- 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