Post by tintin on Feb 18, 2011 17:57:22 GMT 1
"My Horse Warrior" was published in 1934. The author Lord Mottistone was better known as General Sir Jack Seeley and commanded the Canadian Cavalry Brigade on the Western Front during the Great War. Warrior was his mount during this time.
General Jack, as he was better known in the Army, came from the Isle of Wight and Warrior was born and grew up on his farm there.
The book is really Warrior's biography and the General obviously loved his horse very much indeed, almost like a son and saw him as a complete paragon amongst horses. Everyone else apparently loved him too and there is a short list of his most notable fans near the end of the book, all of them well respected in the Army of the time. The only shortcoming of the book is apparently he seems to have never done anything naughty, not at all, no. This is most unhorselike...
That aside Warrior was obviously a very good tempered, intelligent, brave, willing, popular and affectionate horse. Anyone reading the book who likes horses will warm to him.
General Jack saw war in the raw between 1914 and 1918 and like most traditional soldiers he does not shrink from this nor does he dwell on it or dramatise it. His accounts are factual and understated of events that must have been searing at the time. At one point Warrior's stable is demolished by a shell and the poor horse is buried alive. You can feel the General's fear and worry as he describes the soldiers digging him out and I felt a bit sick myself as it is very easy to imagine from his description a favourite horse of your own in such a predicament. In 1918 the General, riding Warrior, led the brigade in a desparate mounted attack on the advancing Germans fighting hand to hand with swords. This must have been horrific, but is sensibly left largely to the imagination.
The book is illustrated in black and white drawings by Sir Alfred Munnings, one of Britain's foremost painters. Lord Mottistone writes well and the book has warmth and charm. I could not put it down. I think it would make a good film.
Now to the sad part. I bought mine for £4 in the Charing Cross Road last year. Now unfortunately they are going for stupid prices - none under £95, so very few people will be able to read this super book. It would be nice if a new cheap edition could come out perhaps to help a horse charity like the Brook Hospital.
I would like to end by quoting this moving passage:-
"All these years of our comradeship have set me wondering what was the secret of Warrior's quality and character...
I am persuaded the real reason why he has thus impressed his personality and character upon all those who have been brought into contact with him, in peace and in war, is the fact that he has never been ill-treated, never badly used, never beaten when he was doing his best
The soul of a horse is a great and loyal soul... Above all it is a courageous soul, and an affectionate soul. But let there be one cruel blow from a grown up man and you have ruined the horse's fine soul and spirit for ever.
It is my dream that those who read this book may vow never to beat a willing horse"
5 Horse Shoes - surely worth a reprint?
General Jack, as he was better known in the Army, came from the Isle of Wight and Warrior was born and grew up on his farm there.
The book is really Warrior's biography and the General obviously loved his horse very much indeed, almost like a son and saw him as a complete paragon amongst horses. Everyone else apparently loved him too and there is a short list of his most notable fans near the end of the book, all of them well respected in the Army of the time. The only shortcoming of the book is apparently he seems to have never done anything naughty, not at all, no. This is most unhorselike...
That aside Warrior was obviously a very good tempered, intelligent, brave, willing, popular and affectionate horse. Anyone reading the book who likes horses will warm to him.
General Jack saw war in the raw between 1914 and 1918 and like most traditional soldiers he does not shrink from this nor does he dwell on it or dramatise it. His accounts are factual and understated of events that must have been searing at the time. At one point Warrior's stable is demolished by a shell and the poor horse is buried alive. You can feel the General's fear and worry as he describes the soldiers digging him out and I felt a bit sick myself as it is very easy to imagine from his description a favourite horse of your own in such a predicament. In 1918 the General, riding Warrior, led the brigade in a desparate mounted attack on the advancing Germans fighting hand to hand with swords. This must have been horrific, but is sensibly left largely to the imagination.
The book is illustrated in black and white drawings by Sir Alfred Munnings, one of Britain's foremost painters. Lord Mottistone writes well and the book has warmth and charm. I could not put it down. I think it would make a good film.
Now to the sad part. I bought mine for £4 in the Charing Cross Road last year. Now unfortunately they are going for stupid prices - none under £95, so very few people will be able to read this super book. It would be nice if a new cheap edition could come out perhaps to help a horse charity like the Brook Hospital.
I would like to end by quoting this moving passage:-
"All these years of our comradeship have set me wondering what was the secret of Warrior's quality and character...
I am persuaded the real reason why he has thus impressed his personality and character upon all those who have been brought into contact with him, in peace and in war, is the fact that he has never been ill-treated, never badly used, never beaten when he was doing his best
The soul of a horse is a great and loyal soul... Above all it is a courageous soul, and an affectionate soul. But let there be one cruel blow from a grown up man and you have ruined the horse's fine soul and spirit for ever.
It is my dream that those who read this book may vow never to beat a willing horse"
5 Horse Shoes - surely worth a reprint?
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