orse and Carrot

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

When the Baron met with his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, they discussed a very unusual complaint from a man about a horse.

The man, who lived in a residential area of Lilliland, complained that several mornings each week a horse appeared in front of his house. There is nothing unusual about his house. In fact, it was very much like all the other houses in the neighborhood. But this horse appeared only at his house.

There was some distance between his house and the nearest farm or stable. The question was why the horse came just to this one house.

Professor Hamblin, the chief advisor to the Baron, was asked for his comments. He said, “Why not have one of the castle stable boys watch the house to see how and exactly when the horse comes and what is there at this one particular house that is so attractive to the horse.”

It was learned that the horse was stabled a few blocks away at a private riding stable for people who want to ride on the bridal path in the park.

The castle stable boy reported that the horse would jump the fence in the morning and go to the house to eat the carrots that the owner left in the front yard for the birds.

The owner agreed on a trial basis to put something other than carrots out in the front yard for the birds. The horse came a few more times but left because there were no carrots. As long as the owner did not put out carrots for the birds, the horse would not come to visit and eat the carrots.

The stable boys were thanked for their good work in the community. The problem was solved without any conflict or misunderstandings.