Big John's Story

Big John’s Story

Big John was a pacing horse and he could run very very fast, as fast as any race horse. He was chestnut brown with black stockings on his legs. This is his story.

It was a bright sunny day and my stall was real cool. I had plenty of hay and water but was waiting for some fresh feed to be brought to my stall. As I stood there, my eyes were almost closed because the warmth from the sun was making me sleepy.

I heard a noise, it sounded like a horse trailer. The noise coming from it was terrible, sounded like kicking and pawing to get out. The banging against the back of the trailer was so hard I thought the doors would come crashing open. It kind of reminded me of the first time I was placed on a trailer. Not knowing where I was or where I was going. I kicked and pawed also. My trainer came back and rubbed my back and my fore head and talked to me. I was very calm after that and never did kick again. Back to my story of the new horse in the trailer.

Then to my surprise I heard a soft voice saying, whoa fellow. Calm done big fellow, easy now easy, and all of a sudden it stopped, all the kicking and snorting.

I leaned out of my stall as far as I could to see what the horse looked liked. It was hard because it was almost around the corner. He was a big horse and I heard them call him Scud. I though what an awful name for a horse but just because I had a great name didn’t mean all horses did. I liked my name, Big John, it made me feel good.

They loaded him in the stall next to me, he started rearing up and bucking again and then I heard the soft voice calm him down. It was all new to him but I knew once he got use to us he would be all right. I looked over at Tracy, she was in the other stall. We could see each other but there was no way we could touch. I guess the trainer didn’t want any fighting going on if he didn’t know the new horses.

I watch the trainer train the new horse Scud and Tracy. I didn’t need a whole lot of training, I was really good.

Show season was in and the big glass was about to begin. I was excited. Tracy was excited too but she came in second in her class and the big horse Scud came in second in his class. I guess he was happy now. Of course I came in first.

This story happen about 20 years ago and Big John is gone now, but he is buried in the winners circle at the Kentucky Derby so he’ll never be forgotten.