I don't know. I don't see Lawrie having to hire a horse as a problem - I assume that the family funds pay for that. I think she just wanted one to have one and because Ginty did. It seems that the present was more generous than usual presents, but it was birthday and Christmas, and there's not much description of other presents, and perhaps on a farm it's not so big a deal anyway.

I never thought Mrs Marlow was that bad a parent. I think she's the kind of parent her children want her to be, mostly.