The Striped Horse

    By Storybird

    The Striped Horse cover image

    15 Jul, 2023

    Once upon a time, in the wild vast grasslands, a plain white horse lived freely. He was unlike the zebras we know today because he had no stripes, his body was as smooth as fresh snow.

    His life was peaceful but not without fear. His biggest fear was the lion, the mighty king of the jungle. The lion's powerful roars were compelling enough to send shivers down his spine.

    To elude from the fierce lion, the white horse took shelter under tall trees where the foliage was thick enough to provide him with a safe haven. This became his sanctuary from the lion's prowling eyes.

    As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, a strange phenomenon happened. The white horse’s skin started showing signs of sunburn due to the harsh sunlight.

    Patches of sunburn started to form on his body. Intriguingly, these patches started giving an illusion of stripes on his body – just like the stripes of a zebra.

    One hot afternoon, the white horse was out grazing when the fierce lion spotted him. The lion, with its menacing eyes, decided to chase the horse. It was a survival game.

    But something unexpected happened. The 'stripes' on the horse’s body managed to dazzle the lion. This unexpected visual assault confused the lion, making it lose track of the horse.

    The horse cleverly used this moment to his advantage and fled from the scene. Seeing its prey getting away, the lion gave up the chase. The horse had successfully escaped the claws of death.

    Word of this incredible incident spread through the grasslands like a wildfire. The other horses, who had always lived in the fear of the lion, took note of the white horse’s strange stripes.

    Feeling intrigued and hopeful, some of them decided to mimic the white horse. They began to shelter under trees during the hot hours, hoping the sun would also alter their skin.

    Others smudged their bodies with mud, making odd patterns which resembled the stripes on the white horse's body. They waited and watched to see if this camouflage would help them.

    Time swept by and a phenomenal change started to occur. The horses that had been following the white horse's ways began to show the appearance of stripes like him.

    Their stripes weren't as striking as the white horse's but it was enough to confuse their predators. The lions now found it harder to distinguish between their prey and the surrounding environment.

    With every passing day, the number of striped horses began to increase. Now, more and more horses were becoming confident, less scared and more free.

    The plain white horse, now the striped horse, was widely accepted as a common sight in the grasslands. Its unique pattern of stripes had become a symbol of survival and bravery for all horses.

    Survival was no longer just about running faster. It was more about being smarter, about adapting to change and being brave enough to use that change as a weapon.

    As time went on, the family of zebras came into existence from these horses. They had stripes running across their bodies, just like that of the original white horse.

    This was no longer a story, this was evolution. A story of white horses turning into zebras, a story of survival, of outsmarting their predators. A story that taught one to adapt.

    From then on, the zebras roamed the wild grasslands, flaunting their striking black and white stripes. They had embraced their uniqueness and thrived on it, creating a story for the ages.

    Today, when we see a zebra, we see it as a symbol of uniqueness and survival. Their stripes are no longer just beautiful, but a testament to their lineage's courage and adaptation.

    This legend of the zebra’s origin has been passed down from generation to generation. The story does not just serve as a bedtime tale for little ones but also a lesson of survival and adaptation.

    Every time we look at the zebras, we are reminded of the plain white horse. The horse who showed courage, adapted to change and survived against all odds.

    No matter how fearful the circumstances were, that brave white horse transformed himself and changed the course of his life. He gave birth to a legacy that still lives on today.

    So, the next time you spot a zebra, look closely at their stripes. Each stripe tells a tale of courage, adaptation and survival. It’s the tale of a white horse who braved the odds and altered the course of his destiny.

    This legendary story of the white horse and the zebra is a reminder to us all. No matter how hard it seems, if we adapt and show courage, we too can change our destiny, just like the white horse did.

    They serve as a beacon of hope and an emblem of survival in the wild. A testament that every stripe tells a tale of bravery, adaptation and resilience.

    Over time, the zebras learned to live with their beautiful stripes. They cherished them, flaunted them, and used them to their advantage. The stripes were no longer a symbol of fear, but a symbol of hope and survival.

    It’s indeed fascinating how a simple phenomenon started an evolutionary journey of bravery, adaptation, and survival. The story of the zebras will forever be a testament to the plain white horse’s brave heart.

    We all can draw inspiration from this tale of evolution and survival. Just like the zebras embraced their changes and flourished, we too can adapt and thrive in our lives.

    Every zebra we see today is a living testament of that brave white horse. Each stripe is a story, a story of courage, survival, and resilience. And it continues to inspire to this day.

    So, let us remember the tale of the white horse and the zebras. A tale of survival, resilience, and adaptation. Let us be inspired by them, and embrace our own stripes in life.

    The story of the white horse and zebras urges us to accept our uniqueness, emulate bravery and adapt to our surroundings, no matter how tough it gets. Remember, every change can be an opportunity, if we dare to see it that way.

    Just as the zebras carry the legacy of the white horse with every stripe, we too carry the essence of our past and the potential of our future. Let us make the most of what we have, and proudly wear our stripes.

    The tale of the white horse and the zebras is a reminder that when faced with adversity, our greatest strength lies in adapting and evolving. We have to learn to thrive, not just survive, just like zebras in the wild grasslands.

    So, let the stripes of the zebras be a constant reminder of the power of change, adaptability, and courage. Remember, in this ever-changing world, adaptability is the key to survival and growth.