Old Horse Star

Old Star stood in the horse pad-dock so dry, with the others he'd just been run in. The Manager gave orders, he now had to die, the Jackaroo's job was to kill him. Brown Star was Tuppy's favourite horse, (Tuppy my Grandma) he'd shoulder a beast with the best. He was smart and still game at campdrafting of course, he'd been one of the best in the west. But this was the pay off, for death had arrived, his sickle was shining and sharp. The Jackaroo pointed the rifle and fired, tried to shoot him right through his game heart. The old horse did canter was whinnying still, five times round the paddock he'd run. The dumb Jackaroo was still shooting to kill, when Tuppy took from him the gun. She whistled for Star and he cantered up, with the blood gushing out of his side. She stroked him a while like a young cattle pup, one bullet and poor old Star died. THE PAY OFF! .................... In the old days on the big Company . properties in Australia a horse was broke in at 4 years, and deemed to be worn out at 8 years. So Star was just a liability with young . horses waiting their turn to serve their . calculating masters.... So horses good and smart were killed along with the rogue horses and Buck jumpers,... when they'd been 8 years on the Company books!!??.... Don Johnson