The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse
The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse is the eighth book in the Hank the Cowdog series of children's novels by John R. Erickson. It is preceded by The Curse of the Incredible Priceless Corncob and followed by The Case of the Halloween Ghost.
Plot
It's Thanksgiving on the ranch and Sally May, the ranch wife, is in the midst of her holiday preparations. She throws out some bacon grease and Hank, the older of the two stock dogs, eats it and becomes ill. Sally May trips over him and sprains her ankle just as her mother in law and two nieces arrive. Her mother in law drives her to town to the doctor.
Meanwhile, the neighbor's stallion has escaped from his pasture and gotten into the pasture with Sally May's and her husband Loper's mares. Loper has other work to do and as the neighbor is unavailable, says he'll get the stud horse out later. He forbids the children, his nieces and son Alfred, from going in the pasture.
The children begin playing tea party, dressing Hank, the younger dog Drover, and Pete the barncat in doll clothes. Pete escapes and runs into the pasture with the little girls after him. The stud horse sees them and gallops toward them aggressively. When Hank tries to get between the horse and the girls, the horse kicks him, breaking his leg.
The book ends with Hank in the house, being fussed over by the girls, after having his leg set by the local veterinarian.