The longer I lived at Birtwick, the more happy I felt. Our master and mistress were loved by everyone. They were kind to all people and animals. They were friends to every cat, dog, and bird.
If children were cruel to an animal, the master talked to them. Squire Gordon and Farmer Grey worked together for twenty years. They wanted to stop the use of check-reins (straps that pull a horse's head up very high).
You did not see many check-reins in our area. Sometimes the mistress stopped the carriage to talk to a driver. She told him it was cruel to pull a horse's head up. People always listened to her.
One morning, the master was riding me. We saw a man named Mr. Sawyer. He was driving a beautiful pony. When the pony turned toward our gate, Mr. Sawyer became very angry.
He pulled the pony’s head very hard. Then he began to hit the pony with a whip. It was a dreadful sight. I knew the pony was in great pain. The master rode up to the man.
"Mr. Sawyer," the master said in a stern voice. "Is that pony made of flesh and blood?" Mr. Sawyer said the pony was too fond of his own will. He was in a very bad mood.
The master said this treatment was cruel and unmanly. He said the pony was just intelligent and remembered the road. He told Mr. Sawyer that his anger was hurting his own character.
Later, we met Captain Langley. He was a friend of the master. He had a pair of handsome gray horses. The Captain asked the master for his opinion on the horses.
The master said the horses were beautiful. But he did not like their check-reins. He said the straps were a bad idea. Captain Langley said he liked to see his horses hold their heads up.
The master said it is better if a horse holds his head up naturally. He said check-reins make horses tired and weak. They cannot use their muscles correctly.
He told the Captain that horses need to move their heads freely. This helps them stay safe if they trip. Captain Langley said the master was right. He promised to think about it.