Once upon a time there was a story about a golden horse. It was said that the horse lived on a mountain far far away. Many farmers and horse-riders wanted to find this horse. The reason was that it was said that the horse was as strong as 7 men, and as fast as 3 antelopes. And it had the shiniest golden colour. But no matter how much people wanted the horse, no one could find her. People had tried for ages to find her, but without luck.
On a sunny day, in the town Daughville a knight came riding down the road form the big castle on top of a big hill. Everyone in town came out from there houses to see what this man was doing her. He climbed up on the gallows, and shouted out: “I have a message from the king. He is setting up a competition, for everybody. The competitors must find the Golden Horse, and bring him to the king. The ones, who come back without the horse, will be hanged on this gallows.” Everybody looked scared and frightened. “But there’s more. The one who can find the golden horse will get princess Lorie and half of the kingdom.” Everybody looked more interested now.
The reason the king wanted that horse was that he loved horse races and he had the best horse-rider in the whole kingdom. But the horse he had now was lazy and slow. Princess Lorie was the most beautiful girl in the whole kingdom. Every man or boy wanted to marry her.
Justin Barnes was one of the boys who had heard what the knight had to say. He ran home as fast as he could to tell his family about the competition. His older brother, Owen thought it sounded cool, and wanted to try for himself. Justin’s father said: “If you want to die like grandpa Grey did, you go ahead!” Grey Barnes was Justin’s Grandfather. He was one of the few who had actually seen the golden horse. But when he got to the horse, she didn’t want to come with him back. So the horse kicked him in the back and he fell down the whole mountain. That’s how Grey Barnes died. “No, you are not allowed to compete. I don’t want you to die!” Said Justin’s mother. “But if I succeed I will get money for my whole life and the princess as my wife.” Justin answered.
When the day of the competition came, there were many good soldiers who had travelled many miles to get there. It was also some local boys who wanted to try. Even if Justin Barnes wasn’t allowed to compete by his mother, he did. All the competitors stood outside the castle and waited for the king. Soon he came out on the balcony. “Welcome to the big competition. I’m glad its so many who is brave enough to try getting the horse. If you don’t come back after one hour, you haven’t succeed, and then you will be hanged if your not already dead. I want that golden horse very much, so don’t disappoint me.” He shouted out to the competitors.
First out was Lord Raffinger from Quennsborough. He went of on his fine horse. But he didn’t come back after an hour. Then it was Mr. Burns. He was a high-represented man in Yorkville and a god soldier too. After 45 minutes of waiting he came back, but without the Golden Horse. He was hanged immediately. Than after lots of waiting it was Justin Barnes turn. He didn’t have any horse, so he borrowed one from the king. Before he went of, he saw that princess Lorie flirted with him with her eyes. He winked back. After riding for ten minutes he got to the tall mountain. The horse was so tired that he couldn’t go on. So Justin went on foot. He walked for half an hour up the mountain, before he got to a cave. He heard some whining from the cave. He went carefully in. There she was. So golden that it hurt in his eyes. The horse hadn’t seen him yet, so he went to her. He saw something rare on the horse. It was a needle. “That’s why you are so angry all the time, you got hurt on your back by a needle.” Said Justin when he took the needle out. The Golden Horse was now kind and she liked Justin a lot. Suddenly Justin didn’t care about the money or the princess. He fell in love with the horse.
Back at the castle people still went out trying too find the golden horse. They thought that Justin got killed. But Justin Barnes and the Golden Horse galloped into the sunset for new adventures.