Show Horse
By Harold Roy Miller

I went to buy a mare that I had plans to show,
From a breeder up near the Oregon border.
The asking price for her was ridiculously low,
So I figured I could afford her.

Her appearance was not exactly comely to see
And her personality did not shine.
In fact, she looked more like a broomtail bronc to me
Than an award-winning type equine.

Nor did she seem to have a lick of show sense,
And no trace of a fancy show walk.
She acted kind of lethargic and dense,
But hey, who was I to talk?

I knew everything that glitters is not gold
And horse buying is like judging covers on books.
Appearance isn't everything and if the truth be told,
You can sure be deceived by looks.

"How many blue ribbons has this horse won?"
I asked in a questioning tone.
The seller nervously said "Well, so far, none.
Reason is, she's never been shown."

I asked why he advertised her as a show horse then,
If she'd never set foot in the ring.
"Because," he answered with a sheepish grin,
I have to show this nag how to do everything."