from Mar 22, 1950 HH:
I talked it over with Tony
While in his stall today,
This thing of useless larruping
Of horses in the fray.
"What think you of it, Tony-boy?"
I asked and he replied—
With fire flashing from his eyes,
"Now listen, darn my hide
If I was out there trying
Mid all the stress and fuss
And you should larrup me, I'd stop—
And kick you in the puss!
They brag about these noble men
And in a sense 'tis true,
It's found in trot and pacers, too—
It's not a thing that's new.
It's a thing that goes with breeding
Whether in man or beast,
A synonym for selfcontrol
And regard—to say the least.
These attributes are AWOL
When the man up in the seat
In blinding lust for gold and gain
Proceeds to beat and beat.
The horse, with aching lungs and legs
Aflashing in the dust,
Whose pounding heart says o'er and o'er—
I must—I must—I MUST!'
While we're out there 'twill be all right
To high-line me and shout,
But you just start larruping me
And I'll darn sure kick you out!"
—DR. E. B. TOPMILLER—
