I liked it and will read more of your stories.
My only criticism is two words which are too anglo saxon or latinate so spoil the feel of the piece.

Muck is just the wrong word to use as it has a hard ending which breaks the flow of the writing. Filth, which you do use elswhere is better, as is dung.

Ostler is too modern a word, and too english. A man reduced to his position would be a slave.

Sorry to seem such a pernickety arsehole, but as I said, if you post stuff like this, I'll read it. Keep it up.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Fri 25 Mar 2011, 7:54, Reply)