By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the Story:
Greatness begins in the heart long before the trophy is won.
With discipline, courage, and love, anything is possible.
Success is sweet, but sharing joy with those who cheer you on is even sweeter.
And birthdays shine brightest when dreams and love come together.
In the sunny, open pastures of Windrunner
Ranch, where wildflowers danced in the breeze and butterflies chased
sunbeams, lived a majestic chestnut mustang named Megan.
Megan was known across the
countryside for her beauty—her deep, rich coat glistened in the sun, and her
black mane flowed like silk. But what made Megan truly unforgettable wasn’t
just her looks—it was her strength, grace, and the kindness in her heart.
She trained hard, galloped fast, and
soared high. Her dream was to one day compete in the Worldwide Grand Jumping
Championship at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida—the
biggest horse-jumping competition on Earth.
And that special day had finally
come—August 16th, Megan’s birthday.
But Megan wasn’t alone on her
journey.
She had two very special supporters:
Joseph, a tall, strong, and wise mustang with a deep voice and steady
eyes, and Archer, her energetic little colt, full of questions,
laughter, and boundless joy.
“Are you going to jump over castles
today, Mommy?” Archer asked as they stood together in the early morning fog.
“Not castles,” Megan laughed gently.
“But the fences will be tall—and I’ll do my very best.”
Joseph nuzzled her cheek. “You’ve
worked so hard. No matter what happens today, we’re already proud of you.”
Megan closed her eyes for a moment,
letting their love steady her heart. “Then I’ve already won.”
Later that morning, the grounds of
the World Equestrian Center were alive with energy.
Stalls bustled with elegant horses
from around the globe—sleek Arabians, towering Thoroughbreds, swift Paints, and
sturdy Warmbloods—all preparing for the challenge ahead.
Megan’s hooves clicked softly as she
walked onto the field, her deep chestnut coat shining under the Florida sun.
Archer watched from the edge, hopping excitedly, while Joseph stood tall beside
him, a calming presence.
The announcer’s voice boomed through
the arena:
“Next up, representing Windrunner
Ranch on her birthday, Megan the Mustang!”
Cheers echoed from the stands.
Archer neighed excitedly. “That’s my
mommy!”
Megan took a deep breath. The course
stood ahead: rails, water jumps, flowered fences, and the final triple-rail
combination that had challenged even the best.
She galloped forward.
The first jump, clean.
The second, perfect form.
The third, soaring with ease.
One by one, Megan cleared each obstacle, strong and sure.
And then came the final set—three
jumps in a row, tall and close together. Megan pushed off with all her
strength.
Up. Over. Land.
Up. Over. Land.
Up. Over—YES! Landed clean.
The crowd roared. The timer
buzzed. Not only had Megan completed the course with no faults, but she
had also clocked in the fastest time so far!
Joseph threw his head back with a
proud whinny. Archer kicked up his little hooves, shouting, “Mommy did it! Mommy did it!”
Megan trotted back toward the gate
where Joseph and Archer waited.
“You were incredible,” Joseph said
softly.
Archer nuzzled against her legs.
“Can I jump like you someday?”
Megan smiled. “With heart and
practice, anything’s possible.”
As the sun began to set, judges
stepped forward with ribbons and medals. The announcer took the mic one last
time.
“This year’s Grand Champion
of the Worldwide Jumping Championship is… Megan the Mustang!”
The crowd erupted in cheers!
A shining gold ribbon was draped
around Megan’s neck. Photographers snapped pictures, and other horses stomped
their hooves in applause.
But just as Megan was about to trot
offstage, the announcer continued:
“Before we close this incredible
event, we have one more celebration. Today is also Megan’s birthday! Let’s all
sing together!”
🎵 Happy birthday to you…
Happy birthday to you…
Happy birthday, dear Megan…
Happy birthday to you! 🎵
Archer trotted out onto the arena
field with a wildflower crown made just for her.
“I made it with Daddy,” he said
proudly. “For the best jumper in the world.”
Megan bent her neck so Archer could
gently place it on her head.
That night, under the moonlight back
at Windrunner Ranch, Megan, Joseph, and Archer sat quietly near the pond, the
stars reflecting in the still water.
Megan sighed with contentment.
“I dreamed about this day for so
long. And now that it’s here, I realize—it wasn’t the ribbon that made it
perfect. It was you two.”
Joseph nuzzled her gently. “We’ll
always be cheering for you.”
Archer yawned and leaned against
her. “Next year… I want to jump too.”
Megan chuckled. “Then we'd better
start training tomorrow.”
And as the frogs sang lullabies and
fireflies blinked above, Megan the Mustang smiled—heart full, dream fulfilled,
and loved more than ever before.
Moral to the story poem:
She soared with strength, she raced with grace,
With love and joy upon her face.
A birthday crowned with cheers and light—
A ribbon earned in perfect flight.
But what meant most weren’t rails or score,
It was Archer’s cheer and Joseph’s roar.
For hearts that love and hands that guide
Make even victory shine with pride.
No comments:
Post a Comment