A Story About a Horse

What do horses and hair have in common? Read this story to find out!

One summer when I was home from college, I got hired as a horseback guide at a dude ranch. I didn’t have my own horse, but there were around 50 or so horses at the ranch so I could choose which one I wanted to ride each day. 

I would arrive early in the morning and wait while the cowboys rounded up the horse herd from the pasture and drove them into the corral. Then I would have a look around for one of the more well behaved horses, catch it, tie it to the rail and get it all saddled up and ready for the day. 

One day there was a new horse in the herd. He was short, slightly stocky, and jet black. He was skittish and not at all well behaved. But his mane! And his tail! He had the most beautiful hair I’d ever seen. His shiny tail brushed the ground. His mane was thick and floppy as he trotted around. I knew that was the horse I wanted to ride. I couldn’t wait to get him all brushed out and ready. 

“What’s that new horse’s name?” I asked one of the cowboys.

“He doesn’t have a name, we just call him the mustang,” he replied. 

“Can I use him for the guide horse?” 

“Sure, better you ride him than a guest. He’s pretty independent.”

I caught the mustang, got him all kitted out in his saddle and bridle and rode up to meet my first group of clients. I looked like a proper guide on that gorgeous horse. His bangs reached all the way past his eyes. When he swished his long tail it would practically hit him in the face. My black Stetson cowboy hat matched him perfectly. We looked like movie stars. 

For a month it was me and the beautiful mustang leading trail rides together. I got huge tips because we looked so good. Everyone was impressed by his beauty. 

And then one day, Sue, the ranch owner, called all the guides together. “We have a huge ride going out today. All the horses have to go, none can be left behind.” 

No problem. We got every horse saddled and ready. They all stood side by side, waiting for the guests. Just then Sue called us over again. 

“Oh, it looks like you have Taxi ready to go on the ride today,” she said. Taxi was the very first horse Sue had gotten on the ranch years and years ago. She was Sue’s very favorite horse, but since she was an old horse now, we tried not to take her out on very many rides. And Sue didn’t ride her anymore because she had gained some weight over the years and she was too heavy for Taxi. So Taxi mostly just milled about in the corral and the pasture, looking sad and lonely and like she’d probably like to go out for a ride.

“You said all the horses had to go.”

“Yes, but Taxi needs special treatment. Be sure to put someone small on her. And someone with lots of riding experience. And keep her right near a guide so someone can keep an eye on her, and  - wait a minute! Meredith, you would be perfect! You can ride Taxi!”

“Oh sorry, I already have the mustang saddled and ready.”

“Well, unsaddle him and get Taxi ready. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner.”

So I unsaddled my mustang and walked over to Taxi. She was a muddy brown color with the saddest, sparsest, dusty black mane and tail ever. She hardly had any bangs at all. When she swished her tail it barely touched her body. Her hair definitely wasn’t doing her any favors.

The group arrived. We helped everyone onto their horses (including a man on my mustang - all the horses had to go.) I plodded over on Taxi and the guests barely looked over. We weren’t at all impressive. Just a lady on a boring horse. 

For the rest of the summer, Sue made me ride Taxi. She was delighted that her beloved horse could go out on rides again, get some exercise, and be at the front of the pack. I tried to clean and brush Taxi to make her look shinier and prettier, but no luck. Without the mustang, my tips were way less. I would bring out the mustang for the guests to ride, his long black mane and tail so beautiful that whoever got to ride him felt like a superstar. 

Anyway, the reason I told this story is because hair matters! Even horses look better with long, strong, shiny hair. And that’s why I started making StarBars - to give myself and others healthier, more beautiful hair. All without a plastic bottle. 

PS I kind of feel bad about telling this story. Taxi was a perfectly nice horse and she was beautiful in her own way. But her mane and tail definitely could have used some help! If she were still alive (and I could find her) I’d definitely try to wash her hair with StarBars, and I bet she’d look good in no time.