Ichabod Crane borrows the horse known as Gunpowder from Hans Van Ripper, a farmer he is boarding with at the time. This situation is particularly humorous because, though Ichabod wants to appear gallant and majestic in order to win the heart of Katrina Van Tassel, he unfortunately ends up looking fairly absurd. Mr. Van Ripper is of unfortunately modest means, and so the physical condition of poor Gunpowder is a far cry from Ichabod's idealistic vision. Irving describes the horse as skinny and bedraggled, an old workhorse who's obviously seen better days. Thus, instead of riding to the Van Tassel party on the back of a dramatic and dashing steed, Ichabod is doomed to arrive perched upon a wheezing and aged creature. Irving treats his readers to this comical turn of events in order to point out (as he seems fond of doing) the way Ichabod's lofty notions of himself contrast with his actual personality, which is, of course, ridiculous.