
Skipper is a spirited colt who spent his early years on a quiet farm, guided by a Green Mountain boy who taught him the language of the herd. When he’s drafted into the city’s mounted police, his world shifts from plows and hay‑carts to gleaming carriages and massive wagons pulled by powerful Percherons. Through his own eyes we watch his bewilderment turn to confidence as he learns the strange commands and rhythms of urban life.
Under the steady hand of Officer Martin—known to the rank‑and‑file as “Reddy”—Skipper masters the precise drills of the force, from perfecting his stance at inspection to responding to subtle cues from the reins. The narrative captures his quiet moments on the bustling streets, the thrill of a sudden gallop, and the pride he feels when he stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the city’s polished horses. It’s a charming portrait of a horse finding his place between the wild countryside and the orderly cadence of duty.
Full title
Horses Nine Stories of Harness and Saddle
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (200K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-11-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1946
Best remembered for the lively "Torchy" and "Shorty McCabe" stories, this American writer built a large popular readership with brisk, humorous fiction. His work moved easily between magazine entertainment and longer novels, giving early-20th-century readers plenty of wit and energy.
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