The next morning, John with Mr York takes Ginger and me to Earlshall Park. Mr York is our new groom. He will look after us and give us food to eat. Now he takes us to a large stable. We are happy to see each other.
John says to Mr York, "These horses like a long rein (缰绳). "
But Mr York answers, "Here we use a short rein. My lady wants her horses to hold their heads high. "
John comes to pat and speak to us for the last time. He is very sad because he will leave.
I put my face to him to say goodbye and then he leaves.
At three o'clock in the afternoon Mr York takes us to the front of the house. It is very big. Soon the lady of the house comes out and looks at us. She says nothing, and gets into the carriage. The next day the lady says, "York, you must put those horses' heads higher."
That day I have to pull the carriage up a huge hill with my head up. It is hard and it hurts my back and legs.
One day Mr York fixes the rein very tight. Ginger doesn't like it at all. She rears up. York hits her nose and his hat falls off. She rears again, and kicks. Then she falls down, kicking me too.
They don't put Ginger into the carriage again. I have a new partner called Max. But I have to wear that short rein for four long months. When I finish work, I feel tired and sad.
In my old home Birtwick Park I always feel that John and Squire Gordon are my friends, but here, I have no friends at all.
— Taken from Black Beauty
