A Greying Mare's Tale from Hayfield, Near Aberdeen
Hello, dear readers! Emma here, your resident historian of all things equine from the charming little village of Hayfield, nestled amongst the rolling hills near Aberdeen, Scotland. You might know me from my blog - my little corner of the vast and wonderful world of horses on the excellent www.equiworld.org. I love to tell you all about my adventures and the horses I encounter, from mighty stallions to gentle ponies, through history's grand and dusty path.
Today, we’re travelling back in time. I know, I know, you probably think it’s a little peculiar to talk about horses from the past… after all, I’m here in 2023 and I’m pretty sure they were around back then! But trust me, you’ll see that this journey into the past is exciting and surprising! Today's date is special - we’re in the year 131, a time that has left its mark not only in the world of horses, but the wider history of humanity too!
My, my, 131 is a curious time. It’s a time when horses still hold a key position in the world. People rely on us to carry them over rugged hills, to plough the fields and haul goods, and even to ride into battle. My very own life at Hayfield mirrors this - I pull the plough and cart, helping our community to harvest the fruits of our land.
I can’t remember much about what was going on back then. You see, my life here at Hayfield, near Aberdeen, hasn’t involved much grand adventure. Sure, there were the day-to-day worries - making sure the field was properly ploughed, fetching water from the well for the village and keeping my sturdy hooves healthy for the day's tasks - but I haven’t ridden across the battlefield or galloped through magnificent forests. However, even in our quiet corners of the world, whispers of a new emperor taking the throne in far away Rome reached our ears. It felt like the whole world was turning a new page!
From the way my human companion, young Thomas, tells it, life isn’t the easiest right now. A few years back, there was the dreaded ‘Barbarion’ raid. Those folks from further north - a bit rough around the edges, you know! - came storming in. Luckily for us, it seems the raiders weren't that interested in taking horses; I reckon they preferred their own, much swifter mounts. A few days, a bit of chaos, and it all blew over, thankfully.
But you see, it's these whispers, these whispers of the unknown, that make me really appreciate what I do know! Even from my humble position as a hardworking draught horse in Hayfield, I get to play my part in ensuring my fellow human friends can live their daily lives. That’s a great feeling. It's more fulfilling than chasing wild boars or dodging bandits across treacherous mountains - though I confess, the occasional wild boar encounter has been entertaining.
Just the other day, Thomas was telling me all about an amazing war-horse named Bucephalus. Apparently, he belonged to some mighty king named Alexander of Macedon. The legend goes that Bucephalus could be ridden by Alexander alone! And apparently, he rode him through battle after battle, conquering nations. To hear it from Thomas’ lips, it all sounds so… incredible! The idea of having a whole army following your every move, on your back - even as a draught horse, it gets my tail swishing!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s getting close to dinner time, and a rumbling stomach is much harder to ignore than the tales of Alexander’s exploits. Oh, I should also mention that my daughter, Rosebud, is turning one year old. She's still small and unsteady on her legs, and a little bit nervous about being the centre of attention, but she's already a very smart and strong foal. She’s my pride and joy. And who knows, perhaps she'll have adventures like Alexander and Bucephalus someday.
Stay tuned for next time, dear readers. We'll keep digging deep into the world of horses, delving further back in time to uncover even more exciting tales of those remarkable creatures, my fellow equines. Until then, may your stables be warm, your oats plentiful, and your hoofs strong and steady!
