It is said that there was a spotted mare from Choht who had a colt named Morning Star. After she led him around for three nights, they would go to water; after three more nights, they would go to graze. Once, while on the way to water, they came to a bird's egg.
At this, it is said that a goose came and pleaded, "Don't step on my egg or you'll kill it!" kowtowing to the mare. The mare responded, "Don't talk to me about killing your egg, my throat is parched wdth thirst and I can hardly walk." The mare swerved on purpose and kicked the egg, killing it. Then they went off in the direction of water.
The goose was enraged. "On your way back I am going to kill your Morning Star!"
When this mare and her colt came back by, the goose flew at the colt; when pecking from the south the mare would move the colt to the north, when pecking from the north she would move him to the south, when pecking from the west she would move him to the east, when pecking from the east she would move him to the west. Not letting the goose get near the colt, it is said, the mare led him off and away from there.
The small colt noticed his mother's ears were not shifting back and forth as usual, rather now they were sagging. His mother must be thirsty, he thought. The colt noticed again how his mother's gait was not the usual sound of clip-clop, rather now it was more of a dragging sound. His mother must be tired, he thought.
The colt wondered why his mother's fur was disheveled and dirty. He thought it was from the trek through the brush on Shabakt Peak where the mud and dirt got caked to her fur. The colt also wondered what the red spots were that were on his mother's body. He thought it was from the trek over Hont Peak where the sulfur and sand got caked to her fur. The colt also wondered what the blue spots were on his mother's body. He thought they must be from the trek over Bingt Peak where the rocks and pebbles stuck to her fur.
At this and after they crossed the peak, the mare stopped with tears streaming from her eyes. She said, "My son, your dear mother is going to die soon." Tears began to well up in the colt's eyes as he moved away from his beloved mother.
"Where will I go, what will I do? I don't know anything from above or below, I can't remain alone. Without your sweet milk what will I eat? Please try and bear it my dear mother," said the little colt, tears filling his beautiful, big, bright eyes as he began crying.
It is said that the mare wished her son well. "My son, death is a predetermined part of life. Behind the Baraad Peak you will find a herd of horses a thousand strong. In that herd is your older sister, but you can't get along together. Behind the Argalt Peak is a herd of horses ten thousand strong. In that herd is your older brother, but you can't get along together.
From there it' you go in that direction is a herd of liorses one hundred thousand strong, in that lierd is your old mother. It is there where you can live together with her. Grass and greens will be milk for you. There will be many friends and nieces and nephews for you there. Be good to your master; when you are saddled, be a prized horse. If you go to far places you will not get thin, if you go to near places you will not get tired. You will become the best of the riding horses, a friend to the children of man. In the herd you won't be at the head or the tail. You will eat the tender shoots of grass and be like a son of gold to any father."
After she finished saying these things the mare died.
Poor little Morning Star colt looked at his dead mother as the tears that filled his eyes streamed down his face. He began turning around and around and said in remorse, "My mother has already said these things."
The Mongolian horse-headed fiddle. Courtesy of Xinjiang Qinshan Culture Publishing
Morning Star went to the herd where he found his older sister. She kicked him when he was behind and bit him when he was in front, not letting him get near her. He then went to the herd where he found his older brother, but he would not let him get near either. Finally, he went to the herd where he found his old mother. When she saw him she said, "A portion of my flesh and bones has come!" When asked where his mother was, he responded, "My mother has already died."
At this she said, "If this is so then you stay at my right and left sides and don't wander. My teats are already dry, but if you try hard you may get milk." He stayed at her right and left sides and didn't wander. After trying and trying, he was able to get milk from her teats.
Morning Star grew up to become the head of this herd and many others, the fastest and best of all the horses.
World History
