You know the expression “a horse of a different color?” The first time I remember hearing that was during the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” When Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion arrive at the Emerald City, they are met by a carriage pulled by a most unusual horse. On the way to the Wizard’s secret chambers, it changes color before everyone’s eyes.
When asking about the strange horse she’s told – “Why that’s a horse of a different color.”
I stared in wonder at that beautiful animal, what a clever being to be able to do that.
This is what I’ve found out about that horse – At first, the film’s creative team thought the horse could be painted to create the multi-hued illusion, but the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said no. The trick was to find a substance that would not only pass the ASPCA test but would photograph clearly. Food coloring was tried, even liquid candy, both without success. The colors were too tame, and much too tasty. Finally, a paste of Jell-O powder was found acceptable. The horse continued to lick but, with frequent touch-ups, the problem was solved. Apparently, if you watch closely you will see that the driver tries hard to restrain the horse from trying to lick itself. The filmmakers used a white horse and sponged it down with different colors of Jello. During the film, the Horse of a Different Color changes color 6 times: Green, blue, orange, red, yellow, and violet
When I first saw this wonderful creature, I asked my parents for months to “pretty-please” get me a horse of a different color. No amount of logical discussion could keep me from my asking (over and over and over.) What do you mean it doesn’t exist? I saw one with my very own eyes.
I knew, with all my heart, that a horse of a different color existed. (By the way, I also asked for a Tribble in my youth – but that’s a whole different story, in fact one might be inclined to say that it’s a horse of a different color.)
On and off throughout my childhood, I yearned for that horse but eventually with age came a little bit of magic lost. I realized that the horse was not real and that the expression actually meant – “a topic or a plan that represents a change from what one thought was being talked about or considered.” The bit in the movie was a clever play on words and was not referring to an actual creature.
Yet one more time where I had to sacrifice childhood-magic for maturity.
And yet, a part of me to this day still holds out for that horse. Wouldn’t it be nice to think that somewhere, somehow in a remote area, a baby horse of a different color is being born right this very minute? Perhaps she’s just taking her first wobbly steps, changing from a timid pale yellow to a bright and vibrant violet as she gains confidence.
Until that horse and I someday meet (oh, and if she’s out there we will), I’ll just have to be content with the nearest equivalent I can find, a bit of magic survived from youth, here in the backyard – my very own flock of a different color.
