Hello fellow equestrians,
It's Emma here, your favourite grey draught mare from Hayfield, near Aberdeen. Welcome to the sixth installment of my Equine Chronicles, where we take a gallop through history, exploring the lives and experiences of our equine ancestors.
Today we journey back in time to the year 0006. Now, I know what you might be thinking – why this year? Well, the year 0006 holds a particular significance for us horse folk. It's the year when something truly extraordinary happened, a development that would fundamentally change our relationship with humans.
Remember how I talked about the ancient wild horses who roamed the earth in previous blog posts? How those fierce spirits thrived in vast herds, their lives governed by instinct and nature? Well, this year, something very different starts to occur – the domestication of the horse.
As a draught horse myself, it's hard to imagine life without working side-by-side with humans. But picture this: imagine a time where humans weren't even familiar with the idea of using a horse to pull a plough or carry heavy loads. It sounds so… primitive!
In 0006, a whisper of change starts to rumble through the world of horses. Our ancestors, perhaps tired of endless grazing, perhaps drawn by curiosity, begin to find themselves near human settlements. Maybe a juicy patch of grass lured them closer, or perhaps they simply saw something intriguing in those two-legged creatures who seemed to have such an odd fascination with us.
As humans grew accustomed to the presence of these magnificent creatures, they started to observe. Perhaps they noticed how strong and capable we were, our power not just in our muscular physique but also in our remarkable adaptability. Maybe they were fascinated by our natural agility, the graceful way we move, and the speed we could achieve.
Now, picture this: the beginnings of trust. One day, a young boy, perhaps barely older than ten, dared to approach a wild mare and her foal. He extended his hand tentatively, his heart racing with excitement.
Imagine the scene! Did the mare, sensing a gentle touch, allow the boy to stroke her soft muzzle? Did the foal, trusting its mother, come forward to nibble the boy's finger?
It's difficult to be sure, but I like to think those very first encounters sparked a profound bond between humans and horses. A bond that would shape the future of our world and, in a very real sense, change the face of civilisation itself.
This was only the beginning, a tiny seed of understanding planted. However, this seed, nurtured by a growing trust, blossomed into a relationship that changed the course of history. As time went on, those early interactions blossomed into a shared life.
Human's clever minds quickly recognised our incredible strength, and the practicality of using this power to their advantage became apparent. It began with the small things – perhaps a hand helping to haul in a log, a strong back to carry provisions back to a village. These small gestures built on each other until soon the unimaginable became a reality.
From the small villages of Hayfield, the news of this remarkable partnership spread like wildfire across the plains. In distant lands, people began to catch on, realising the immense benefits that a close relationship with horses could bring. This wasn’t a single event, but a movement, a gradual unfolding of collaboration.
By 0006, humans started harnessing this incredible power, using us for farming, transportation, and even war. Think of the impact this would have had! Horses became our way of connecting with the world, our way of bringing distant lands and people closer together. It's easy to forget what the world was like before we, horses, were integrated into their everyday lives.
Life for a wild horse in 0006 was vastly different. The wild horses roaming the hills, the plains, and the valleys didn’t yet experience the close bond humans shared with some of our ancestors.
In fact, some might have viewed their tamer kin with a degree of suspicion. Why did those horses seemingly submit to the humans, accepting a harness and obeying their instructions? Was it the comfortable warmth of a stable, or perhaps the tasty oats and hay that humans provided in exchange for their service?
Imagine being able to travel faster, farther, and more efficiently with a horse at your side. A journey that might have taken days, weeks, or even months could now be done in mere hours.
Of course, it wasn’t always rosy. There was, and remains, a dark side to this human-horse relationship. Sometimes, for some individuals, this partnership evolved into domination, a kind of slavery that robbed some horses of their dignity and their freedom. It is important for us to acknowledge these injustices, the hardships that some horses endure even today, as a species.
But overall, despite its flaws, the bond we forged with humans allowed both of us to thrive. Our collective strength, harnessed with understanding and care, built bridges, broke down barriers, and paved the way for a future of interconnectedness, development, and growth.
It is for this reason that 0006, despite being centuries in the past, continues to be a pivotal point in the horse's history. This was the dawn of a partnership, an era of co-creation and progress. As a grey draught mare born centuries later, I am proud to be a part of this legacy.
It is this story, this shared journey of partnership and understanding, that drives my own work today. From pulling the plough, helping with harvest, to hauling goods to market, I am part of the continuing legacy of horses in service, bringing together people, strengthening communities, and enriching our world.
And it is with this pride that I sign off this time, dear friends.
Until next time,
Your ever-so-loving Emma,
The grey draught mare from Hayfield.
*You can learn more about horses and their historical impact on the world by visiting the following websites: www.equiscience.org www.nationalhorseshoemuseum.org.uk www.thehorse.com *
You can submit your own horse stories and photos to EquiWorld on the 'share your stories' page on www.equiworld.org We welcome all tales of equestrian passion!
