After Hermes mischievously swaps the iconic items of the gods, causing chaos in Olympus, Zeus punishes him by replacing his winged sandals with a small wooden horse that matches Hermes' legendary speed.
Forced into an eternal, tiring gallop, Hermes learns the value of steadiness and reflection over mere swiftness. With time, Zeus returns Hermes' sandals, but the messenger god, having grown wiser, often prefers the pace of his wooden horse, a lasting symbol of humility and purposeful speed.