Black Beauty

Black Beauty also suffers at the hands of people who drive using the “steam-engine style.” These people believe horses are like small steam engines and can go forever, no matter how heavy the load is or how difficult the roads are. They never get out to help the horse going uphill—they paid to ride, and so the horse will keep going. These drivers are exhausting; Black Beauty would rather go twice as far with a good driver. They also seldom put the drag (brake) on going downhill, which causes accidents; and they sometimes forget to take the drag off at the bottom. Instead of starting off slowly, they also head off at full speed—and pull their horses up way too fast.

Once, Black Beauty is out pulling with Rory; they have their own driver who’s considerate and gentle. But as they reach a sharp turn with a hedge that means they can’t see around it, Black Beauty hears a horse coming at them quickly—and the oncoming horse and gig run right into Rory. The shaft goes right through Rory’s chest, though it doesn’t kill him. He’s eventually sold to cart coal, which is one of the most difficult and horrific jobs for horses.

After this, Black Beauty begins pulling the carriage with a mare named Peggy. She’s lovely and sweet, but anxious. The first time they go out together, Black Beauty notices that Peggy has an odd pace. She trots a few paces and then throws in a canter stride, which is very unpleasant for Black Beauty. When they get home, Peggy explains that she knows her paces are bad—but her legs are so short that she can’t keep up. Her first home was with a kind clergyman who didn’t care that she’s not very fast, but her second master whipped her and encouraged her odd gait. Eventually, Peggy is sold to two ladies who want a gentle horse, not a fast one.

Peggy’s replacement is a young horse with a bad habit of spooking. He tells Black Beauty that he’s always been timid, and his first master used to whip him when he’d turn his head to see things while wearing blinkers. That just made him more afraid. Once, the horse says, someone told his master not to do that, as whipping a scared horse just scares them more. But he can never figure out what’s scary and what’s not if he can’t look at things.

Occasionally, Black Beauty does experience good driving. Once, he takes the light gig to a house where a gentleman checks the fit of the harness and asks the ostler to remove Black Beauty’s curb bit (a harsher bit that uses leverage). The man’s skillful driving makes Black Beauty happy and proud. Eventually, this gentleman convinces Black Beauty’s master to sell him to a friend, Mr. Barry.