09 Merry legs

In Chapter 9 of “Black Beauty,” Merrylegs, a small, gentle, and wise pony, provides insight into his interactions with the young children of Mr. Blomefield, the vicar, and their families. The children, comprising Miss Jessie, Flora, two boys older than them, and several younger ones, would often visit, spending hours riding Merrylegs around the orchard and home paddock. One particular afternoon, after an extended period of play, James, presumably a stable hand, noticed Merrylegs’ exhausted state upon his return. Merrylegs reveals to Black Beauty, the titular character and narrator, that he had to teach the boys a lesson on respect and boundaries through gently unseating them when they became too rough or failed to recognize when both he and they had tired. He emphasizes his care and responsibility towards the children, particularly underlining his protective nature towards the young girls and his methodical, patient approach in introducing the young ones to riding.

Merrylegs details how, unlike with the gentle girls, he had to assertively educate the boys on understanding a pony’s limits. He patiently tolerated their initial roughness, understanding their ignorance rather than malice, but ultimately resorted to showing them his boundaries by unseating them softly, ensuring his message was clear without resorting to harmful measures. Upon the boys conveying this to James, it’s implied that James understood Merrylegs’ actions as necessary, reflecting on the inappropriateness of the boys’ rough treatment.

Ginger, another horse, suggests a more confrontational approach, but Merrylegs shares his philosophy of remaining gentle and trustworthy, valuing the kindness and trust bestowed upon him by his human caregivers. He recounts the master’s praises of his temperament and reliability, emphasizing the mutual respect and love between him and the family. Merrylegs’ tale concludes with a reaffirmation of his loyalty and his understanding of how kindness and good treatment contribute to a well-behaved and content animal, encapsulating the chapter’s themes of empathy, responsibility, and the impact of kindness.