Chalew is a horse that pulls a cart.

He carries heavy loads along the gravel roads of Debre Birhan.

He works from morning to evening.

Chalew does not get enough time to rest.

He does not get enough food to eat.

The driver of the cart beats him to go faster.

One day, all the cart drivers gathered for a funeral.

The cart horses were left to graze in a nearby field.

They began to talk about their terrible conditions.

"My harness doesn't fit me. It is too tight and cuts my skin," said one horse.

"Me too, me too," another agreed.

An old horse spoke, "I'm almost lame because of the nails they hammer into my hooves."

More horses nodded in agreement.

"We work very hard, but most of our owners treat us badly. Many do not know how to look after us," said Chalew.

All of the horses agreed.

"We need better conditions. Let's go on strike!" declared Chalew. The horses cheered!

They decided to stay in the field until the cart drivers agreed to change.

The cart drivers did not know what to do.

"I can get another horse," boasted one driver.

But most of the drivers needed their horses to earn a living.

The drivers held a meeting to discuss the strike. They argued for a long time.

"Maybe the horses are right," said one man. "Why should they get better conditions?" asked another.

The horses' strike spread from the town of Debre Birhan across Ethiopia.

Nearly three million horses refused to work. "We have had enough! Treat us fairly!" they said.

So, the cart drivers were forced to change. They agreed to better conditions and fair treatment for all horses.

They learned how to look after the horses, and keep them healthy.

Slowly, the horses' lives improved.

They got enough food and rest. Their harnesses fitted. They got better shoes for their hooves.

Old Chalew became a hero to all horses!