Rosie was a beautiful, chestnut-colored horse with a long, flowing mane. She lived on Sunny Meadow Farm with Old Man Tiber, a kind farmer, and a whole herd of other horses. But Rosie wasn’t a very confident horse. She worried about everything! Especially the annual Meadow Race.
Every year, all the horses on Sunny Meadow Farm raced around the biggest field. It wasn’t about *winning*, Old Man Tiber always said, but about having fun and trying your best. Still, Rosie felt a flutter of nervousness in her tummy just thinking about it. She was sure she’d be the slowest horse, and everyone would laugh.
Her best friend, a playful palomino named Goldie, noticed Rosie’s worried face. “What’s wrong, Rosie?” Goldie asked, nudging her gently with her nose.
“It’s the race, Goldie,” Rosie sighed. “I’m just… not a fast runner. I stumble sometimes, and I’m afraid I’ll fall. What if I embarrass myself?”
Goldie nuzzled Rosie again. “Rosie, you are a wonderful horse! You’re kind, you’re gentle, and you have a strong heart. You might not be the fastest, but you are *you*, and that’s what matters. Remember when you helped me find my lost foal last spring? You were so brave and determined!”
Rosie remembered. She *had* been brave. She’d followed the faint scent of Goldie’s foal through the woods, even when she was a little scared of the shadows. “I… I guess I was,” she said, a small smile appearing on her face.
“Exactly!” Goldie exclaimed. “And Old Man Tiber always says perseverance is key. Practice a little each day, and believe in yourself. That’s all you need to do.”
So, Rosie started practicing. She didn’t try to run as fast as the other horses. Instead, she focused on keeping her stride steady and remembering to breathe. She stumbled a few times, but she got back up each time, encouraged by Goldie’s cheerful shouts.
The day of the race arrived, and Rosie’s tummy was doing flip-flops. She lined up with the other horses, feeling very small. Old Man Tiber gave her a pat on the neck. “Remember, Rosie,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “it’s not about winning, it’s about doing your best.”
The starting bell rang, and the horses thundered across the meadow! Rosie didn’t zoom ahead like some of the others. She kept a steady pace, focusing on her breathing and remembering Goldie’s words. She felt a little wobbly at one point, but she straightened her legs and kept going.
She didn’t win the race. In fact, she wasn’t even close to winning. But as she crossed the finish line, she felt a surge of pride. She had finished! And she hadn’t fallen! The other horses cheered for her, and Old Man Tiber gave her a big hug.
“I did it!” Rosie neighed happily. “I actually did it!”
Goldie trotted over, beaming. “I knew you could, Rosie! You were amazing!”
Rosie realized that Goldie was right. It wasn’t about being the fastest or the best. It was about believing in herself and never giving up. From that day on, Rosie wasn’t a nervous horse anymore. She was a confident, courageous horse who knew that she could do anything she set her mind to. And that, she thought, was the best feeling in the world.