Horse Stories, and Stories of Other Animals

by Thomas Wallace Knox

Our young friends agreed that Mr. Bergh had done a great work which should be commemorated by a monument in his honor. “Magnificent monuments have been erected to men far less deserving than he,” said Charley. “If the animals whom he befriended could contribute, many thousands of dollars would be subscribed at once. All the more noble was his philanthropy, because the objects of it could never know their benefactor.”

Charley and George were not long in possession of their horses before they discovered that quite an attachment had been formed between Cobweb and Rover, which was followed by a similar friendship between Major and Dash. Whenever the horses were taken out for exercise the dogs accompanied them and seemed to enjoy the run very much. At night the dogs slept in the stalls with the horses, coiling up under the manger while the steeds were standing, but nestling down among their feet or close to their bodies when they were lying down.

“That's nothing remarkable,” said Mr. Graham, when the boys told him of the equine and canine friendships.

“Dogs and horses are very often mutually attached and sometimes are able to be of service to each other.”

“How is that?” Charley asked.

“There is a story told of an English gentleman who had a fine hunting horse, which was so fond of a greyhound that he was always uneasy when the latter was out of sight. The gentleman used to call at the stable to have the dog take a walk with him, and when he did so the horse always looked after him and neighed uneasily. When the dog returned to the stable he always ran immediately to the horse and licked his nose, the horse returning the greeting by rubbing the dog's back.”

“One day when the groom had taken the horse out for exercise the dog followed, and during the promenade he was attacked by a larger dog which threw him down and was rapidly getting the best of the encounter. Thereupon the horse threw back his ears, and in spite of the efforts of the groom to restrain him, he rushed at the strange dog and seized him with his teeth. He took a good grip of the dog's back that made him quit his hold on the greyhound, and then he shook him till the skin gave way. Under these circumstances the strange canine was not disposed to renew the attack on the greyhound, but ran off as fast as his wounds would permit. As he did so the horse pranced about very proudly, and was evidently quite happy at being of service to his smaller friend.”

“I've read,” said Charley, “about a horse and cat that were great friends, the cat generally sleeping in the horse's manger. When the horse was going to have his oats, he used to take the cat very gently by the skin on her back, just as cats pick up their kittens, and lift her into the next stall, so that she wouldn't be in his way while he was eating his food. How he learned that cats should be lifted in that way was a mystery, but he certainly did it so that he never hurt her in the least. She seemed to understand it perfectly, and whenever he put her out of the manger she stayed away till he had eaten his oats. He always liked to have her about him, and she frequently climbed on his back and seemed perfectly at home there.”

“Here's a story,” said George, “about a race between a colt and a locomotive, and according to the account, it was a lively race. It was printed in the Pittsburgh Despatch, and here it is:

“'Information comes of a remarkable and exciting race between an express train, on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and a three-year-old colt one day last week. The colt belongs to Vince Carpenter, at Limestone Station, in Carter County, Kentucky. When the express train arrived at Limestone, on the day in question, the colt stepped on the track in front of the engine, and when the train started the colt started also, keeping some distance ahead of the engine until a large trestle was reached at the next stopping-point, a distance of five and a quarter miles from Limestone. The colt started over the trestle, but fell down, and the race came to an end. The engine stopped, a rope was attached to the colt and it was removed from the track.