
You'd like to follow the hounds I think.
As we came back through the park we met the squire and Mrs Gordon walking.
They stopped and John jumped off.
Well John,
How does he go?
First rate sir,
Answered John,
He's as fleet as a deer and he's a fine spirit too,
But the lightest touch of the rain will guide him.
Down at the end of the common we met one of those travelling carts,
Hung all over with baskets,
Rugs and such like.
You know sir,
Many horses don't pass those carts quietly.
He just took a good look at it and went on and quiet as pleasant as could be.
They were shooting rabbits near the eyewood and a gun went off close.
He pulled up a little and looked,
But he didn't stir or step to the right or the left.
I just held the reins steady and I didn't hurry him and it's my opinion he's not been frightened or ill used when he was young.
That's well,
Said the squire,
I'll try him myself tomorrow.
The next day I was brought up for my master.
I remembered my mother's counsel and my good old master's and I tried to do exactly what he wanted me to do.
I found he was a very good rider and thoughtful for his horse too.
When he came home the lady was at the hall door as he rode up.
Well my dear,
She said,
How do you like him?
He's exactly what John said,
He replied,
A pleasanter creature,
I never wished him out.
What shall we call him?
Would you like Ebony,
Said she,
He's as black as Ebony.
No not Ebony.
Will you call him Blackbird,
Like your uncle's old horse?
No he's far handsomer than old Blackbird ever was.
Yes,
She said,
He really is quite a beauty,
He has such a sweet good tempered face and such a fine intelligent eye,
What about calling him Blackbeauty?
Blackbeauty,
Yes I think that's a very good name,
If you like it,
It shall be his name.
And so it was.
When John went into the stable he told James that master and mistress had chosen a good sensible name and that meant something,
An English name,
Not like Marengo or Pegasus or Abdullah.
They both laughed and James said,
If it was not for bringing back the past I should have named him Rob Roy,
For I never saw two horses more alike.
That's no wonder,
Said John,
Did you know Farmer Grey's old Duchess was the mother of Emplove?
I had never heard that before.
So poor old Rob Roy was killed at the hunt and that was my brother.
I did not wonder that my mother was so troubled,
It seems that horses have no relations,
At least they never know each other after they're sold.
John seemed very proud of me,
He'd make my mane and tail seem very soft and clean.
When he cleaned me he knew the tender places and the ticklish places and when he brushed my head he went as carefully over my eyes as if they were his own.
He never stirred up any ill temper.
James Howard,
The stable boy,
Was just as gentle and pleasant in his way,
So I thought myself well off.
There was another man who helped in the yard,
But he had very little to do with Ginger and me.
After a few days I had to go out with Ginger in the carriage.
I wonder how we should get on together,
But except laying her ears back when I was led up to her she behaved very well.
She did her work honestly and did her full share and I never wished to have a better partner in double harness.
When we came to a hill,
Instead of slackening her pace she would throw her weight right into the collar and pull away straight up.
We both had the same sort of courage at our work and John had oftener to hold us in than to urge us forward.
He never had to use the whip with either of us.
Then our paces were much the same and I found it easy to keep step with her when trotting,
Which made it pleasant.
After we'd been out two or three times together we grew friendly and sociable,
Which made me feel very much at home.
As for Merrylegs,
He and I soon became great friends.
He was such a cheerful,
Plucky,
Good-tempered little fellow.
He was a favourite with everyone,
Especially with Miss Jessie and Flora,
Who used to ride him about in the orchard and have fine games with him and their little dog Frisky.
Our master had two other horses that stood in another stable.
One was called Justice,
A Roan Cob,
And he was used for riding or for the luggage cart.
And the other was an old brown hunter named Sir Oliver.
He was past work now,
But he was a great favourite with the master,
Who gave him the run of the park.
He sometimes did a little light carting on the estate,
Or carried one of the young ladies when they went out with their father.
He was very gentle and could be trusted with a child as well as Merrylegs.
The Cob was a strong,
Well-made,
Good-tempered horse,
And we sometimes had a little chat in the paddock.
But of course I could not be so intimate with him as I was with Ginger,
Who stood in the same stable.
