The Black Stallion

not being allowed to go his own way. You got to be patient with him. I know you will be, and that's why I turned over the mare and now the colt to you. Most men, and that includes myself, don't have the patience we had when we were your age. That's why I believe the colt will do better in your hands than mine or anyone I know. You'll have to work slow, teaching him one thing at a time. When you first try to lead him, let him go his own way, if he has a mind to. Don't fight him. Just go along with him, until before long you'll find that you're guiding him and he's going along with you. But it may take days or weeks, Tom, and that's what I mean when I say you got to have patience.
    I don't mean that you shouldn't have a firm hand with the colt. He's got to learn obedience and he has to learn it early in life or else he'll be a rebel later. And when he gets to be over a thousand pounds it's a terrible job trying to make him unlearn any bad habits he picked up as a youngster. I'm simply saying that you can teach him obedience by winning his confidence and having him learn willingly just as easily as anyone can do it by force. And the results are a million times better! I've seen too many people try to knock obedience into a colt by giving him the rough treatment. They say it's faster, and they're right. But what they forget is that they usually break the colt's spirit, too. And when that's done you've killed what may have been a fine horse.
    I didn't mean to go on for so long, Tom, but I did and I'm glad I did. Do what you can with the colt, and if you can bring him back to Coronet in September knowing how to be led and having full confidence in you, I'll be a very happy man.
    Just one other thing, and that is I want you to give the colt all the oats he wants as soon as he starts stealing any from the mare and shows an interest in grain. Crushed oats are better than whole oats, for remember he'll only have milk teeth in a couple of weeks and he won't be able to do a good job of masticating his food.
    George and I did pretty well at the Carlisle and Indiana County fairs, because Symbol is showing some speed. I'm hoping for even better results here at Clearfield. We'll be here a week, then on to the Bedford Fair. Write to me c/o race secretary at either place.
    George and I send our very best to you, and we'd sure like a photograph of the colt when you get one.
    Your friend,
    Jimmy Creech
    Tom reread the letter before starting down the hill toward the barn.
    I've been doing the right thing then
, he thought happily.
I've been trying to win the colt's confidence just as Jimmy has told me to do
.
    When Tom reached the paddock, he found his uncle leaning on the fence. The colt was racing about, while the mare watched him. The Queen suddenly whirled, following the colt about the paddock. Together they ran, sending large divots of earth flying in all directions.
    "They ought to be out in the pasture, all right," Uncle Wilmer said.
    "I'm putting them out tomorrow morning," Tom shouted, as the colt flung his hind legs high behind him, imitating his mother.
    Uncle Wilmer nodded approvingly, then said, "You shoulda done it days ago."
    Tom said nothing until the mare and colt had stopped running; then, turning to his uncle, he asked, "Where can I buy a halter in town?"
    "Heh?" his uncle asked, moving closer to Tom.
    Tom repeated his question in a louder voice.
    "What you want it for?" Uncle Wilmer asked.
    Tom gestured in the direction of the colt.
    "Don't need a halter yet," the man said. "Y'won't need one for a couple months at least."
    Tom raised the envelope he held in his hand. "Jimmy Creech wrote—" he began.
    Uncle Wilmer shook his head so severely that the battered hat toppled from his head. Bending down to pick it up, he muttered, "Jimmy Creech. All I hear from you is Jimmy Creech."
    Tom said nothing, and his uncle turned to look at the horses.
    Shrugging his shoulders, Uncle Wilmer continued, "If it was my colt instead of Jimmy Creech's, I'd—" He paused and, shaking his head again, added, "But it ain't. I got a pony halter you can use. It'll fit him. You won't find anything better in town."
    Tom waited while his uncle went into the barn and came out again, carrying the halter.
    There was an unusual gleam in Uncle Wilmer's eyes as he tossed the halter to Tom, saying, "You go ahead, then."
    Tom felt the leather and found it soft. Jimmy had said a web halter, if he could get one, but certainly this would do until he was