Poem Analysis - Our New Horse

A Cycle of Deception and Disillusionment

Banjo Paterson's "Our New Horse" is a humorous yet melancholic ballad that tells the story of a group of Australian ranchers and their disastrous attempts to profit from horse racing. The poem is characterized by a lighthearted, almost jovial tone in the beginning, as the men concoct their scheme to deceive a city buyer. However, this mood gradually shifts to one of disappointment and resignation as their plan backfires, leaving them worse off than before. The poem ultimately explores themes of greed, self-deception, and the cyclical nature of hope and disappointment.

The Perils of Greed and the Illusion of Easy Profit

One of the central themes in the poem is the destructive nature of greed. The ranchers, disheartened by their racing losses, devise a plan to sell their unreliable horse, Partner, to an unsuspecting buyer in Sydney. Their primary motivation is financial gain, as evidenced by their eagerness to "treat 'em / To trials will open their eyes" and "run their best horses and beat 'em," all for the purpose of securing a higher price. This desire for easy profit blinds them to the inherent risks of their scheme and ultimately leads to their downfall. The idea of the boys' letter to Skinner, "The price ain't a thing that'll grieve us," shows the boys are willing to do anything to get back in the game and make some money.

The Irony of Self-Deception

Another significant theme is the irony of self-deception. The ranchers believe they are cleverly outsmarting the city dwellers, whom they view as naive and gullible, evidenced in the lines, "Let us send him to Sydney and sell him, / There's plenty of Jugginses there." However, their plan is ultimately foiled when Skinner, their supposedly reliable agent, unknowingly buys back Partner, highlighting their own naivete. The poem uses the ironic twist to demonstrate how easily individuals can fall victim to their own arrogance and inflated sense of cleverness. The final stanza, showcasing the boys' misery because of their failed plan, drives home the message that deception always comes at a price.

Racing as a Symbol of Hope and Disappointment

Horse racing itself serves as a recurring symbol of both hope and disappointment throughout the poem. Initially, racing represents the possibility of quick wealth and excitement, fueling the ranchers' dreams of success. However, their repeated losses and ultimately disastrous scheme transform racing into a source of disillusionment and frustration. The imagery associated with racing, such as "the fierce rush of the horses, / The thunder of galloping hoofs," evokes a sense of energy and potential, which is ultimately contrasted with the "silent procession of sadness" that follows their failed venture. The line, "They'd bit their own hook, and were landed / With fifty pounds loss on the deal," uses a potent metaphor of fishing and being caught to describe the men's predicament, with racing being the bait that lured them in.

The Significance of the Unraced Horse

The phrase "has never been started as yet" is repeated almost as a mantra to convince buyers of Partner's potential. It works when the boys sell him to the "Jugginses" in Sydney, but when the boys receive the same horse back, it becomes deeply ironic, and a sign of their own foolishness. Skinner, the horse expert, also falls for the lie that Partner has never been raced. The fact that the horse cannot perform is less important than the perception that the horse has potential. The true disappointment comes from the boys’ shattered dreams of riches, which are replaced by a sense of isolation and defeat. Even nature's signs indicating that the boys should start racing again cannot lift the boys out of their depression, a clear indication that racing is no longer a source of hope for them.

A Final Look at a Boomerang of Bad Luck

"Our New Horse" is more than just a humorous tale of rural Australians and a bad horse trade. It offers a poignant commentary on human nature, exposing the vulnerabilities that arise from greed, self-deception, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. Paterson cleverly uses the cyclical narrative structure to emphasize the futility of the ranchers' efforts, suggesting that their misfortune is a direct consequence of their own flawed judgment. In essence, the poem serves as a cautionary reminder that the pursuit of easy gain can often lead to unexpected and undesirable outcomes, leaving one worse off than before.