Re: Remember the poor horses

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Posted by Mark on July 18, 1997 at 15:26:31:

In reply to Re: An Easy Distance posted by Kathy F. on July 17, 1997 at 23:00:19

] ] The characters in Emma who know of FC's (supposed) errand seem to think it's very silly. I interpret this to mean that most people would not make a 16-mile journey for such a trifling reason. But, Frank did get there and back in one day, and accomplish his errand as well. (Actually, he accomplished both his stated and his actual errands!)

] Later in the book, after FC has moved with his aunt and uncle to a place 9 miles away, Mr. Weston remarks that FC could travel that distance in an hour. He is a young man with no baggage, so that would probably make the journey shorter; and Mr. Weston is invariably optimistic, so I would guess it would take him up to an hour and a half.

] Kathy F.

I have, until recently, been living in Wyoming where horse travel is still very much done off the pavement. Maintaining a rate of eight to ten miles per hour is not that difficult if it is only for an hour or so. After that the horse starts to tire. In a coach and four that Darcy would likely ride in, fifty miles in five to six hours on good roads and in good weather is not unreasonable, provided he changed horses on a regular basis. He, being wealthy, could do that quite well.

A round trip of 32 miles on one horse in one day certainly can be done, but it is not something you would want to do every day. It would be hard, but not unduly so. It would stress the horse, and wouldn't do your bottom much good either. :-)

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