PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History

Perhaps this is a good time to explain a bit about horses. Most humans think we are herd animals, but we really aren’t. Rather than forming into herds the way cattle and buffalo, and even deer and elk do, we form bands. Bands are small groups of three to a dozen horses, like human families. Sometimes we are related, but not always. That is why horses brought together in a barn, or like Bill, Dick, Lad, Blaze and me on our journey, will band together and take care of one another. Sure, it takes a little negotiating to establish our hierarchy in the band, but we eventually get it worked out. If there should be a large group of horses, whether wild or domesticated like myself, grazing in a great open field and a threat of danger should present itself, we horses rarely stampede as one body. Rather, each band will run off in a different direction like the rays of a star. We find this to be an effective way to get away from danger. So, you see why I was sad to leave Bill and Dick behind. Our band was being broken up and new horses put in their place. The negotiations for leadership start all over again. That is hard for horses.