[kcredden]

Anyone ever read Black Beauty? I know this may come as a shock to all who know my intense love of the equine species, but somehow this book was never read by me. I see now that was a major mistake of mine.

Anna Sewell would have been an excellent magician, or psychologist. For she saw things that are now "mainstream" if you understand me. I haven't finished it, but there's things that hit me that surprised the heck out of me.

For example:

"Your master never taught you a truer thing" said John; "There is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast it is all a sham-all a sham, James and it won't stand when things come to be turned inside out, and put down for what they are.

This was after they talked about the boy who was beating the Pony to jump. Turns out the boy, was pulling wings off flies, bullying school children. They also said

'if we saw anyone who took pleasure in cruelty we might know when he belonged to, for the Devil was a murder from the beginning, and a tormentor to the end."

Isn't that strange? That's what psychologists are just NOW seeing, and putting into the public eye. For kids who torture animals, chances are ones that grow up to be criminals, especially the dangerous ones.

One of the best parts of the book, is when Sir Charles talks about a dog friend of his, who had pups. He told of the time just after they was weaned, they was taken away for a day or two, and returned with their tails cut off, and ears trimmed. It was difficult to read how the dam was just so distressed over their return, and how she cared for, and did the best she could do to help them over their pain.

Folks, I've said before I'd never cut off my dog(s) tail, and ears for "Fashion" and this was in the book. I'd do it for medical reasons but not to just make them look 'better'. It's a sick, and cruel thing that needs to be stopped for good. Or better, put into the same thing as cock and dog fights.

Finally, they talked about 'breaking' horses. Again, this wasn't done by the stick method that many have done, but more like the Monty Williams way; by the 'carrot' method. I detest the word 'breaking but they use it in the book as well.

This book should be read, and re-read to children as they grow up! True, it anthropomorphizes horses and dogs, but only to a point. It puts the POV into the horses which encourages the development of empathy. Which leads to the love of animals, and develops compassion.

Now I'm not pushing the religious factor, but even without the religious factor, it still promotes an excellent set of values.

Anyone here who's read this before and see any movie version of this, recommend one to me? I'd really appreciate it.