The Damaged Horse Shoe
By ZEENAT IQBAL HAKIMJEE
OR hundreds of years the horse was
the most common means of transport. Before the tractor was invented, the horse
was often used to pull farm machinery. It is still used for work on ranches,
but most horses are now kept for pleasure. People ride them, watch them perform
and enjoy them in sports such as Polo, Hunting and Racing.
The following is the story of a
racehorse and the people to whom he belonged. It was the day of the Derby. The
participants with their horses, manes trimmed and shining, got ready for the
pistol shot, which would indicate the start of the race. It was an event, which
people really looked forward to. It was a sport enjoyed by the young and old
alike. Bets were placed on the horses and the winners left with a handsome sum
of money.
Mark,
the proud owner of a racehorse, whispered something into Godfather’s (the name
of the horse) ear. It was these ‘sweet nothings’ that brought a smile to
Godfather’s lips. It definitely contributed to Godfather’s victory in the race.
The owner also gave some advice to David, the jockey. David was a short and
strong fellow. He fitted snugly in the saddle, just as a glove fitted the hand.
He had started his career as a jockey with Godfather and longed to end it with
him also. The age of any horse can be told by looking at its teeth; Godfather’s
teeth showed that he still had plenty of race years to go before he retired.
Also present was Mark’s wife. She
always accompanied him to the race. “Godfather is really lucky. He gets all
your attention.” She would tell him. But deep down in her heart she knew, that
she would not have had it anyway else. She cared for Godfather, too, and would
tend to his needs whenever she could spare some time. “I think the trough of
water is empty,” she’d say with concern beckoning her staff to fill the trough
up. An insect bit Godfather once. Richard, the horse keeper, bathed and dressed
his wound so well that Godfather was up and about in half the time than the
usual. Godfather loved Richard and he would show it by cuddling up to him. This
was Godfather’s family.
The
people who cared for him, were responsible for his consecutive victories. They
were all there with him to see him run the race.
A
few minutes before the race was to begin, David mounted Godfather and rode down
to the start. But little did Mark or David know what was in store for them.
Another horse owner, who was Mark’s enemy, just could not bear Godfather
winning all the time. And to make sure that Mark’s horse horse that they must
visit Godfather’s blacksmith. “It won’t take us very long” he sneered. The
trainer who was a little confused asked, “What wouldn’t take us long?” To this
the vicious man replied, “You’d see.”
The
deceitful man, when the time was just right (as he knew the time Godfather came
to the blacksmith as well as the time when the Blacksmith left his seat)
damaged Godfather’s shoe. The nail ends that showed through the horse’s hoof
were wrung off and turned back. He straightened them just a little in the hope
that the shoe would come off during the race. He damaged the shoe so deftly
that Godfather did not feel it immediately.
Finally
the starter signaled the start of the race. Godfather took the lead, so erect,
so graceful. His poise was proof of the fact that he would be very hard to
defeat. There he went like a bolt of lightning. He moved so fast that just when
you thought you had focused on him, he moved ahead. He had almost reached the
finishing line, when the nail of the shoe straightened and got loose,
unbalancing Godfather, who stumbled and stopped in his tracks before any
further damage could take place. A race official came to guide them off the
track. Godfather, Mark, Richard, Mark’s wife, David were all shocked. They
failed to understand what had happened.
Some
time after they had recovered from the shock of the damaged horseshoe, Mark and
the trainer accompanied Godfather to the blacksmith’s. They were there to have
Godfather’s old shoes removed. Also present was the man who had damaged
Godfather’s shoe. He was there with his horse.
As
though instinctively, Godfather trotted towards this man and lifted the foot
with the damaged horseshoe and started nodding.
This
scared the evil man and before the horse could burst into a fit of anger, he
confessed: “I I, I, was responsible,” he stuttered and went down on his knees
to apologize. Mark, who was a soft man, accepted his apology. Thus ended the
story of the evil man and his horse and Godfather awaited his next victory yet
again
