The next morning, Joe put Merrylegs in a chaise (a small carriage with two wheels). Joe took Merrylegs to the house of the priest. First, Joe said goodbye to Ginger and me. Merrylegs called to us from the yard. Then John put a saddle on Ginger. John used a rope to lead me. John rode across the country for fifteen miles. We went to Earlshall Park. This was the home of the Earl of W----.
There was a very large house. There was also a lot of stabling (buildings where horses live). We went into the yard through a stone gate. John asked for Mr. York. Soon, Mr. York came to see us. He was a middle-aged man. He looked important. His voice was strong. He expected people to obey him.
Mr. York was polite to John. He looked at us quickly. Then he called a worker to take us to our boxes (small, private rooms for horses). Mr. York invited John to have some food. Our stable was light and airy. Our boxes were next to each other. The workers cleaned us and gave us food.
Later, John and Mr. York came back. Mr. York looked at us very carefully. He said that he saw no faults in us. But he knew that every horse is different. He asked John about our characters. John said we were the best horses in the country. John was very sad to leave us.
John said that I had a very good temper. I was always kind and willing. But John said Ginger was different. Ginger had a hard life before she came to John. At first, Ginger was nervous and angry. But John was kind to her for three years. Now, Ginger was a good horse. But she was still sensitive.
John said that Ginger hated flies. She also hated it when her harness did not fit. If people were mean to her, Ginger might be mean back. Mr. York understood. He said it was hard to find good workers. But Mr. York promised to remember John's words.
John and Mr. York started to leave. Then John stopped. He said that we never used a check-rein (a short rope that pulls a horse's head up high). John never used one on me. He also said a gag-bit (a strong metal piece in the mouth) was bad for Ginger.
Mr. York was sorry. He said the horses at this house must wear a check-rein. The Earl was a reasonable man. But his wife, the Lady, was different. She wanted the horses to look stylish. She wanted their heads to be very high. Mr. York promised not to use the gag-bit. But he said he must pull our heads up when the Lady rode in the carriage.
John was very sorry to hear this. He had to go to the train station. He patted our faces and spoke to us. His voice sounded very sad. I held my face close to him. It was the only way I could say goodbye. John left, and I never saw him again.
The next day, the Earl came to see us. He liked our appearance. He wanted to use us for the carriage in the country. He said he would use me for riding later. Mr. York told the Earl about the check-rein. The Earl told Mr. York to be careful with Ginger. He said he would talk to his wife.
In the afternoon, workers put the harness on us. They put us in front of the carriage. At three o'clock, we went to the front of the house. The house was very grand. It was much larger than Birtwick. But it was not as pleasant as my old home. Two men in fancy clothes stood near the door.
Then we heard a sound of silk. The Lady came down the steps. She was tall and looked very proud. She did not look happy. She got into the carriage. This was the first time I wore a check-rein. It was a nuisance. I could not move my head down. But it was not too bad at first.
The next day, the Lady came out again. She spoke in a loud and mean voice. She told Mr. York to pull our heads higher. She said we did not look good. Mr. York told her that the Earl wanted to be careful. But the Lady did not listen. She told Mr. York to do it now.
Mr. York shortened the rein by one hole. It was very different now. That day, we had to pull the carriage up a steep hill. I wanted to put my head down to pull. But the rein held my head up. This was very hard. It hurt my back and my legs.
Ginger was angry. She told me that she would not bear it. She said if the reins got tighter, she would do something. Day after day, the reins got shorter. I began to hate my work. Every day was full of pain. Ginger was very restless. The worst part was still coming.