The Pig and The Horse

There was a farmer who had collected a large number of horses. He only needed one more breed to complete his good collection. One day, he found out that his neighbour had that particular horse breed he needed very badly. So, he constantly bothered his neighbour and tried to impress upon him to sell that particular horse to him to complete his collection. Luckily, one day his neighbour agreed to his repeated pleadings and sold the desired horse  to him.  But unluckily, a  month later, the horse fell ill and he called in the veterinarian, who examined the animal and said :

“Well, your horse has got a virus. He must take this medicine for three days. I'll come back on the fourth day and if he does not get better, we shall be left with no other option but to put him down, so that other horses in your stable do not get that deadly virus and also fall ill.

A pig was roaming about nearby and he listened to very closely to the conversation going on between the farmer and the doctor. The next day, they gave the medicine to the horse and left.  As soon as they left after administering medicine to the horse, the pig approached the horse and said :

“Be strong, my dear friend. Get up or else they are going to put you to sleep permanently!” On the second day, they again gave him the medicine and left. Later on, the pig also again came back, and tried to uplift his morale and said :

“Come on buddy, get up or else you're going to kill you ! Your doctor is serious on what he says. Come on, I'll help you to get up. Let's go! One, two, three ..... Please remember, if you did not get up, the worst thing will really happen to you, you will be killed like a small fly and then, I will also lose a good friend and neighbour like you.

On the third day, they again came there to examine the horse and give him the medicine and the doctor again informed the farmer, and said :

“I am sorry to say that despite my best efforts and good medicine, the horse's health is not showing any signs of improvement.  Therefore, unfortunately, we shall wait for his health till tomorrow and if his condition remains the same, we shall have to put him down tomorrow. Otherwise, the contagious virus may  spread and infect the other horses as well. To save other horses and also to limit your loss, we shall have to do that ...........

After they left, the pig again approached the horse and emphasised his position :

“Listen pal, it is now or never ! Get up, come on ! Have some courage ! Come on ! Get up ! Get up ! That's it, slowly ! Great ! Come on, one, two, three ...... I will also help you .......”  The horse too, tried his level best and helped by the pig; finally he got up and started walking. And the pig said, Good, good. Now faster, come on .... Fantastic ! Now run, run more ! Yes! Yeah! Yes! You have done, I am sure, you will a champion one day !!!

And the next day, when the owner came back along with the doctor to examine the horse and take the final decision, he was stunned and overwhelmed to see the horse walking briskly in the field and out of joy, the farmer exclaimed :

“It's a miracle! My horse has got cured. Yes, he has been cured with the good and efficacious medicine. It is really a great moment for me. The occasion deserves a party.”  And the doctor agreed with his decision and the farmer said,  "We shall celebrate tomorrow ! We shall kill the pig and have great feast along with wine !!

Points for pondering over :  Friends! This often happens at the workplaces as well. Nobody truly knows which employee actually deserves the merit or reward of success, or who has actually contributed  the necessary efforts and support to make things happen the right way and bring success.


LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT RECOGNITION IS ALSO A SKILL !


R.D. Bhardwaj 

 Dated : 31st May, 2011