There was once a person who lived in the vicinity of the Baal Shem Tov. Because of his all-consuming pride, he decided to become an acetic, and in that way, attract to himself a following of as many admirers as the Baal Shem Tov had. To that end he wore only white garments, fasted interminably, and tortured his body by rolling around in the ice and snow. Imagine his disappointment when, in spite of all his attempts, he in fact attracted no following at all.
He decided to visit the court of the Baal Shem Tov to see where it was that he had failed. What did the Baal Shem Tov have that he lacked that caused thousands to flock to him? He made his presence known to all the Chasidim and tried to gain their friendship. But they easily saw beneath his pious exterior and rebuffed all his advances.
Before he took his leave of the Baal Shem Tov, the man managed to gain entrance to the presence of the tzadik.
The Baal Shem Tov took the man by the shoulder and said to him, "Come outside with me for a minute. Do you see that horse over there tied to the post? His garments - white; his food - hay; his bed - straw; and in winter, he, too, rolls in the snow. But in spite of all of this, he is still a horse."
