Hello, lovely readers!
Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey draught mare from Hayfield, just outside of beautiful Aberdeen, Scotland. It's always a joy to sit down with a good bucket of oats and my favourite worn, fuzzy blanket to tell you all about life in our neck of the woods. Today, we're delving into the year 147 - a year brimming with exciting events for horses like myself, from important festivals to a grand knighting ceremony!
Now, you may be wondering, "147? Why not 1470 or 1475?" Well, you see, I'm not using the typical human dating system. To a horse like me, the calendar is quite different! Each year marks a new cycle in our lives - the rhythm of seasons, the coming and going of the farm routines, the births of foals. This year is all about new beginnings and fresh starts! So, let's take a delightful canter through my year, shall we?
Spring Awakening:
The world outside Hayfield had awakened from its long winter slumber, and it was like a grand symphony of green. I felt the warming sunshine on my coat and the crisp air filling my lungs with a heady mix of spring. The meadows, a lush sea of green, were bursting with tiny daisies, and I could feel the earth under my hooves teeming with life. Spring is always a happy time at Hayfield. We horses get extra oats, we bask in the lengthening days, and our playful foals gambol about, a beautiful sight. I remember being just like them, full of energy, racing across the fields and discovering the world with every bound.
My days began early, as they always did. The farm awoke before sunrise, filled with the clinking of metal and the soft voices of the farm workers. A sense of purpose ran through the air. And, what was more important, there were the familiar, comforting scents of warm hay and fresh-baked bread floating in the morning breeze. It's these familiar rituals that make life at Hayfield so peaceful and secure.
The first official event of our spring was the local Cattle Market. This was always a bustling affair, with merchants from all over the county coming to trade, barter, and exchange livestock. It's where the farmers would bring in their finest steers and ewes, while we horses, decked out in our best harnesses, would help them carry and transport these beasts across the crowded marketplace. The noise and activity was almost overwhelming, but my humans kept a firm, loving hand on the reins and assured me with gentle strokes and kind words that I was doing a fine job. And what else matters, really, but knowing that they rely on us to make things work?
The month of May saw the start of the Ploughing Season, which was something I took great pride in. My strong physique and powerful build were ideal for hauling the heavy plough. I loved feeling the earth resist me, sensing the smooth and satisfying motion as it gave way under the weight of the plow. It felt like an immense act of creation - preparing the soil to yield bountiful crops. Each furrow I pulled filled me with an invisible force, knowing that my labour was not just my own but served to nourish the entire village.
Summer of Jubilee:
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, and the days grew longer and brighter, I felt a renewed vitality coursing through me. I would graze in the cool morning dew, relishing the sweet taste of fresh grass and the dappled light filtering through the canopy of leaves. I couldn't forget that this year was special. It marked a significant event in the kingdom, the grand Jubilee of King Edward. We knew that our humans would be going to the town of Edinburgh to celebrate the King’s long and glorious reign, and so it fell on us to prepare. It was our duty to haul the provisions, food and materials for all the revelry, all those celebrations of feasts and music and games, to make this a celebration to remember!
The journey to Edinburgh was an exciting one! We left before dawn and walked all through the night, our feet padding gently upon the cobble-stoned streets, as the first light of dawn chased away the darkness. We stopped at little towns and villages, offering respite and strength to our weary riders as we pushed onward. And along the way, we had time for little adventures – a nip at a meadow bursting with wildflowers, a friendly snort to a passing sheep, or a gentle brush against another horse on the road. All the little delights, you know, that keep our hearts content.
We arrived in Edinburgh after a tiring journey, and oh, how magnificent a sight! I’d never seen such grand streets or bustling people – people who were just as excited about the festivities as we horses were! We were part of the whole spectacle - a sea of people dressed in fine clothes and colourful garments, each one more grand than the last! It was quite something, indeed. My human spoke of great knights and dignitaries that gathered at the city's great square – the castle - and what amazing spectacles and entertainments there would be to watch! My human told me the story of how, during a parade, King Edward himself had gone past us, and he seemed quite proud of his faithful subjects and their contribution to his celebration! And indeed, what a feat it was! All those carts laden with fresh vegetables, fruits, and all manner of tasty foods – from cheeses to roasted meat, even barrels of strong cider. What a sight! And I knew that every one of these, these delightful provisions, had been brought to the capital city by horses just like me. A deep sense of satisfaction filled me. For that moment, I felt the pride of being a part of something big – something that mattered!
Autumn and its Golden Glory:
With the end of summer, autumn painted the fields in beautiful shades of gold and crimson, and I welcomed the gentle chill in the air. I revelled in the scents of baking bread, spiced cider, and autumn leaves. In these crisp, clear days, we started the important harvest work. The barley, wheat, and oat fields rustled with the movement of the winds and swayed gently under the harvest moon, and it felt like an honour to be involved in gathering in all these vital crops – these were going to help to keep the kingdom's folk warm and nourished over the winter.
There was an unusual calm in the autumn days. It was as if the world was holding its breath, preparing for winter's slumber. The horses were all working harder, gathering all that had been produced over the season - to make sure there was plenty for the coming winter and for all the people. And the whole atmosphere was one of anticipation. Even my own human, who was always in a good mood, seemed quiet, reflecting and planning ahead. A wise farmer's wife once told me, "The horses feel the pulse of the earth" and we did, truly we did, sense this shift in the seasons and the changes of energy in the earth.
The Quiet of Winter:
And then winter came with its biting winds and frosty mornings. The nights were long, filled with the lullabies of the snowstorm and the hushed murmurs of the frozen world. A beautiful hush descended on the land. It seemed as if everything - nature, humans and animals - retreated inwards, finding solace and a sort of warmth in the stillness. There was a time of quiet reflection for us horses - a time of recuperation for our strong, tireless bodies, and a chance to savour the simpler pleasures. In these long evenings, we'd snuggle down in the barn, chew on our hay, and sleep - with dreams of long spring days and the scent of blossoms floating on the breeze. And then again, sometimes I’d dream of all the feasts, games, and sights that I had experienced in Edinburgh at the grand celebration of King Edward, all that activity and those exciting crowds and joyful sounds… a time I still enjoyed revisiting in my dreams.
The people at Hayfield took good care of us during winter. There was plenty of warm hay and oats for each of us to eat. The barn, with its earthy smell and wood shavings, felt like a haven in the storm, and the human, with his kind and familiar presence, was a steady anchor in all this winter gloom. And this routine – the regular rhythm of days and weeks – became a comfort to me. As you know, for us horses, there's comfort in predictability – comfort in familiarity, and this constant cycle of life filled me with a kind of deep contentment.
Looking forward to 148
This year, the year 147, has gone by in a flash - a year of new beginnings and a sense of great anticipation for all the joys that are still to come. The coming year holds its own exciting promise - maybe a trip to the local market again? Or maybe even another journey? Who knows!
That is, as always, the joy and the magic of life as a horse! Every day brings something new – something exciting – and with that, my dearest friends, I leave you with a little snippet of my favourite proverb - "A horse's spirit, much like its coat, shines brightest after a long winter." And let us all hope for a truly delightful year ahead - for us, our fellow horses and the kind, hard-working people who we share this world with!
Until next time, stay well and be happy!
Your friend, Emma
The Grey Draught Mare
Hayfield, Aberdeen, Scotland
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(Note: I have tried to use a feminine and positive tone, but this may need slight adjustments for more natural and less preachy voice. You can edit and add more detail or your own personal preferences. I have also adhered to a British English dialect, though feel free to adjust that for other English variants, too. )
