idgeway, the Baron's Stallion

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Lilliland is well endowed with famous Alpine Mountains. There are plenty of ski trails for winter sports-minded citizens, as well as mountain climbing trails for everyone all year long. Mountain climbing on the numerous trails is something that everyone does. The Royal Lodge Family, as well as the average family in town, hike and camp up and down the mountain trails.

One day while in the Alpine Mountains near a high ridge, Baron Von Lodge decided to hike by himself to take a break from castle business. The Baron usually traveled with friends, family and a guide, but this time he was all alone. Heavy fog rolled in suddenly and the Baron became lost. He was on a mountain trail that was hardly ever used because of its high ridge; climbers always had a problem finding their way out. The weather became worse, so the Baron found a cave and built a fire to keep himself warm.

The next morning the mountain fog was just as bad as the day before. The Baron decided to see if he could find a clear patch in order to signal for help. He suddenly heard a noise coming from a rocky area close to the ridge. As he moved closer, he could make out the shape of a beautiful young stallion. The horse had gotten its leg caught between two rocks and could not move. Baron Von Lodge loved horses; he was very careful and talked soothingly to the horse as he gently worked to free the young stallion from the rocks. When the horse was freed, he tried to run away, but the Baron reassured him, and so the horse and the Baron stayed together, hoping for a rescue party that the Baron was sure would look for him since he was long overdue on his return to Lilliland Castle.

When the search party finally found the Baron, they offered him some hot soup, a special Lilliland recipe that was a favorite of all Alpine Mountain climbers.

The Baron told them to first offer food to his new-found friend, the young stallion. The Baron was not sure how long the stallion was stuck in the rocks before he arrived. The horse was fed and the team of searchers asked the Baron what his plan was for the horse.

Anyone there could see that the horse was becoming very fond of the Baron. The Baron thought about an appropriate name for the horse. It didn't take long before he said, "Mountain Friend or Pathway or Highridge or Ridgeway. That's it, his name will be Ridgeway."

Ridgeway was carefully guided back to the Castle and the Baron entered him in the school that trained horses for the parades and special castle events and celebrations.

Now, many years later, when Baron Von Lodge appears in Lilliland events, he always rides his favorite horse Ridgeway. And if you look at Ridgeway prancing along, you are sure that he is as proud as he can be!