WHEN HORSE SENSE GOES AMISS

A famous comedian once observed, "Horse sense is the good judgment that keeps horses from betting on people."

Of course, "horse sense" is just another term for good old fashioned, common sense. There's an old story about a farmer who you could say was sorely lacking in horse sense. 

The farmer owned a beautiful horse that he was very proud of. One day he rode the horse into town and carefully tied the animal to a hitching post in front of the general store. Two thieves, passing through the town, saw the handsome horse and decided to steal it. They also agreed on a clever strategy to carry out their plan. So, one of them untied the horse and rode swiftly away while the other remained by the post.

When the farmer emerged from the store, he was surprised to see a man, not his horse tied to the hitching post. In a sad, low tone, the thief said, "Sir, I am your horse. Years ago, I sinned, and for my sins, my punishment was to be changed into a horse. Today my sentence is over, and I am a man once again."

The farmer was dumbfounded yet touched by the story. So, he untied the man and sent him on his way, wishing him luck in his new life. Several weeks later, the farmer went to a fair in a neighboring town. To his great surprise, he saw his horse for sale there. After studying the animal to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, he walked over and whispered in the horse's ear, "So – I see you've sinned again!"