Once upon a time, there was a Groom who took care of a Horse. Day in and day out, he would brush the Horse's coat until it shone. He would clean the Horse's hooves until they sparkled. He always made sure the Horse looked its very best.
At the same time, the Groom was taking the Horse's oats. Instead of giving them to the Horse to eat, he sold the oats to others for his own gain.
One day, the Horse looked at the Groom and said, "It's wonderful that you make me look so good. But if you truly want me to be healthy and strong, you should spend less time brushing me and more time feeding me." The horse understood that a shiny coat and clean hooves were nice, but they couldn't satisfy its hunger.
Once upon a time, there was a Groom who cared for a Horse. Every day, he would brush the Horse’s coat until it shone brightly, and he would clean the Horse’s hooves until they sparkled. The Groom took great pride in making sure the Horse always looked its best.
However, while the Groom was busy making the Horse look beautiful, he was secretly keeping the Horse's oats. Instead of feeding them to the Horse, he sold the oats to others and kept the money for himself.
One day, the Horse looked at the Groom and said, "I appreciate that you make me look so good. But if you really want me to be healthy and strong, you should spend less time brushing me and more time feeding me."
The Horse realized that while a shiny coat and clean hooves were nice, they couldn’t satisfy its hunger.
Once upon a time, there was a Groom who cared for a Horse. Every day, he would brush the Horse’s coat until it shone brightly, and he would clean the Horse’s hooves until they sparkled. The Groom took great pride in making sure the Horse always looked its best.
However, while the Groom was busy making the Horse look beautiful, he was secretly keeping the Horse's oats. Instead of feeding them to the Horse, he sold the oats to others and kept the money for himself.
One day, the Horse looked at the Groom and said, "I appreciate that you make me look so good. But if you really want me to be healthy and strong, you should spend less time brushing me and more time feeding me."
The Horse realized that while a shiny coat and clean hooves were nice, they couldn’t satisfy its hunger.
In a faraway barn, there was a Groom who adored the limelight almost as much as he adored his Horse. Each day, with a twinkle in his eye and a tune in his heart, he'd say, “Time to shine, Mr. Hooves!” as he gave the Horse a makeover.
Every brushing stroke was theatrical, every hoof cleaning was a performance. “Ready for the red carpet!” he’d announce, pretending they were at a grand premiere. But while he made the Horse look like a movie star, he was sneakily taking away its oats and selling them. “Oats? Oh, they're just out of fashion,” he’d laugh, imagining all the fun things he could buy.
One day, the Horse, feeling a bit peckish, finally said, “Mate, the glitz and glam are fabulous, but a horse's got to eat! Can we swap the sparkle for a snack?”
The Groom paused, then laughed, “Oh! I thought you ran on star power!” But he got the message: Looking good is great, but feeling good is better. And from that day, the Horse was both dashing and well-fed.
With a coat that did gleam and hooves that did shine,
The Horse looked quite lovely, all the time.
The Groom worked hard, without taking a pause,
Proud of his work, and for a good cause.
But while the Horse's coat gleamed so bright,
His belly felt empty, morning to night.
The Groom was sly, and not very fair,
He sold the Horse's oats, leaving him bare.
Day after day, the Horse grew so thin,
With a shiny exterior, but empty within.
He wondered aloud, with a voice so meek,
"Why do I shine, yet feel so weak?"
Then one day, the Horse said with grace,
"I need my oats, not just a clean face.
It's nice to look good, to sparkle and gleam,
But without my food, it's just a dream."
The Groom looked down, his actions now clear,
Misplacing his care, year after year.
To nourish the heart, is the truest art,
Not just the surface, but the deepest part.
A person who takes care of horses daily.
Outer hair covering of an animal like a horse.
Gave off bright light or appeared very bright.
Hard feet of animals like horses or cows.
Shined with small bright flashes of light.
Feeling of satisfaction from doing something well.
Type of grain used as food for animals like horses.
To be thankful or glad for something done.
Being well, strong, and not sick or weak.
To meet needs or make someone feel content.
A person who takes care of horses daily.
Outer hair covering of an animal like a horse.
Gave off bright light or appeared very bright.
Hard feet of animals like horses or cows.
Shined with small bright flashes of light.
Feeling of satisfaction from doing something well.
Type of grain used as food for animals like horses.
To be thankful or glad for something done.
Being well, strong, and not sick or weak.
To meet needs or make someone feel content.
What did the Groom do every day to make the Horse look good?
What did the Groom secretly do with the Horse's oats?
Why did the Groom sell the Horse's oats instead of feeding them to the Horse?
What did the Horse suggest the Groom should focus on instead of brushing and cleaning?
Why did the Horse feel that having a shiny coat and clean hooves wasn't enough?
Steady and patient, a slow tortoise dares to race against a confident hare. Who will cross the finish line first?
A thirsty crow finds a pitcher with water too low to reach. What clever trick will he use to get a drink?
A king's elephant and a dog form a friendship, are suddenly separated, but they are reunited by the king and live happily.
While the grasshopper dances through summer, the ant works hard, gathering food. Which one will survive when winter arrives?
The powerful North Wind and the gentle Sun try to make a traveler take off his cloak to prove who is stronger. Which one will succeed?
A lion spares a tiny mouse who promises to return the favor one day. How could such a small mouse possibly help a lion?
When a farmer brings a bundle of sticks to his sons, they stop arguing. How did a simple bundle of sticks teach them?
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