Free The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt by Walter Farley

that Alec had even suggested the blind was evident in his eyes. He didn’t answer right away. He was too pleased. Finally he said, “I don’t know, Alec. I doubt that it would work any better than when Tom tried it.”
    Alec didn’t say anything so Henry continued, “From what you told me, Bonfire jumped when thepartial blind allowed him to see your horse a little ahead of him. Of course the colt had known you were on his right all the time, but he only got scared an’ bolted when he saw how close you were.”
    â€œIt would be that way in a race,” Alec pointed out.
    â€œI know,” Henry replied thoughtfully. After a few seconds he asked, “What do you think about using a closed blind on him?”
    Alec shook his head. “I don’t think he’d stand for not being able to see anything with his right eye.”
    â€œBut do you think it would work?” Henry asked persistently.
    â€œYes, if he’d wear it,” Alec admitted. “Another horse would be well past before he’d be able to see him with just his left eye. I don’t think he’d be scared then.”
    â€œAnd if he’s not scared he won’t jump,” Henry said.
    â€œThat’s right. But I’m sure he won’t take the closed blind, Henry. He’ll fight it.”
    â€œLet’s find out this afternoon,” Henry suggested. “We got to start someplace. It might as well be with that.”
    As matters turned out, it wasn’t necessary to take Bonfire to the track to learn his reaction to the closed blind. They found out everything they needed to know right in the stable area.
    They led him from his stall and put on the bridle with a blind that completely shut off all vision from his right eye. For a few seconds he stood still as though waiting patiently for them to remove the obstruction to his sight. When they didn’t, a mounting restlessness swept over his red body. He shook his head to rid himself of the blind. When that did no good he rose high in the air, pawing in his fury.
    They got him down, and removed the blind. After a long rest they tried again. It was no different this time. Once more he waited for them to relieve him of the darkness to his right. He was patient, tolerating the obstruction for a few seconds. Then his uneasiness mounted. He showed it first in a slight trembling of his red body. Then he rose on his hind legs as before, pawing the air, and throwing himself to the side.
    They got out of his way, holding him with the long lead rope. He rose again, fighting more furiously than ever.
    â€œIt’s no use, Henry,” Alec said. “He’ll never stand for it.”
    â€œNot long enough to run a race with it,” Henry agreed, disappointed.
    They got Bonfire down and, after removing the bridle, put him in his stall. Henry went to the tack trunk and sat down while Alec remained at the half-door, watching the colt.
    â€œHe’ll tolerate the blind for about ten seconds,” Alec said, “but no longer.”
    â€œAbout that, I guess,” Henry admitted. “An’ ten seconds aren’t goin’ to do us any good.” He swung his feet together, his bowlegs almost forming a circle. “Well, we’re back where we started. My first suggestion didn’t amount to much.”
    For a few minutes neither spoke. Alec watched Bonfire pulling at the hay from the corner rack. “It’d be all right if we could turn the blind on and off,” he said.
    â€œOpen and shut, y’mean,” Henry corrected casually. And then he turned quickly to Alec, but the boy’sback was toward him. “Open and shut?” he repeated, and the lightness had left his voice.
    Alec shrugged his shoulders. “Well, you know what I mean, Henry. Open when we don’t need it, closed when we do—and for no more than ten seconds.” He laughed. “A silly idea. I wonder whatever made me think of a