Description:
Sold to a drunken farmer, Joey, a beautiful red-bay foal with a
distinctive cross on his nose, finds a friend in the farmer's son, Albert. His
father brutally demands Joey work or be sold, so Albert gently trains him to
pull the plough. But it's not enough. When war breaks out, Albert's father,
needy for money for his struggling farm, sells Joey to the army, where he, like
the soldiers around him, must try to cope with the horrors of the First World
War. Joey and another thoroughbred horse, Topthorn, lead in a terrible cavalry
charge towards the machine guns of the enemy's lines. Joey is captured by the
Germans and for while he is lovingly cared for by Emilie, a young French girl
and her grandfather. But he and Topthorn must pull a heavy gun, battling through
the mud until Topthorn dies of exhaustion. Joey wanders in no man's land, back
towards the British trench, but despite a joyful reunion with Albert, Joey is
not out of danger. First tetanus threatens his life, and even then Emilie's
grandfather has to bid to save him from the butcher. The old man promised his
granddaughter when she died he would find the horse she loved and buy him, but
recognising Albert's love for Joey, he sells Joey back to Albert on condition
he will love for him all his life - for the princely sum of one English penny.
I really enjoyed this short story, the print in the book was a nice size, the space between the lines made it an easy quick read.
The story is told by the horse, and very well done, you almost felt that you were Joey. Very sad moments throughout.
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