Flaming hair

Pounding hooves

Legs flayed

Eyes white rolling

Always winning

The main event.

The starred stallion.

Ridden, cheered and triumphant

as gleeful children holler.

All smiles.

…

Falling mane

Chipped nails

A knocked knee

Flaky cornea

Always dusty

The biggest problem.

That bloody horse.

Hidden, derided and side-eyed

as adults wonder when

It’s time.