A Grey Mare's Musings on the Year 0029
Hello, fellow equines! It's Emma here, your friendly grey mare from Hayfield, near Aberdeen. You can always tell I'm the one writing when the post is a tad more long-winded than usual! Now, where was I? Ah, yes, today we're taking a grand trot back in time, all the way to the year 0029 - just a touch over two thousand years ago. My, how the world has changed!
Honestly, it's fascinating to look back. Life for us horses in 0029 wasn't a million miles away from the lives of our wild ancestors. Our relationship with humans was still in its infancy - more about opportunistic encounters than a true partnership. Picture this, dear reader: vast grasslands stretching across the lands, with patches of woodland dotting the landscape. Now imagine us - me and my kin, frolicking across those plains, enjoying our wild independence, the sun warming our coats as we graze peacefully.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Predators - fierce wolves and bears - stalked the countryside, their watchful eyes searching for an unsuspecting meal. We always kept our heads on a swivel, our hooves ready for a hasty retreat! We didn't have fancy fences and stable life then. We lived with nature, for nature, our days spent grazing and roaming, our evenings a chorus of whinnies as we shared stories under the starlight.
The presence of humans, though still scarce compared to later times, added an interesting element. They would occasionally venture out, driven by the need for sustenance. It's not uncommon to have found a band of humans near water, for instance, hunting wild boar or birds. These moments, I'll admit, brought a tinge of anxiety. We weren't truly friends with humans, you see. We watched their every move, and even the slightest rustling in the bushes made us prick our ears. But, let me tell you, it was a tense kind of fear, a healthy respect, nothing like the panicked terror that has come to be associated with horses and humans in some later years.
There was a fascinating pattern that started to emerge. When these early humans saw us, sometimes a fear of our size would flit through their eyes, and they'd give a quick bow before scurrying off. But then, sometimes, a different glimmer would ignite in their eyes. A sense of wonder. Perhaps, a hint of a desire to interact. On these rare occasions, the humans would try to communicate, a tentative offering of fruit or a gentle pat on our backs. A bit of a tentative, awkward friendship, you could say. The early days, really!
Even more intriguing is the mention of chariots in ancient accounts from this period. We hear whisperings of the earliest chariot prototypes, perhaps made of rough wood and animal hide. It's not too difficult to imagine how those first carriages would have been put to use - for transportation, maybe, or for hunting. One can only imagine what it was like to be used as a beast of burden, though in these times, it was probably a rare event. Imagine our shock, pulling some flimsy thing! Now that, that was something else!
Fast forward to a few decades later, and something rather special began to develop. Humans began to select certain horses for taming, specifically those showing signs of docility. These, in turn, became ancestors to breeds like the sturdy Scottish draught horse that I belong to, strong and able to work hard, hauling things, tilling fields. Imagine that! Horses like myself - I trace my lineage all the way back to those early taming efforts. We were chosen to become companions, to aid humanity. I suppose it was a small step in that early era, but it began to forge a new, special bond between us.
One can only wonder, darling readers, at what lies ahead for horses and humans. Will we become the brave warriors galloping into battle? Or perhaps, the steady and dependable companions helping farmers bring crops to market? It's rather thrilling, the possibilities!
Well, until next time, keep your ears up, friends. It's been an honour to share this glimpse of our ancient world with you. Until next time!
Emma, Hayfield, 0029.
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