The slap of the reins across your broad back is but a light urge to walk forward. The man holding the reins of you and your near neighbor talks softly. The words have no meaning but you can tell by simple sound and tone if the urge is to walk or really puul the weight along.
Simple life, simple pleasures, simple ways and the only true responsibility is to work with the neighbor animal in unison.
That warm sun is toasting your hairy hide and the warmth settles down into shoulders and flanks. Soon where the leather harness touches your hairy hide the sweat becomes lathered. This too offers you some odd sort of comfort in knowing your own scent and the scent of the neighbor horse next door.
As the first hour of equine life moves on and then two, three, and four the wagon is at last full. A crack of the reins suggests the need to pull and speed up the pace.
"Heeya Clyde, Gettieup Mable!" says the man.
His words have a vague meaning but the sound itself is what does the trick. Prancing in high steps the two working Clydesdale horses pull the tonage along in damp fields. Huffing and puffing like tow living and working steam engines the pair of you do the job and pull your own and wagon back to the cornbins.
Now a time to stand at ease. Resting up wishing for a good long drink you snuffle and neigh the desires.
The man looks at you seeing your obvious needs and sends a young boychild to fetch the bucket.
Your first true bestial gulping of liquid has a big horse drowning in a two gallon bucket.
"Easy Ely, the horse is having trouble ajusting!" says the Man to his son.
Water running from nostrils and mouth your thoughts of his words and feelings of agony for water merge.
The Man takes the bucket in hands and his son wanders off to help unload the wagon.
"Easy Clyde, that's your new name from now on, learn it, remember it, Clyde!" says the Man as he holds up the bucket.
You twist and oggle him in strange wonderment till he brings his hand up palm open and presses it against your forehead.
"Understand me now, Clyde?" the Man asked.
The words stick, there is learned meaning to what he asked! You knod as if to say a yes.
"I saw it happen as I've seen it before, even with Mable there! It's like a window in heaven opens and the horse, cow, bull or whatever I'm near recieves someone displaced of body. I suspect as they become my animal there somewhere they gain the life force of the beast but to what purpose I can not say. So there Clyde you you as it is now for Mable a life of service to our religious family. We shall care for you and you for our needs too! I shall watch you for signs of wonder and in those time we shall converse, me the man with you an animal, understand Clyde?" says the Man.
You do understand and its like a curse but at the same time a blessing. As the Man's hand pulls away the simple thoughts and wonderments of a common work horse are once again yours to know.
All the words which were plain as the huge nose on your face fades now and leave you with a deep seeded affection for the scent of this Man.