Previous
The Old Ostler
York is the coachman at Earlshall in Lord W’s employ. He’s a good, sensible horseman who cares for his horses, but Black Beauty also sees him as a man who expects to be obeyed. Though the horses suspect that York himself doesn’t believe in using bearing reins, he doesn’t protest when Lord W and Mrs. W insist on using bearing reins. He also follows Mrs. W’s order to push Ginger too fast to a very tight rein.
Mr. York Quotes in Black Beauty
The Black Beauty quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. York or refer to Mr. York. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 22 Quotes
York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole, I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up. Then I began to understand what I had heard of. Of course I wanted to put my head forward and take the carriage up with a will, as we had been used to; but no, I had to pull with my head up now, and that took all the spirit out of me, and the strain came on my back and legs.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes
“I was at a dealer’s once, who was training me and another horse to go as a pair; he was getting our heads up, as he said, a little higher and a little higher every day. A gentleman who was there asked him why he did so; ‘Because,’ said he, ‘people won’t buy them unless we do. The London people always want their horses to carry their heads high, and to step high; of course it is very bad for the horses, but then it is good for trade. The horses soon wear up, or get diseased, and they come for another pair.’”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Black Beauty LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mr. York Character Timeline in Black Beauty
The timeline below shows where the character Mr. York appears in Black Beauty. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 22
...the 15 miles to Earlshall Park, home of the Earl of W. The coachman, Mr. York, is friendly to John, but he seems like the sort of person who expects to...
(full context)
...she were treated poorly. She’s spirited, and will fight back if she thinks she must. York promises to do his best with the horses. John adds that Black Beauty has never...
(full context)
...wonderful animals. Since they don’t match, though, they’ll only pull the carriage in the country. York shares what John said about the horses’ tempers, and Lord W instructs York to start...
(full context)
The next afternoon, Mrs. W imperiously tells York to tighten the bearing rein on Black Beauty and Ginger. York explains that they must...
(full context)
Chapter 23
One day, Mrs. W comes down the steps and tells York to raise Black Beauty and Ginger’s heads; she’s tired of humoring them. York tightens Black...
(full context)
...angry, and uncomfortable that he’s tempted to kick. Grooms bring Ginger in soon after, and York comes in and releases Black Beauty’s bearing rein. He grouses that he knew this would...
(full context)
Lord W is very upset when he finds out, but he blames York for listening to Mrs. W instead of him. After this, Ginger never pulls the carriage...
(full context)
...used to know that John and Squire Gordon would protect him. Now, though he suspects York knows how much damage the bearing rein does, York does nothing to help.
(full context)
Chapter 24
Lord George has been taking Ginger hunting, which York doesn’t approve of—he doesn’t have a steady enough hand to train a hunter. Ginger enjoys...
(full context)
Chapter 25
The man in charge of the stables while York is away is named Reuben Smith. He’s a good man with some veterinary training, and...
(full context)
Chapter 27
Lord W and York come to the meadow one day. Lord W is very annoyed; he says he’s lost...
(full context)
