The Disdainful Horse
A proud Horse mocks a slow Ass, but later finds himself old and doing the same work he once ridiculed.
Once upon a time, there was a fancy horse who loved to show off. He wore shiny, pretty clothes and walked around proudly. One day, he saw a donkey carrying a heavy load on a busy road. The donkey was moving slowly, trying to get out of the horse's way.
"Move out of my way, slowpoke!" the horse said with a snooty voice. "I might kick you because you're so slow!" The donkey didn't say anything. He just looked at the sky and hoped that one day things would be fair.
As time went by, the horse grew old and tired. He wasn't strong anymore, and his owner sent him to work on the farm. One day, the donkey saw the horse pulling a cart full of dirty stuff. The horse didn't look proud anymore, and he didn't have his fancy clothes.
The donkey chuckled and said, "Where are your pretty clothes now? You used to be so proud, but now you're doing the same work you made fun of me for."
At that moment, the horse felt sad and sorry. He realized that he had been wrong to make fun of the donkey. Now, he was doing the same job he had once laughed at.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a fancy horse who loved to show off.
He wore shiny, pretty clothes and walked around proudly.
One day, he saw a donkey carrying a heavy load on a busy road.
The donkey was moving slowly, trying to get out of the horse's way.
"Move out of my way, slowpoke!" the horse said with a snooty voice.
"I might kick you because you're so slow!"
The donkey didn't say anything.
He just looked at the sky and hoped that one day things would be fair.
As time went by, the horse grew old and tired.
He wasn't strong anymore, and his owner sent him to work on the farm.
One day, the donkey saw the horse pulling a cart full of dirty stuff.
The horse didn't look proud anymore, and he didn't have his fancy clothes.
The donkey chuckled and said, "Where are your pretty clothes now?
You used to be so proud, but now you're doing the same work you made fun of me for."
At that moment, the horse felt sad and sorry.
He realized that he had been wrong to make fun of the donkey.
Now, he was doing the same job he had once laughed at.
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Word Finder
Fancy
Expensive and decorative, looking very special.Show off
Act proudly to get attention from others.Snooty
Acting superior or better than others.Load
Heavy things that need to be carried.Proudly
Feeling happy about oneself or achievements.Slowpoke
Someone who moves slower than others.Fair
When things are equal and just for everyone.Owner
A person who has or controls something.Chuckled
Laughed quietly or softly to oneself.Realized
Understood something suddenly or became aware of it.
Understanding Questions
- What did the horse like to do when he was young?
- How did the horse treat the donkey when he saw him on the road?
- What happened to the horse as he grew older?
- How did the donkey react when he saw the horse pulling a cart?
- What lesson did the horse learn by the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the Horse liked to show off and was mean to the Ass at the beginning?
- How did the Horse's life change as he got older and why?
- Can you think of a time when someone's behavior changed when their situation changed, like the Horse's did?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of treating everyone with respect, no matter their job or role?
- How can we use the lesson from this story in our own lives to treat everyone kindly and fairly, no matter what they do?
Fable Quotes
Pride in appearances can tarnish, true dignity comes from humility within.
The wheel of time humbles all, it's best to start humble.
No job is too small; respect all work equally.
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- Leadership
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The Painted Jackal
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- Courage
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The Old Hound
Once a mighty hound, now old and frail, failed to catch a boar, pleading with his master to remember his former glory.