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Horses Nine: Stories of Harness and Saddle
Sewell Ford (1868-1946) was an American prolific author who wrote Horses Nine: Stories of Harness and Saddle (1903), Shorty McCabe (1906), Cherub Divine (1907), Side-Stepping with Shorty (1908), Torchy (1911), Trying Out Torchy (1912), Odd Numbers (1912), On With Torchy (1914), Torchy, Private Sec. (1915), Shorty McCabe on the Job (1915), Wilt Thou Torchy (1917), The House of Torchy (1918), Torchy and Vee (1919) and Torchy as a Pa (1921).
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1903
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 16, 2020
Nice little collection of nine short stories about horses, originally published in 1903 when horses were still a large part of working life.
The usual warning about stories featuring horses applies here. There are scenes of abuse and neglect, and our heroes are sometimes on top of the world and sometimes down in the pits of despair.
Skipper was a police horse until a swollen hock forces his retirement. Chieftain was a heavy draft Percheron, the middle horse of a 'triple hitch' that hauled cargo all over the city. Pasha the Arabian was commandeered as a mount for a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Bonfire was a hackney pony, bred and trained to be part of a splashy looking team that pulled milady's carriage. Old Silver the fire station horse, Blue Blazes the colt who was turned into a man-hater by his 'trainers'. Calico was afraid of everything, or at least pretended to be. Black Eagle was king of the wide open spaces, and last but not least there was Barnacle, who took part in a truly unforgettable wedding day journey. These were the horses we get to spend time with here.
The author knew his horses, and cared about them. That was quite clear even though he did have them thinking and acting a bit too 'human' at times. You can sense that these tales were meant to help people see how wrong the majority of trainers of the day were with their impatience and cruelty. They were also quite vivid and the horses were so alive, I felt as though I could have stretched out my hand and touched them.
I tried to find out a little more about the author and managed to learn that this was his first published book. He became famous later for his 'Torchy' series. There are many Sewell Ford titles at Project Gutenberg, but none of the others really appeal to me at first glance. But if I take a closer look someday and find more horse stories on his author page, I will be certain to take them out for a ride.
The usual warning about stories featuring horses applies here. There are scenes of abuse and neglect, and our heroes are sometimes on top of the world and sometimes down in the pits of despair.
Skipper was a police horse until a swollen hock forces his retirement. Chieftain was a heavy draft Percheron, the middle horse of a 'triple hitch' that hauled cargo all over the city. Pasha the Arabian was commandeered as a mount for a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Bonfire was a hackney pony, bred and trained to be part of a splashy looking team that pulled milady's carriage. Old Silver the fire station horse, Blue Blazes the colt who was turned into a man-hater by his 'trainers'. Calico was afraid of everything, or at least pretended to be. Black Eagle was king of the wide open spaces, and last but not least there was Barnacle, who took part in a truly unforgettable wedding day journey. These were the horses we get to spend time with here.
The author knew his horses, and cared about them. That was quite clear even though he did have them thinking and acting a bit too 'human' at times. You can sense that these tales were meant to help people see how wrong the majority of trainers of the day were with their impatience and cruelty. They were also quite vivid and the horses were so alive, I felt as though I could have stretched out my hand and touched them.
I tried to find out a little more about the author and managed to learn that this was his first published book. He became famous later for his 'Torchy' series. There are many Sewell Ford titles at Project Gutenberg, but none of the others really appeal to me at first glance. But if I take a closer look someday and find more horse stories on his author page, I will be certain to take them out for a ride.
September 20, 2024
This is a review of the 1970 reprint edition, which is currently up on The Open Library. Since this book is over 120 years old, there's a good chance it'll still be up if you go looking for it. It's also on Manybooks. There are two editions on The Open Library. The edition that works needs the whole title typed into the search bar. For some reason, Page 177, 180 and 181 are missing.
Well, I've read so many horse anthologies that included at least one selection from this book that I thought it was high time I took the plunge and actually read the whole damn thing.
The eight intricate black and white illustrations were by Frederic Dorr Steele and L. Maynard Dixon.
The stories often follow a pattern, and also often feature an Irishman. Women tend to come off as heartless. Almost all of the stories emphasize that horses should be treated with respect and as a friend.
Stories:
* Skipper. This is the story I most frequently find in horse anthologies, for good reason. It's about a police horse fallen on hard times.
* Calico. A Pinto farm horse in Maine is swapped to a travelling circus for a "Vermont Morgan." This story hasn't aged well. There were quite a few times I winced.
* Old Silver. The story of a New York City fire horse who comes up lame and is sold.
* Blue Blazes. By now, the stories are getting predictable. Here, an incredibly abused colt becomes an incredibly mean horse.
* Cheiftan. This was the most unpredictable story of the lot. Cheiftan is described as a Norman horse, but his physical description makes him a Percheron. Interesting to read that the Brooklyn Handicap was better known than the Kentucky Derby.
* Barnacles. Also published unter the title "The Mutiny of Barnacles." This story is incomplete on The Open Library, but I wasn't enjoying it anyway. I hate the idea of a horse being painted green as a joke. This is a story that hasn't aged well.
* Black Eagle. This has also been published as "Black Eagle Who Once Ruled the Ranges." This story is also incomplete at The Open Library, but can be found in The Personality of the Horse. It's about a Thoroughbred who leads a herd of Mustangs, then is caught.
* Bonfire: Broken For the House of Jerry. This is the sad story of a hackney horse bred for the show ring, and of hackneys in general in New York City of the time. It's also the longest story of the lot.
* Pasha. This has also been published as "Pasha, the Son of Selim." An Arabian horse gets caught up with the Confederates in the Civil War.
Well, I've read so many horse anthologies that included at least one selection from this book that I thought it was high time I took the plunge and actually read the whole damn thing.
The eight intricate black and white illustrations were by Frederic Dorr Steele and L. Maynard Dixon.
The stories often follow a pattern, and also often feature an Irishman. Women tend to come off as heartless. Almost all of the stories emphasize that horses should be treated with respect and as a friend.
Stories:
* Skipper. This is the story I most frequently find in horse anthologies, for good reason. It's about a police horse fallen on hard times.
* Calico. A Pinto farm horse in Maine is swapped to a travelling circus for a "Vermont Morgan." This story hasn't aged well. There were quite a few times I winced.
* Old Silver. The story of a New York City fire horse who comes up lame and is sold.
* Blue Blazes. By now, the stories are getting predictable. Here, an incredibly abused colt becomes an incredibly mean horse.
* Cheiftan. This was the most unpredictable story of the lot. Cheiftan is described as a Norman horse, but his physical description makes him a Percheron. Interesting to read that the Brooklyn Handicap was better known than the Kentucky Derby.
* Barnacles. Also published unter the title "The Mutiny of Barnacles." This story is incomplete on The Open Library, but I wasn't enjoying it anyway. I hate the idea of a horse being painted green as a joke. This is a story that hasn't aged well.
* Black Eagle. This has also been published as "Black Eagle Who Once Ruled the Ranges." This story is also incomplete at The Open Library, but can be found in The Personality of the Horse. It's about a Thoroughbred who leads a herd of Mustangs, then is caught.
* Bonfire: Broken For the House of Jerry. This is the sad story of a hackney horse bred for the show ring, and of hackneys in general in New York City of the time. It's also the longest story of the lot.
* Pasha. This has also been published as "Pasha, the Son of Selim." An Arabian horse gets caught up with the Confederates in the Civil War.
March 14, 2020
Bittersweet Collection
Horses Nine Stories of Harness and Saddle is a collection of short stories set in the late 1800s, when horses were very much in demand for their utility. Set in various US locations, these stories are a peek back in time. Much like Black Beauty, these are not simple carefree tales. Instead they follow horses born to privilege through the high and low points of their lives. It's a sad reminder of how dependent on humans horses are, and how fickle their human caretakers can be. From Civil War mounts to carriage horses, from the plushest of riding stables to ramshackle sheds filled with muck, we fall in love with these horses and root for their rescue. Bonfire and Pasha, Skipper and Calico, and all the other brave equines are captivating subjects. And once in a while they come across people who deserve them.
Horses Nine Stories of Harness and Saddle is a collection of short stories set in the late 1800s, when horses were very much in demand for their utility. Set in various US locations, these stories are a peek back in time. Much like Black Beauty, these are not simple carefree tales. Instead they follow horses born to privilege through the high and low points of their lives. It's a sad reminder of how dependent on humans horses are, and how fickle their human caretakers can be. From Civil War mounts to carriage horses, from the plushest of riding stables to ramshackle sheds filled with muck, we fall in love with these horses and root for their rescue. Bonfire and Pasha, Skipper and Calico, and all the other brave equines are captivating subjects. And once in a while they come across people who deserve them.
March 4, 2021
unique stories
February 27, 2017
very satisfying
i recommend these stories from long ago. they are an interesting look into how the history of man and horse are intertwined.
i recommend these stories from long ago. they are an interesting look into how the history of man and horse are intertwined.
January 30, 2016
1. Skipper- 31/2 stars. Skipper is a police horse and Reddy is his rider. Skipper gets a lump and the force gets rid of him. Skipper goes from one abusive situation to another until someone finds him and gets him back to a now rich Reddy.
2. Calico-3 1/2 stars story of a farm horse that annoys the farmer and gets sold to a circus. He becomes the pampered show pony of a bareback rider and as they go through on a parade many years later Calico still recognizes the other horse from his original owner.
3. Old Silver-3 stars fire/rescue horse who gets injured. He gets taken away to get better but gets right back to fire recue as soon as he is better.
4. Blue Blazes- 3 stars- the story of a very badly treated farm horse who only loves Lafe the badly treated farm boy. Blue Blazes is treated so badly that he eventually becomes evil. Of course eventually Lafe as a n adult finds him and he goes right back to being gentle.
5. Chieftain- 3 1/2 stars Chieftain and his rider both yearn for country life. When Chieftain gets wore on they give him and his rider a break in the country and they both get bored and escape back to the city.
6. Barnacles-4 stars a sea man wants to marry a widow but she won't go by boat. So he and his first mate buy a horse and carriage to bring her home. They end up dying the horse and creating a boat out of the carriage. It's hilarious.
7.Black Eagle- 3 stars the story of a horse that after being branded hates all cowboys so he eventually escapes and wrecks havoc on every horse operation around . Eventually he gets caught and subdued. He then becomes a race horse? That part is weird. I think the author got lost on how to end that story.
8. Bonfire- 2 stars . Bonfire was at a horse show and they half abused him just to show him. A snobby miss wanted him and then made him part of her carriage team. After so long he gets used up so they sell him and he gets abused. (this is a trend in these stories). Then the carriage driver finds him and takes him in to help him support his life.
9. Pasha- 3 stars a pure Arabian gets sold to a Kentucky horse farm and becomes Miss Lou's pampered pet. A nice man named Dave teaches him cool tricks. One of the mean farm hand eventually takes him and abuses him as a horse in the civil war. When the mean guy goes down, oddly Dave finds Pasha and using the tricks he taught him gets up on him and takes him back to Miss Lou.
2. Calico-3 1/2 stars story of a farm horse that annoys the farmer and gets sold to a circus. He becomes the pampered show pony of a bareback rider and as they go through on a parade many years later Calico still recognizes the other horse from his original owner.
3. Old Silver-3 stars fire/rescue horse who gets injured. He gets taken away to get better but gets right back to fire recue as soon as he is better.
4. Blue Blazes- 3 stars- the story of a very badly treated farm horse who only loves Lafe the badly treated farm boy. Blue Blazes is treated so badly that he eventually becomes evil. Of course eventually Lafe as a n adult finds him and he goes right back to being gentle.
5. Chieftain- 3 1/2 stars Chieftain and his rider both yearn for country life. When Chieftain gets wore on they give him and his rider a break in the country and they both get bored and escape back to the city.
6. Barnacles-4 stars a sea man wants to marry a widow but she won't go by boat. So he and his first mate buy a horse and carriage to bring her home. They end up dying the horse and creating a boat out of the carriage. It's hilarious.
7.Black Eagle- 3 stars the story of a horse that after being branded hates all cowboys so he eventually escapes and wrecks havoc on every horse operation around . Eventually he gets caught and subdued. He then becomes a race horse? That part is weird. I think the author got lost on how to end that story.
8. Bonfire- 2 stars . Bonfire was at a horse show and they half abused him just to show him. A snobby miss wanted him and then made him part of her carriage team. After so long he gets used up so they sell him and he gets abused. (this is a trend in these stories). Then the carriage driver finds him and takes him in to help him support his life.
9. Pasha- 3 stars a pure Arabian gets sold to a Kentucky horse farm and becomes Miss Lou's pampered pet. A nice man named Dave teaches him cool tricks. One of the mean farm hand eventually takes him and abuses him as a horse in the civil war. When the mean guy goes down, oddly Dave finds Pasha and using the tricks he taught him gets up on him and takes him back to Miss Lou.
February 8, 2013
If you like Black Beauty, you'll like this.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews