Title: The Colt
Author: Wallace Stegner
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 27th August 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Hello, Bub.

This short story is about a colt that is dearly loved. But maybe not quite destined for a happily ever after…

I was kind of expecting a bit of a happy ending here. After all, this is a whole short story about a boy and his colt. And I was thinking that his love for the horse would be one of those that overcame all obstacles. That wasn’t the case. The end of this was a bit sad and gross. But it was still a good little short story.

I did struggle a little to get through this. I kept on getting confused as to how the colt broke his legs in the first place. I may have to read this again to make sure I didn’t just completely miss the point. But I honestly probably won’t. I love that this was about a boy and his horse (effectively), but I’m not really that emotionally engaged like I would have been normally.

This was a somewhat nice and cute short story. But it wasn’t really one that I felt was unforgettable and glorious. It was just… pleasant. Even though it ended kind of sadly.

<- Burn Him Out

A Man Called Horse ->

Image source: Hachette Australia