15 Questions
What was the outcome of the fight between Ginger and Samson?
Samson was thrown off Ginger's back
What was Samson's approach to handling horses?
He was harsh and rough
Why did Ginger eventually throw Samson off her back?
She was angry and frustrated
What did Ginger lack in the meadow where she was left alone?
Food and water
Who came to oversee Ginger's training?
The old master, Mr. Ryder
What was the difference in Ginger's upbringing compared to the narrator's?
Ginger was taken from her mother and put with other young colts
What did the boys passing through the field do to the young colts?
They threw stones to make them gallop
What did Ginger and the other colts do in the free meadows?
They ran and played together
What happened to one of the fine young colts in the field?
He was badly cut in the face by a stone
What did Ginger and the narrator decide about boys?
They were their enemies
What was distinctive about the old gentleman's voice?
It was full, clear, and kind
Why did the old gentleman scold Samson?
Because Samson treated the filly roughly
What did the old gentleman do to help the filly's sore mouth?
He made her a bran mash with meal
What was the old gentleman's philosophy about training horses?
Use gentle means to train them
What happened to the filly after her mouth was healed?
She began training with Job, the breaker
Study Notes
Break-in Experience
- Author describes a traumatic break-in experience, where several men attempted to catch and halter them, using force and intimidation
- They were held by the forelock, nose, and under jaw, and a bar was forced into their mouth
- The experience was frightening and overwhelming, with no attempt to understand or communicate with the horse
Master Ryder
- Master Ryder is described as a kind and gentle man who could have brought the horse round with ease
- He had given up the hard part of the trade to his son and another experienced man
- He would occasionally come to oversee the training and had a gentle voice, eye, and hand
Samson
- Samson is Master Ryder's son, who is strong, tall, and bold
- He has a hard voice, eye, and hand, and is determined to wear the spirit out of the horse
- He would often boast that he had never found a horse that could throw him
Training Experience
- The horse was subjected to severe training, with Samson using a long rein to tire them out
- The horse was forced to run round and round, with no respite or rest
- Samson would get angry and punishing if the horse did not obey, using the whip and spurs
The Fight
- The horse had a violent fight with Samson, rearing up and kicking, and eventually throwing him off
- The horse was left alone, hungry, and tired, with no one to care for them
Ginger's Story
- Ginger shares her own story of being taken from her mother at a young age and being put with other colts
- She never had a kind master or anyone to care for her, and was treated roughly by the man in charge
- She and the other colts would often gallop and play in the meadows, but were also subjected to cruelty from passing boys
Master Ryder's Intervention
- Master Ryder returns to the scene and finds the horse bleeding and exhausted
- He speaks gently and kindly to the horse, calming them down and offering food
- He is critical of Samson's methods and scolds him for his bad temper and treatment of the horse
- He takes care of the horse, sponging their sides and providing a gentle bran mash to soothe their sore mouth
Test your understanding of Chapter 2 of Anna Sewell's classic novel Black Beauty, which tells the story of a horse's life and experiences. Answer questions about the characters, plot, and themes in this chapter. Learn about the relationships between horses and humans in the 19th century.
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