Final answer:
Buck and the team were likely mistreated by the new owner, similar to how old Barney and young Barney were treated by Colonel Lloyd, suggesting Buck's new owner neglecting their needs and subjecting them to harsh conditions is correct. Hence, the correct answer is option (B).
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment of Buck and the team by their new owner can best be compared to the harsh conditions faced by the stable workers, old Barney and young Barney, under Colonel Lloyd's management in the provided text. As depicted in the second text excerpt about Colonel Lloyd’s stable, the new owner likely neglected Buck and the team’s needs, leading to a situation similar to the stable management where even the slightest mistake could result in severe punishment.
This mistreatment suggests that option B ('The new owner mistreated Buck and the team, neglecting their needs and subjecting them to harsh conditions.') would be the correct answer as it closely resembles the treatment described in the excerpt about Colonel Lloyd’s expectations of his horse caretakers.
The comparison highlights a lack of care and respect towards those responsible for the wellbeing of the horses, which can be inferred as the kind of treatment Buck and the team endured at the hands of their new owner.