The Three Princes and Their Horses

A chief had three mighty sons, and each son had a mighty horse. The chief wanted to know who was the greatest rider.
"Behold this baobab tree!" he said. "Show me who is the greatest rider."
The first son rode at the tree, threw his spear, and then galloped on his horse through the hole.
The second son's horse ran like lightning towards the tree and then leaped over.
The third son galloped on his horse towards the tree, grabbed the tree, and pulled it from the ground, without the horse breaking its stride.
Which son was the greatest rider?


Inspired by: "Three Sons of a Chief" in The King's Drum by Harold Courlander, 1962. 
Notes: You can read the original story online. This is a Hausa story from Nigeria which Courlander took from Rattray's Hausa Folklore, Customs, Proverbs, etc.

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