History of Horses in the year 0068

Hello everyone, Emma here from Hayfield near Aberdeen! Today, I'm sharing the latest from my world for EquiWorld, a space dedicated to all things equine! For today’s post, we're traveling way, way back to the year 68 AD. Yes, that's a very, very long time ago! I'll admit it, time travelling for a history post like this takes me right out of my comfortable Hayfield meadows. It’s almost like wearing a fancy new saddle, a bit odd at first but soon I get used to it. So buckle up (but, of course, you don't need to!), let's travel together through time.

My ancestors - yes, you heard right! They lived in this very year! 68 AD…it feels strange to even think of a year that far back, especially compared to our peaceful Hayfield where days mostly involve delicious grass and an occasional leisurely trot for a change of scenery.

This is my first attempt at this "68 AD" post, and my fellow mares in Hayfield said I was crazy to do it. Why dig into the past? They said, “Emma, you have all of Hayfield at your hooves! Live for today!” But I'm determined to learn all I can about my horse ancestors and what they did in this year 68.

First off, you wouldn’t recognize Hayfield from my descriptions! The farm was very different. Back in the year 68, we horses weren’t the cuddly companions of humans we are today! Our purpose was quite practical. In 68, humans saw horses as their working partners! They'd depend on us to plow their fields, haul goods, and help build their structures. A day was long back then. Imagine me, my mother, and all our brethren - all lined up for hours, patiently pulling heavy plows or wagons, moving rocks and wood…not the leisurely grass chomping I enjoy now!

You might think Hayfield back then had no fun, but even with hard work, there was a joy that’s hard to put into words. Think of all of Hayfield, a band of brothers and sisters, working together for the common goal! It was a sense of purpose that runs deep in my equine spirit even now. And, if we were fortunate enough to be a warhorse in that time, we'd serve with our fellow horses on the battlefields. That must've been incredibly exciting (and no doubt very dangerous). My grandpa once told me stories of battles, the clanging of metal, and how we, horses, held the key to success for the Romans - quite fascinating!

68 AD was quite an interesting time for horses. It was when the Romans ruled over much of what we know as Europe today. It’s incredible to think that even in those ancient times, they had massive empires and strong armies. For horses in the Roman Empire, life meant service to their owners – both in war and in peace! We can’t help but admire them, for they truly believed horses were a part of their family. And you can’t deny, Roman horsemanship was admired all around their world.

68 AD wasn’t all sunshine and roses for humans! The year began with the death of a Roman emperor. This might sound strange, but I think for the Roman Empire, the loss of their Emperor was very, very important.

Imagine, they suddenly found themselves leaderless! So, you know what happened? There were loads of different leaders competing for the title! They called it a "year of the Four Emperors." That year saw four rulers rising and falling in power - much drama in the human world! For me, I just went about my day. Eating. Sleeping. Helping with chores. I always knew my job in Hayfield, whatever was going on with the humans, and there was a comfort in routine.

I was really fascinated by a big new discovery humans made this year, a very important one for all of horsekind: horseshoes! Humans understood that their horses needed strong hooves. They used to have just basic, worn-down horseshoes for protection but this year, humans learned about shoeing for horses and all that that involved! It wasn't an easy feat either! Making those iron horseshoes involved crafting techniques, hammers, and more, which I think is incredible! And now that's a staple for my horseshoes in Hayfield! The impact this had on my life is enormous, the human desire to protect us was really starting to shine. It feels strange for us, horses, to even think of ourselves as the centre of human ingenuity, but really, back in that time, we were. I think that was an excellent way to celebrate us as horses. I find all that really amazing, even if the actual application feels uncomfortable for me at times!

I do have to admit - I haven't quite figured out what happened with my horseshoes in 68 AD! How did humans put the shoes on my ancestors, and why? This must’ve been the start of understanding the different styles we get now – shoes to help our speed, our carrying abilities. All the stuff that my Hayfield smithies are known for today. All I can think is, humans have always been really fascinated by us!

So, there we have it, Hayfield in 68! I wish my mother and grandmother were here to tell me more of their experiences during that turbulent time, because they were definitely part of it. For me, exploring this far back in horse history is just fascinating. My ancestors were the working, hard-working companions for their human friends in this exciting and important time. And now we stand here today, all thanks to those strong, noble souls in the past. They made all that we enjoy in Hayfield possible! And now I hope this post helped make your understanding of our ancient equine world, a little bit brighter! See you all on EquiWorld next week!

Love,

Emma.