The Great "Sand or Turf" Toss-Up

High up in the hills, there lived a Pony named Pip and an Ostrich named Ozzie. Pip was proud of his shiny coat and his thundering hooves. Ozzie was proud of her long, springy legs and her "never-give-up" attitude. One sunny morning, Pip looked at Ozzie and said, "I bet my four legs are faster than your two!"

Ozzie just blinked her big eyes. "Let’s find out," she chirped.

The Meadow Dash They met at the old oak tree in the Great Meadow. The grass was short, the dirt was packed hard, and the track was flat.

"Ready... Set... GO!"

Clop-clop-clop-clop! Pip’s hooves hit the hard ground like a drumbeat. He took off like a rocket! Ozzie tried to keep up, but her long toes felt a little springy on the hard dirt. By the time they reached the finish line at the farm gate, Pip was already cooling off.

"I’m the fastest in the West!" Pip cheered, tossing his mane. Ozzie just smiled. "You’re fast on the grass, Pip. But let’s try a rematch tomorrow... in the Dust-Bowl Desert."

The Desert Duel The next day, the sun was a big orange ball in the sky. The ground wasn't hard anymore—it was covered in deep, orange, shimmery sand.

"Ready... Set... GO!"

Pip leaped forward, but—whump!—his small hooves sank deep into the sand. It felt like running through a giant pile of sugar. He was working twice as hard but moving half as fast. "Hey! This ground is broken!" he huffed.

But Ozzie? She was in her element. Her big, wide feet didn't sink at all. They spread out like paddles, keeping her right on top of the dunes. Swish, swish, swish! She looked like she was skating on air. She zoomed past Pip, her neck stretched out long, and crossed the finish line before Pip could even get the sand out of his shoes.

The Finish Line Pip finally reached the end, panting and covered in dust. He looked at Ozzie, and then he looked at his hooves.

"I get it," Pip laughed. "I’m built for the meadows, but you were born for the sand."

The two friends walked home together, realizing that being the "fastest" usually just depends on where you’re standing.

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