Ever notice when people finish a statement with the word "honest" that you immediately doubt the statement? We all know about Honest Abe,and the story about George Washington and how he couldn't tell a lie about chopping down the cherry tree,though that story has been contested. I am not saying either way as I haven't a clue. What I do want to talk about is George and his horses,for some reason I didn't know he was such an animal lover and kept quite a sizable stable.
Washington was fond of horses from early boyhood,and owned his first horse at 17. His mother was a skilled horsewoman who taught George how to train horses using the gentlest of methods,and to never resort to cruelty. Early in Washington's public career on the way back to Virginia from a mid-winter trip to Pennsylvania his horses grew weak from struggling through deep snow. Realizing that riding them further would cause them pain or possibly kill them,he gave them to a tribe of local Indians,and continued on foot.
During the Revolutionary War he had two mounts,Nelson and Blueskin. As a reward for their loyal service he retired them both after he resigned his commission. He also kept a racehorse named Magnolia in his stables along with many other animals.
Washington was fond of horses from early boyhood,and owned his first horse at 17. His mother was a skilled horsewoman who taught George how to train horses using the gentlest of methods,and to never resort to cruelty. Early in Washington's public career on the way back to Virginia from a mid-winter trip to Pennsylvania his horses grew weak from struggling through deep snow. Realizing that riding them further would cause them pain or possibly kill them,he gave them to a tribe of local Indians,and continued on foot.
During the Revolutionary War he had two mounts,Nelson and Blueskin. As a reward for their loyal service he retired them both after he resigned his commission. He also kept a racehorse named Magnolia in his stables along with many other animals.
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