- Feed
me, water and care for me
- And
when the day's work is done
- Provide
me with a clean shelter, a clean dry bed
- And
a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort;
- Be
always gentle to me, and talk to me;
- Your
voice often means more to me than the reins.
- Pat
me sometimes that I may serve you
- The
more gladly and learn to love thee.
- Do
not jerk the reins,
- And
do not whip me when going up hill.
- Never
strike, beat, or kick me
- When
I do not understand what you mean,
- But
give me a chance to understand you.
- Watch
me, and if I fail to do your bidding,
- See
if something is wrong
- With
my harness, or my feet.
- Don't
draw the straps too tight.
- Give
me freedom to move my head.
- If
you insist on me wearing blinkers
- To
keep me from looking around, at least,
- See
to it that they do not press against my eyes.
- Don't
make my load too heavy,
- And,
don't leave me tied up in the rain.
- Have
me well shod,
- Examine
my teeth when I do not eat;
- I
may have an ulcerated tooth
- And
that you know is painful enough.
- Do
not tie my head in an unnatural position,
- Or
take away my best defence against flies
- By
cutting off my tail.
- I
cannot tell you when I'm thirsty
- So
please give me pure cold water frequently.
- Do
all you can to protect me from the sun
- And
throw a cover over me
- When
I am standing out in the cold.
- Don't
force an ice cold bit into my mouth,
- But
warm it first
- In
some warm water, or in your hands.
- I
always try to do cheerfully
- The
work you require of me.
- And
day and night
- I
stand for hours waiting for you.
- And
finally my master,
- When
my useful strength is gone,
- Do
not turn me out to starve or freeze,
- Or
sell me to a cruel owner
- To
be slowly tortured and starved to death.
- But
do thee my master take my life
- In
the kindest way.
- And
your God will reward you here and hereafter.
- You
may not think me irreverent
- If
I ask this in the name of Him who was born in a stable.
- AMEN
-
- Supplied
to Terry Keegan by A. E.
Fisher, Benwick, Cambridgeshire.
- And
taken from the book
- The
Heavyhorse its harness and
harness decoration. c.1972