bull

 

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/meet-the-determined-bull-that-thinks-hes-a-show-jumping-horse/

Sabine Rouas works on a farm in Verdun, France and five years ago bought a new born calf, which she called Aston and raised alongside her horse Sammy. After a while Sabine noticed Aston was copying the tricks she was teaching Sammy. He started trotting, galloping and stopping following Sabine’s commands. He was also able to jump over horse jumps.

Sabine takes Aston to horse shows where she says people are often scared of him; “They can be a bit scared because he’s big – much bigger than a horse.”

“Most people, even farmers, don’t like to get too close to cows with horns. But once they see his real nature, and see him doing the exercises, they often say, “Oh, he’s really quite beautiful.”

There is a film clip of Aston in the link.

-          What image does a bull have? What do you think of when you see a bull?

-          Where do you think this image has come from?

-          How is Aston different?

-          Aston and Sammy grew up together; do you think Sammy was worried about growing up with a bull?

-          Why are people often scared of Aston?

-          What does it take to make people see there is nothing to be afraid of?

-          Why is this about stereotypes and prejudice?

-          The headline of the article is, “the bull that thinks he’s a show jumping horse”. Do you think Aston thinks he’s a horse?

-          The headline makes the assumption that if you show jump, you have to be a horse. What is Aston showing us? (perhaps he is just a different kind of bull)

-          What can we learn from Aston?

Why is this a story of hope?