Snail and Horse

Deep in a vast and lively jungle, there lived a magnificent horse. He was strong, swift, and terribly proud of himself. He would often prance around, boasting about his speed and mocking other animals for being slow.

One sunny afternoon, as the horse trotted along a leafy path, he noticed a tiny snail inching along the ground. Amused by its sluggish pace, the horse snorted and said, “Hey there, little snail! You move so slowly—I bet even a leaf blowing in the wind could beat you in a race!”

The snail, though small, was wise and patient. Tired of the horse’s arrogance, it looked up and calmly replied, “Oh really? Then why don’t we race and see who’s faster?”

The horse burst into laughter. “You? Race against me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard! Fine, let’s do it—this Sunday. Prepare to lose!”

The snail agreed, and as soon as the horse trotted away, it hurried home to gather all its snail friends. “Listen, everyone,” the snail said, “the proud horse thinks he can humiliate me. But together, we can teach him a lesson.” Since all snails looked nearly identical, they hatched a clever plan.

On Sunday morning, before the sun had fully risen, the snails positioned themselves at equal intervals along the entire race route—hidden behind rocks, leaves, and bushes, all the way to the finish line.

When the race began, the horse shot forward like the wind, his hooves pounding the earth. But after just a few strides, he glanced down—and there was the snail, crawling ahead of him!

Shocked, the horse pushed himself harder, galloping at full speed. Yet every time he looked, the snail was still in front! “How is this possible?” the horse thought, panting. He sprinted even faster, his legs burning with effort—but the snail remained ahead, as if by magic.

After what felt like forever, the exhausted horse finally collapsed near the finish line, completely baffled. “I… I give up,” he gasped. “You win.”

At that moment, the original snail emerged from the bushes, laughing. “Now do you see why you shouldn’t mock others?” it asked.

The horse, humbled and ashamed, lowered his head. “You’re right. I was foolish to judge you by your speed. I’m sorry for my arrogance.”

From that day on, the horse never boasted again. He learned to respect all creatures, no matter how small or slow they seemed.

Moral of the Story:

This tale reminds us that overconfidence can lead to downfall, while intelligence and teamwork can triumph over sheer strength. Never underestimate others, for even the smallest among us may have the cleverness to outwit the proud. True greatness lies not in boasting, but in humility and wisdom.