I was very happy in my new home. Everyone was kind and the food was very good. But I missed liberty (the freedom to go where you want). For most of my life, I was free in the fields. Now, I had to stand in a stable most of the time.
I had straps on my body and a bit in my mouth. I had blinkers (leather pieces that stop a horse from seeing to the side) over my eyes. I am not complaining because I know horses must work. But it is hard for a young horse to stay quiet all day.
Sometimes I had too much energy. When John Manly took me out, I wanted to jump and dance. John Manly was always patient. “Steady, steady, my boy,” he would say. “Wait a bit and we will run.”
John Manly would let me trot fast for a few miles. This helped me feel better. Some grooms punish horses when they have too much energy. But John Manly did not. He knew I was just happy and full of life.
I loved the sound of John Manly’s voice. He was very determined, but he was always kind. Sometimes we had our liberty for a few hours. This usually happened on fine Sundays in the summer.
The carriage did not go out on Sundays. The master and mistress walked to the church. We were turned out into the field or the orchard. The grass was cool and soft. It was wonderful to gallop and roll on our backs. We stood under the trees and talked together.