Author: Terry Keegan, A.S. Barnes and Company, South Brunswick and New York:

Feed me, water and care for me

And when the day's work is done,

Provide me with a clean shelter, a clean dry bed

And a stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort;

Be always gentle to me, and talk to me;

Your voice often means more to me than the reins.

Pat me sometimes that I may serve you

The more gladly and learn to love thee. Do not jerk the reins,

And do not whip me when going up hill.

Never strike, beat, or kick me

When I do not understand what you mean,

But give me a chance to understand you.

Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding,

See if something is wrong

With my harness, or my feet.

Don't draw the straps too tight.

Give me freedom to move my head.

If you insist on me wearing blinkers

To keep me from looking around, at least,

See to it that they do not press against my eyes.

Don't make my load too heavy,

And, don't leave me tied up in the rain.

Have me well shod,

Examine my teeth when I do not eat;

I may have an ulcerated tooth

And that you know is painful enough.

Do not tie my head in an unnatural position,

Or take away my best defence against flies

by cutting off my tail.

I cannot tell you when I'm thirsty

So please give me pure cold water frequently.

Do all you can to pretect me from the sun

An throw a cover over me

When I am standing out in the cold.

Don't force an ice cold bit into my mouth,

But warm it first

In some warm water, or in your hands.

I always try to do cheerfully

The work you require of me.

And day and night

I stand for hours waiting for you.

An finally my master,

When my useful strength is gone,

Do not turn me out to starve or freeze,

Or sell me to a cruel owner

To be slowly tortured and starved to death.

But do thee my master take my life

In the kindest way.

And your God will reward you here and hereafter.

You may not think me irreverent

If I ask this in the name of

Him who was born in a stable.