Chapter-10
With a new roof, I even got a fresh name, i.e. Baron.
As soon as Ginger and I reached the Earlshall Park, we were harnessed to the carriage. It wasn’t long that we stood in front of the house. A lady in silk dress stepped down from the stairs. Her dress made the rustling sound as she came running down the stairs. She seemed to have a luxurious look. She saw us with a smile as she stood beside the carriage.
She straightforwardly ordered the coachman to move on.
I had a bearing rein on me. We didn’t protest due to it because I did think that it strained my neck. Ginger was also quiet that day. The only problem was that I couldn’t see down when I wanted to.
Next day, at the same time, we were again harnessed. Again the lady, our mistress, came down with the rustle of her silk dress which was different from the day before.
But today as she approached us, she spoke to Mr. York. “I want the horses to put their heads higher than this. Can you do it?”
Mr. York had to do as he was ordered. But he didn’t strain our necks much. Still being newly introduced to the fashion, I found it difficult to keep up with the bearing rein. I knew what Ginger would be thinking. The day before in the stable, she said to me twitching her nose, “Wait and watch!” But I was too impressed with the ways, looks and the dress of the Earl’s lady.
For many days, the shortening of the bearing rein continued. Now it really did hurt me too much. I felt difficulty in breathing. I wondered why Ginger didn’t protest.
For a couple of days, the mistress didn’t ask Mr. York to shorten the bearing rein.
We thought that we would be able to get used to the trend if that was all.
But after some days, one day, the lady, as usual, ran down the stairs in her rustling silk dress which fascinated me the most.
As soon as she reached the carriage, she spoke to Mr. York in a stern voice, “Mr. York, don’t you know how my horses are to be kept? How can I just go to the Duchess’ party? I won’t listen to any excuse. Pull up their heads right now, so high that they look up at the sky!”
Ashamed and feared as Mr. York was, he pulled up my head so high that I looked up at the sky, Oh! It was so painful and the bit had cut into my mouth.
Just as he caught hold of the bridle of Ginger, she kicked him so hard that he fell far away. Mr. York with all his strength came back and sat on Ginger’s neck to control her. But she kept kicking in an uncontrollable manner. Finally, she fell down and could not move. I was set free immediately as Ginger was still.
I knew that was going to happen because Ginger had said previously that she won’t co-operate with consequences if the consequences were worse than she expected. I was furious at the moment, and felt like kicking anyone or anything that came before me on my path towards the stable.
Soon, the groom brought Ginger back. He looked angry and kept muttering. “I had told them before not to experiment with these horses, but the merciless lady thinks that I am a fool to say that. Now she will blame me for the delay.”
Soon Master Earl came up to see us. He strictly restricted the bearing rein on us. But next day again, the bearing rein was put on me.
But Ginger was fortunate enough to be devoid of being tied to the carriage. She was now used for hunting by the Earl’s son.
Ginger was substituted by Max, another horse. He never protested because he was used to the conditions. He once told me, “You should get used to it. She will never understand our pains. The practice will decline your life-span; still you need to co-operate with the Countess.”
We overheard the remarks, “How handsome they look!” We crossed the passers-by, just because our heads were held high and our mouths foamed. It was not good for our health. It shortened our ages.
In the beginning, I didn’t foam at my mouth but the bit used to trouble me a lot and I felt my neck breaking. It was so relieving when we were kept loose in our stable without the harness. It was so difficult to breathe and the froth made the task even more difficult. There was nobody to talk with, at Earlshall, except Ginger. I got some relief when the Earl and the Countess had gone to London. During those good days, Lady Anne, the Earl’s daughter, used to take me for her rides.
Sometimes a gentleman, Blantyre, came with us on his mare Lizzie. Lady Anne was a good rider. She used the side saddle to ride on me.
Lizzie was a bright and cheerful mare, almost thoroughbred, and a great favourite with the gentlemen because of her grace and lively spirits. But Ginger who knew more of her than I did, told me that she was rather nervous.
Blantyre, now and then, used to boast of Lizzie. According to him, she was the best mare ever found. He used to say that one couldn’t find a similar mare or horse to his.
So one fine day, Lady Anne decided to ride on Lizzie to see if she was any better than I. When Blantyre came to her, she silently exchanged the saddles and stood beside Lizzie. Blantyre asked, “What are you doing?” Lady Anne said that she would ride on Lizzie. Then she sat upon Lizzie while Blantyre sat upon me. We were trotting out when a place came where Blantyre had to give a letter to the person living there.
Blantyre dismounted from me and we headed for a house. In the minutes, he shouted, “It won’t take me more than five minutes. Do stay there!”
Lady Anne said she won’t go anywhere. Then we stood there watching and waiting.
Just then, a boy with many colts went past us. He kept whirling his whip over them. Lizzie was frightened because one of the strikes was just beside her.
So, Lizzie with Lady Anne aimlessly ran out on the road. I whined as loud as I could because I had no other option. Blantyre came running and mounted me.
We set for Lady Anne and Lizzie who could be seen in the long distance crying for help. Soon, we lost her sight. An old road-mender was standing near a heap of stones. As we approached, he made a sign to speak. Blantyre drew the rein a little. “To the Common, to the Common, Sir. She has turned off there,” said the old man. I knew the Common very well. It was the worst place I knew for a headlong gallop. Hardly had we reached the road to the right of the Park when we saw Lizzie galloping off towards the stream.
She made a leap but couldn’t cross the stream and fell down at the bank; Blantyre took me towards the stream and I crossed it in one perfect leap. As soon as I was on the other side, I paused. Blantyre came down on me and sat beside Anne to see if she was well.
She wasn’t either moving or answering. In the next moment, she opened her eyes in Blantyre’s arms and spoke his name. Blantyre was so relieved.
He saw a plant cutter at a little distance and called for him.
Pointing towards me, Blantyre asked him to take me to the doctor and then back to Earlshall and to get back at the stream with a carriage.
We were to be very quick and so were we.
Still, it was afternoon when we brought Lady Anne to Earlshall. She wasn’t much hurt.
After a few days, Blantyre came to the stable to see me. He told Mr. York that I was the best one there and warned him saying that Lady Anne would ride on none other than me. Then he patted me twice and left. I was so proud of myself and had forgotten all about the bearing rein.
