Student says neigh to high gas prices

By JENNIFER RAYMOND

rcraymond@bellsouth.net

This one-man protest march came complete with horse shoes.

Rockwood High School senior Bradley Walker, fed up with the high price of gas, saddled up his horse, Pumpkin, and rode to school Tuesday.

“I can’t afford gas,” Walker said. “It’s getting ridiculous.”

Walker made a sign that read, “Solution to higher gas prices” and slung it over his horse’s side as they made the 4-mile, 45-minute commute to school.

The dark-colored horse corraled on a grassy knoll on school grounds came as no surprise to principal Alan Reed.

Walker asked Reed’s permission first.

“If he’s brave enough to do it,” Reed said. “Plus, he rides all the time, anyway.”

With sunny skies and moderate temperatures, Walker picked the perfect day for it.

“I was just taking my time and enjoying it,” Walker said. “It’s as fun to ride a horse as drive a car.”

Walker planned to ride Pumpkin back home after school and possibly take a “spin” through downtown.

He was also hoping to be able to have Pumpkin for transportation to school the rest of the week, if allowed.

Reed wouldn’t say if he would give the OK.

It may all come down to food.

“We probably don’t have enough grass for him to munch on for the rest of the week,” the principal joked.

It’s not likely Walker’s saddle-up protest will be appreciated by big oil companies, but it is getting attention from others.

As Walker stood by the pen surrounded by classmates he held a printout of an article on the Web about his fuel-cost protest with Pumpkin.

“I’m all over the Internet,” Walker said.