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| Still complaining? Get off your high horse! |
Once there were two racehorses named Ned and Fred. They were talking horses. Born in the same stables, they had grown up together since they were young foals. As colts they would race around the big red barn, down the long track beside the road, and through the pastures, dreaming of becoming the greatest racehorses in the world. Soon enough they were both great racehorses however, Fred was always a bit faster than Ned.
Years would go by and race after race, Fred would clock in as just a bit faster than Ned. "I'm the greatest racehorse in all the land!" Fred would exclaim. Ned tried to pay no mind, but deep inside, it was eating at him. Ned knew he could be faster, but he didn't know how. He'd train for weeks but could never keep up with Fred. Just once he wanted the sweet taste of victory but could never keep up.
Finally, Ned asked his friend, "Look Fred, I know you're faster than me, but can you see it in your heart to let me win just one race?" Fred thought about it for a minute. He knew his friendship with Ned was more important than winning. “Of course, Ned. I'll tell you what, the next race is yours.” Ned was ecstatic.
When the announcement of the next race season came, it turned out that the first race would be the biggest race of the year. "I can't believe my luck!" said Ned. “I'm going to win the biggest race of the year.” Fred was stunned, but he was a horse of his word. Ned called his parents and all his friends on the farm and told them to be sure to tune into the upcoming biggest race of the year. They would be sure to enjoy it.
The day of the big race finally came, and the contestants were lined up at the starting gate. Some were huge powerful horses that neither Ned nor Fred had seen before. Horses had been trucked in from out of state for this big race. Ned wasn't worried. "This is going to be my greatest accomplishment," he said to his friend. Fred was silent. He knew that he had to let Ned win this race and he had resolved to let him.
BANG! The starter's pistol fired, and the gates swung open. Twelve racehorses sailed out of the gate. As usual, Fred was leading Ned by almost a full length by the first turn. Fred looked back and saw that he and Ned were well ahead of the pack. "I've got to do what I've got to do." thought Fred and he drifted back to let Ned take the lead.
Ned quickly closed the gap and by the backstretch, he had taken the lead. "This is it!" he thought and poured all he could into the race. Approaching the third turn he'd developed an insurmountable lead. "Yes!" Ned shouted. "Now I'm the fastest racehorse in the world". He looked back and saw Fred, head down leading the rest of the pack. Ned began to show off a bit with his huge lead. He had the distance to spare. He sauntered a bit up the track and pranced into the last turn. Fred looked up and saw how Ned was making a fool of him and the other racehorses. "This isn't what I signed up for." he thought and took off like a shot toward the finish line. Ned was still trotting around the last turn when he looked back and saw Fred running him down, fast.
Ned took off down the home stretch, but Fred was too close for comfort and closing at incredible speed. The two horses rapidly approached the finish line and the judges were out of their seats to determine who would cross first. A blinding light appeared just as the horses crossed the finish line. It was a photo finish! Ned and Fred didn't say a word to each other while the picture was being developed. Everyone in attendance, the crowd in the stands, the other horses, and especially Ned and Fred held their breath while the envelope slid down the line from the photo booth to the judges. The head judge stood up and announced, "The winner by a nose is...Fred!"
"Yes!" Fred said. I did it. I knew I was the fastest horse in the world. The reporters all crowded around Fred. He was given a horseshoe of roses to wear and posed for pictures for the papers and gave interviews with many sports reporters from around the country. Fred truly was the fastest horse in the land. As the crowd dissipated, Fred looked around for his friend. He wanted to talk to him about what happened during the race and apologize. He couldn’t see Ned anywhere.
Fred waited until the crowd and all the reporters had left and started to look for Ned to no avail. He checked the track and the starting gates but couldn't see Ned anywhere. He asked as the last of the vendors was packing up if they'd seen Ned at all and the vendor told him that she'd seen a sad-looking horse walking out of the racetrack shortly after the picture of the finish was developed. "He looked incredibly solemn," she told him.
Fred left the track. He didn't know where to look. He looked all over town for Ned but came up empty. He went back to the stables where they were born, but Ned wasn't there. He looked at the big barn that they used to race around, but Ned wasn't there either. He looked at the long track beside the road and through the pastures but couldn't find Ned at all.
"Ned!" he'd shout, with no response. All afternoon he'd walk through the countryside pleading for his best friend. Then, early in the evening, he saw a familiar figure standing out in the distance. Fred had been walking around all day, but he raced as fast as he could to see Ned, delirious and teetering at the edge of a cliff.
"I can't do this anymore" Ned was muttering to himself. Fred called out, "Ned, what's happening? This isn't the answer". Ned looked up as if in a trance then looked away. "You've always been better than me Fred. I'll never become the greatest racehorse in the land. I'm going to end it all."
"No!" cried Fred. You can have all my trophies. I'm going to retire from racing entirely. I can't lose my best friend." Ned was despondent. "No Fred, it doesn't matter. I’ll always know that you're the real fastest horse. There's nothing that I can do to beat you. There's nothing left for me to do but toss myself off this cliff and end it all. Goodbye, friend." Back and forth Fred pleaded with Ned in a vain attempt to save his friend's life.
Just then, an old dog passed by and said to Ned, "Look Mr. horse, I've seen a lot in my times and I'm not sure what it is you're going through, but I can tell you this, suicide isn't the answer. Come on down and talk to your friend some more."
Ned and Fred stopped both bewildered and looked at each other, then Ned said, "How absurd, a talking dog."
Image: ©ร Firestone/Storyteller
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