The Horse With The Horse With The Horse With The Horse With

The Special ShoeThe Special ShoeThe Special ShoeThe Special ShoeBy Janice KunzBy Janice KunzBy Janice KunzBy Janice Kunz

Copyright 2005

A Note from the Author�

Thanks for your interest in “The Horse with the Special Shoe”

This short story for children and adults is copyrighted, so all

the text is under my copyright. I added some Powerpoint

clipart and public domain pictures so you would have

something to feast your eyes on rather than just the text. But,

I was very limited in what I had to work with so please don’t be

expecting anything that looks professionally illustrated.

Please let me know what you think of the story – would love

some feedback.

Once upon a time in the Land of Fern Forest there lived a

Nobleman who owned a stable of many horses. He owned one

hundred horses and had many different types of horses.

The Nobleman owned some horses who were exceptionally

strong and large and who could plow the fields all day long.

These horses were called the Thunders because when they

galloped across the open fields after a long day’s work their

large hooves made the sound of thunder. The Thunders were

a very beautiful tan color with light manes and tails.

The Nobleman’s stable also included the horses called the

Warriors. The Knights of Fern Forest rode the Warriors when

defending the Nobleman’s castle and estate. The Warriors were a

very courageous and strong breed and were not afraid of war.

They were a larger breed and wore armor to protect themselves in

battle.

1st

The Nobleman also owned horses that were very athletic and

liked to show their skills before crowds of people. These horses

were called the Toppers because they tried to top what all the other

horses did. The Nobleman’s sons would often ride the Toppers in

races and jumping contests. Sometimes a Topper would become

injured in a race, but the Toppers never seemed to care what risk

they were taking. They loved to show off in front of the crowds.

They wore braided ribbons in their tails and manes.

Lastly, there were the Cart Pullers. The Cart Pullers were

said to be descendants of the Warriors breed. The Cart

Pullers were a very faithful and smart breed.

Although the Cart Pullers were a smaller breed they could

easily pull the Nobleman’s coaches when he and his family

had to go somewhere. They would also pull any coaches

that were transporting needed food and supplies.

One Spring day when all the baby horses were born there

was a new, beautiful white foal with large dark eyes and grey

legs who was part of the Cart Pullers breed. His parents

loved him and gave him the name Pepin. As Pepin grew up

he noticed when he ran and played with all the other young

horses sometimes his back would get sore.

The Toppers made fun of Pepin and said his sore back

was all in his head. The Toppers never had sore bodies

unless they got injured so they thought that Pepin was

faking his sore back. The Thunders said Pepin should

just keep exercising and his back would get better.

Exercise is what always helped the Thunders’ backs. And

the Warriors said they really didn’t know what to do about

Pepin’s sore back. The Warriors just didn’t say anything.

There were men at the stable who knew how to help

horses who were hurt. These men all thought exercises

would be best for Pepin to help his back.

Well, poor Pepin knew that he wasn’t faking it so he tried very

hard to just keep exercising. Pepin’s parents knew that Pepin

wasn’t faking either and his mother would nuzzle and massage

Pepin’s back as horses do. Pepin’s father tried to encourage

Pepin everyday. The support and love from his parents would

make Pepin feel better, but his problem never went completely

away. He was able to pull his cart everyday, but at night he

would have a sore back. Many nights as Pepin lay suffering

with his sore back he would feel very sad and discouraged.

Sometimes, he would even cry.

Pepin grew from a beautiful foal into a most handsome horse.

As a cart puller, he pulled just as much weight as any of the other

Cart Pullers. Pepin was a faithful, hard working young horse,

despite his ailment.

One day, the Nobleman overheard the horses in the stable

talking about Pepin’s sore back.

The Nobleman believed the Toppers and Warriors that Pepin

was either faking his problem or that he was not exercising

enough. When Pepin tried to tell the Nobleman that he was

not faking his problem and he had tried to exercise and get

better the Nobleman did not believe him. So, the Nobleman

decided to sell Pepin. It was not uncommon for the Nobleman

to buy and sell horses.

Pepin was very sad because he had tried so hard and he

could not get better. Pepin did not want to leave Fern Forest

but he was old enough now to venture out in the world and in

some ways it was very exciting for him. Pepin could always

come and visit his family and friends at Fern Forest. Pepin’s

parents would miss him, but were happy Pepin was setting out

on a new adventure. Pepin’s parents knew they could visit

Pepin wherever he went.

The Nobleman sold Pepin to a Drifter for a very low price. The

Drifter lived in the Village Square not far from the King’s Palace.

Pepin was boarded at a large village stable.

The DrifterThe Village Square

One night, the Drifter talked to the Stable Boy about Pepin’s

sore back. The Stable Boy went into the stall where Pepin lay.

He said, “Don’t be sad, Pepin. I know of someone who can help

you. He will know how to heal you”. When Pepin heard those

words, tears streamed from his eyes. He really wanted to be

healed but he thought he had tried everything and nothing

worked.

The Stable Boy

The Stable Boy left and soon returned with a man disguised

under a cloak. When the man removed the cloak Pepin

recognized him immediately. Pepin bowed down low for this

man was the King.

Pepin was ashamed of his sore back and while choking back

his tears Pepin said in a shaky voice, “Thank you my King for

coming here. I have tried in the past to be the best horse and

exercise hard but my back keeps getting sore. Other horses

tell me I am faking or that I should just exercise hard but the

exercise does not cure me. I am sorry that I am not the horse

others want me to be.”

The King stroked Pepin’s face and wiped away his tears and

said, “My dear Pepin please do not be sad. I know your heart.

I know that you are not faking your pain. I know you have

tried. You have an honest, faithful heart. I have come here

tonight to heal you not to harm you.”

The King slowly and gently ran his hand across

the sore spots on Pepin’s back and then he ran his

hands down each one of Pepin’s gray legs. Then

the King stepped back and carefully looked at

Pepin’s back left leg. “His left back leg is shorter

than his right back leg. That is why he is walking a

bit crooked and his back gets sore”, said the King.

The King told the Stable Boy, “Have the

blacksmith make this horse a special shoe for his

left back leg. Make this left shoe higher than his

right back leg shoe. Go quickly now and make it

so”. Pepin was overwhelmed with hope. “Thank

you my King’, said Pepin. The King gently stroked

Pepin’s face again and then quietly left.

The next day the blacksmith bought Pepin the Special Shoe.

When it was placed on Pepin’s hoof it felt different to Pepin, but

it didn’t hurt. Over the next few weeks as Pepin wore his

Special Shoe his back got better and better. Pepin told

everyone about what the King had done for him and about his

Special Shoe and soon the village stable was calling Pepin “The

Horse with the Special Shoe”.

One day when Pepin was pulling the Drifter’s cart

down the village street the Nobleman walked by. The

Nobleman could not believe his eyes. He did not

almost recognize Pepin because he looked so happy.

There was a spring in Pepin’s step. When the

Nobleman heard Pepin’s story he was overcome with

sorrow.

“Pepin”, said the Nobleman, “I am so sorry that I

never believed you and never tried to defend you

from the lies of others. Please forgive me Pepin and

come back to live with us again at my castle”.

Pepin told the Nobleman that he forgave him and he

would love to return to his home. So, the Nobleman

bought back Pepin from the Drifter for a very high

price.

The Nobleman

When Pepin returned to his home he told his family and all

the horses in the stable about the King and his Special

Shoe. His parents were so happy for Pepin. Some of the

horses believed his story, but others did not believe Pepin.

Pepin did not care if there were still some horses that didn’t

believe him. Pepin knew the truth about the King and his

Special Shoe and the Nobleman and Pepin’s family believed

him and that was all that mattered.

One day there was a loud sound of trumpets blowing. The

sound was coming from the road leading to the Nobleman’s

castle. It was the King in his elegant gold jeweled coach drawn by

the King’s beautiful horses. The King told the Nobleman that he

needed one more horse to add to his team of horses that drew his

carriage. It was the greatest honor to pull the King’s coach and so

every horse wanted the chance to show the King why they should

be chosen.

The Toppers wanted to go first and show the King

their talents. The Toppers jumped and ran fast and

pranced around showing their beautifully braided

manes and tails.

Then the Thunders each showed the King

how strong they were by pulling the heavy

plows.

The Warriors also showed their talents

at running and changing direction

quickly.

The Cart Pullers showed the King how skilled they were at

pulling coaches. When it was Pepin’s turn to go next one of

the Toppers stepped forward and blocked Pepin and said,

“What are you doing Pepin? You don’t have a chance at

being one of the King’s Horses. You have lied all your life

and the King doesn’t want a lazy liar. Just go back to the

stable now!”. Pepin tried to get around the Topper and find

the Nobleman but now there were two Toppers blocking him.

The King said to the Nobleman, “You have many fine horses

here, Nobleman, but have I truly seen all your horses?” The

Toppers yelled “Yes, King you have seen us all. Please do tell

us your decision!”. But the King paused and then said, “Isn’t

there a Horse with a Special Shoe that lives here?”

The Toppers mouths dropped open. They couldn’t believe

what they hearing. The King was actually asking for Pepin, The

Horse with the Special Shoe”. The King could not be denied

his request. The Toppers reluctantly let Pepin through the

crowd. When Pepin saw the King he whinnied and the King

said, “My Pepin, it is good to see you. And how is your back,

now that you have your Special Shoe?”

“It is very good my King. Thank you”. Then Pepin

took his turn at pulling a cart to show the King his

skills.

After Pepin finished the King said, “Many of you

are very fine horses indeed. I have seen many fine

qualities today such as strength, endurance, athletic

ability, beauty and endurance. But there is one

among you whose heart is especially faithful. He is

one who has endured so much. Even though many

have teased him and made fun of him and did not

believe him when he was suffering, he still kept trying

even when he was sold and taken away from his

home. Many do look at the outward appearance and

abilities of a horse, but I, the King, look at the heart.

In this test of the heart there is no comparison, the

Horse with the Special Shoe, Pepin, is my choice.”

Pepin could hardly believe his ears. Many horses came

over to congratulate him. Pepin’s parents were so proud of

Pepin. There were even some who said they were sorry

they had not believed Pepin’s story about the King.

Then the King’s coachmen hooked Pepin to the front of

the team pulling the King’s coach. The Nobleman said,

“Pepin, please do visit us often. We are so happy for you.”

Pepin said, “Don’t worry Nobleman I will come to visit you

all often because this is my home, but I will be the King’s

horse forever”.

And with that said, the Horse with the Special Shoe

led the King’s coach back down the road while the

trumpets blew.

“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks

at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:17b

~ THE END

Copyright 2005