Horseback riding began more than

5000 years ago, when

a man decided to climb onto a horse and

see 

where it would take him. 

A horse, walking the perimeter of its 

12 x 12 foot fence,

looks at the birds with jealousy.

It wonders what would happen if it could fly. 

Would it be faster?

Would it go farther?

Would it be happier?

Just yesterday, it looked at plane

tickets, but quickly shut the computer 

when it saw the price. 

A one-way trip to Bali given up,

only because it couldn't afford to bring

a friend. 

The birds watch, with nothing else to do.

They begin to scream,

sweet tweets twisted into cries of rage that

no one else will hear. 

They are all too focused on the horses. 

Do the birds feel left out because the horses carry

everyone and everything?

Do they feel frustrated, knowing that they are faster?

That they're stronger? Better?

Strap a bird to a carriage, let it fly,

and you might just find that 2 tickets to the sky have

landed on the horses' doorstep. 

But if that man 5000 years ago had chosen a bird instead, 

maybe then the horses

would be the ones with too much freedom.