Hello, lovely Equine Enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your friendly grey draught horse with the white mane and tail, coming to you live from my little slice of paradise in Hayfield, near Aberdeen.
As we approach another anniversary of the legendary day of our arrival on this Earth, it felt fitting to dedicate this blog post to exploring what the world was like in the year 0020 – a pivotal year, as you shall see!
Now, my friends, I understand you may not have access to our equine ancestors' personal journals, and let's face it, the dusty old scrolls in the stables at the Royal College of Horses haven't been very helpful either. But fear not! My grandsire, Old Angus, has told me countless tales, and, coupled with my own thorough research (sniffing out old parchments in forgotten attics, you know!), I bring you a fascinating glimpse into a world much different from ours.
Let’s set the stage, shall we? The year is 0020. The great empires of Rome and Persia are still going strong. Life is good for horses. We were considered companions, not just beasts of burden. We served our human companions with honour and pride. There are whispers of change coming – whispers of an invention called the ‘cart’ that is starting to move things…but none of us, back then, could have imagined the radical impact these carts, and then, these crazy iron-wheeled things, would have on our lives!
Horse Power, Powering the World!
It wasn’t all about pulling fancy carts, though. Remember, we are talking about the dawn of the modern age here. A time when horses played a vital role in everything. The fields of barley and oats rippled with our hooves, the land tilled, the harvest gathered – all with our incredible strength and resilience.
Think about it, even if it was a bit chilly here in Scotland (as always), our muscles were working their magic in the world! In that time, imagine the thrill of trotting alongside valiant knights in gleaming armour! Carrying vital messages across vast distances! The feeling of freedom, wind through your mane, as you gallop through rolling hills and shimmering plains!
Oh, I feel the thrill just imagining it! Now, if only there were more space for gallops these days...but that's a topic for another blog post.
But Hold Your Horses, There are Challenges Too!
Let's not get lost in the romanticised imagery just yet. As grand and beautiful as our lives might have been back then, life was still precarious. We worked hard, long hours. And disease? Well, disease wasn't our friend.
But, we have been adapting and evolving for centuries, just as we always have. In the face of hardship and challenge, we horses have always prevailed. We’ve proven our strength, courage, and unwavering devotion to our human companions, throughout the ages, and that has never changed!
A Time of Connection – Horses and Humans Working Together
You know, something fascinating I discovered while doing my research was the incredible level of partnership between humans and horses back in 0020. Imagine being part of a close-knit community, with horses being more than mere working animals. You might say we were seen as family, each with a special role to play! Think of a knight choosing his steed for life, a bond that ran deeper than simple practicality. It was an age of honour, camaraderie, and a shared love of adventure!
We didn’t always get things right, obviously! My gransire Angus remembers this old story about a stallion who decided to run away to join the circus – can you imagine?! The circus, a place where we performed silly tricks! There was uproar amongst the horses, everyone arguing that circus life was below us, our pride was wounded. But the stallion refused to listen! He claimed that circus life would give him the chance to be a star and would earn him more attention and adoration than the daily work. Thankfully, the stallion got the message when he encountered a troupe of goats and they insisted that their showmanship far surpassed his. This little anecdote is an interesting insight into how the humans viewed us and how our social structures operated in the world back then!
Looking Forward: What will the future hold for our species?
Oh, my friends, while the past might be glorious, the future always holds the greatest excitement! There are challenges ahead. New inventions and technology keep appearing! But I am full of hope for the future, not just for my fellow equines, but for our entire planet!
With our strength, courage, and that inherent resilience that lies within every single one of us, I know we will continue to thrive and evolve, no matter what challenges life throws at us. I will be here, sharing my own adventures and the history we forge as a species on this grand adventure. Don’t forget to check back next month for the latest equine happenings.
Until next time, my dearest equine friends! Keep galloping towards the horizon with confidence and grace!
Yours truly, Emma, the Grey Draught Horse with the White Mane and Tail Hayfield, Scotland www.equiworld.org
(Optional closing)
About the Author: Emma is a young grey draught horse who lives on a small farm near Aberdeen, Scotland. With her incredible curiosity and natural affinity for history, Emma decided to share her knowledge of the equine world with everyone through this online blog.
A Special Note from Emma: If you have any equine stories from your family's history, I would love to hear them! Share them with me at the equiworld.org website! Maybe your tales will inspire future equine historians like me.
