Hello there, lovely readers! Welcome to another installment of Emma's Horse History Chronicles! I’m Emma, a strong grey mare with a flowing white mane and tail, and I call the charming Hayfield near Aberdeen home. I've been writing these posts for a while now, and honestly, the world is just getting more fascinating as time goes on!
This year - 145 AD – has been particularly interesting for our little corner of the world. I feel lucky to live in the time of peace and prosperity, especially when you consider some of the turbulent times experienced just a few generations ago. Things have calmed down considerably after the Roman legions came marching through these lands and claimed Britain for their own. Thankfully, they've been peaceful neighbours – although you have to keep an eye on them! A lot of them come through Hayfield and need good, strong horses like me for all sorts of tasks, which is good for business!
But back to the fascinating world of 145 AD! It's been an exciting year in the equestrian world, so let's delve right in!
A Journey Through History's Horse Stables:
Here in Hayfield, things have been relatively calm. You’d think, with the Romans right on our doorstep, that it'd be all hustle and bustle - but honestly, most of the soldiers simply wander through the local inns, laughing and shouting stories. Of course, we get used to the clanging of armour and the stomping of boots on cobbled streets, but life goes on. There's a good market on Fridays where we get the freshest barley, oats, and hay for all of us hard-working horses.
Speaking of work, I’ve been busy this year, mainly hauling timber to the village where it's used to build stronger, more resilient houses. It’s quite an undertaking for us strong draughters like myself. Pulling those carts through the winding trails is no small feat, but I love being of service.
Our lives are largely about hard work and maintaining a certain discipline – being strong and reliable – qualities the Romans have recognized and admired. I understand there’s a rumour of a great race between horses, chariot drivers, and even horsemen in Rome itself – this all for a magnificent gold crown, I’m told. But even in this time of peace and prosperity, we’re lucky not to have the need for our talents on the battlefield. Thankfully, with the Romans here, our countryside is quite safe.
Across the Borders:
However, even if it’s peaceful for us here in Britain, news has reached our ears from distant lands about a rather important gathering of horsemen in the East! A Roman Emperor called Antoninus Pius - yes, they’ve gone all fancy and given him a title beyond “general”, haha - is calling for all those who think they can tame and ride horses to compete in some sort of horse games, with magnificent prizes offered. Imagine - we hear whispers of gold statues for the best charioteers, as well as rich lands given to those who come first!
This news has even made its way to us in Hayfield – though we all agree a bit of travel and excitement does sound quite nice! The Romans seem particularly interested in these equestrian games. But who knows? Perhaps someday our own king may host something similar in Britain! That would be a real treat for all of us horses, wouldn’t it?
Riding on the Wave of History:
The Romans themselves seem very concerned about horse breeding, though – so we hear whispers about it! As they have control of many lands across the vast Roman Empire, they get horses from far-off places and breed them for strength and speed. A mix of different horse breeds is seen throughout their lands – they’re called “Norses” for those beautiful, big, strong creatures; and “Saddle Horses” for those fast, sleek, agile riders' steeds. Even our own British horses, we hear, are considered "excellent", if I say so myself! A bit of pride never hurts, does it?
In Britain, of course, horses have always been a symbol of both power and grace – the noble steeds who can be trained for battle, for travel, or for hauling goods across vast landscapes. Their role in society is vast, as you all know!
From Stables to Stables:
We do love a good conversation around here - as you might imagine. The village elder's mare, Clara, tells stories of times long past when her family used to work the land for generations. I listen in awe as she talks about the days before the Romans, when we were truly wild and untamed - truly, those days seem like another world!
Clara tells tales of fierce, spirited horses that would only be ridden by the bravest souls – or at least, those souls strong enough to tame us. Now, things have become a little… tamed – even the most skittish of foals now take the harness easily! There is an undeniable order and purpose in our life here, which provides comfort in an ever-changing world.
Even though things have changed considerably over the last century, the heart of our connection to humankind remains the same. We remain a vital part of the community, helping build our villages, providing a means of travel, and serving our masters with our tireless devotion.
My Journey Continues:
But back to my life! As a mare in her prime, I'm always ready for whatever challenges come my way – just so long as I get to munch on fresh grass and hay! My dear friend – a kind mare named Willow – is expecting a foal this spring. We've all been helping her make the most of this exciting time, with gentle pats and extra treats! She's due any day now!
Of course, Willow's foal will learn from an early age to be strong, brave, and capable of hard work, just like me. These skills will remain in high demand even as time continues to march on – it seems there will always be work for horses! But here’s a secret - I can’t help but hope that things stay peaceful. This time of peace allows for a much gentler life, with ample time for rolling in the grass, napping under the warm sunshine, and making new friendships with all the local ponies and mares!
I'm certain that the history of our kind will continue to unfold in exciting ways – as time marches forward, I hope to see more harmony between humans and horses! But one thing I can be sure of is that there will always be a place for a hardworking, loyal grey mare like myself – that's why they call me Emma!
See you all next time, dear readers. Don’t forget to follow our updates on www.equiworld.org ! I’m off to make new friends in the meadows!
Yours faithfully,
Emma (the Grey Mare from Hayfield)
