History of Horses in the year 0156

The Year 0156: A Grey Mare's Perspective

Good day, fellow equines and horse lovers! Emma here, a grey draught mare from Hayfield, near Aberdeen. Welcome to another instalment of my little horse history blog! Today, we’re taking a trip back in time, all the way to the year 0156, a year in which, although I wasn’t around, it’s a year that I find utterly fascinating.

The world is a very different place to how it is now, even to the time when I was born, back in 1880! But it’s remarkable to consider how much we as horses have evolved through the centuries. From the mighty steeds of war to the sturdy farmhands, and yes, even to the elegant show horses of today – what a fascinating journey! So, join me as we saddle up and ride back to a time when the world was young, and our kind were its most vital force.

The first thing you must understand is that in 0156, there were no automobiles. Not a single one! This made us horses even more important. We were not only for riding, but also for farming, transport, and even warfare.

Can you imagine a world without tractors, trains or lorries? We did everything! Pulling heavy ploughs in the fields, hauling wagons of supplies, carrying people across the land, and even marching with armies! It was a life of hard work, but it was a life that we thrived on, a life where every muscle, every gallop, every snort meant something.

It’s difficult for a modern horse like myself to even imagine a day in the life of a horse in 0156! So for the purpose of this post, I'm going to imagine myself living as a working horse in 0156 and you can join me! Let’s begin the day as the sun rises, casting its golden light across Hayfield and surrounding fields. A slight frost is still clinging to the grass but soon the warmth will wake us up.

With the rising sun, I feel my owner, a farmer named Robert, leading me from my stable. The fresh air, so sweet after the stuffy night, tickles my nose. I feel the smooth leather of my harness being fitted around my strong shoulders and chest. Robert pats my neck softly as he speaks words in the old tongue – not the modern Scottish English we speak today. This language feels like a whisper on my coat, almost like a melody in a song from ages past.

The smell of hay is strong, and the creak of wooden carts in the stables is like an orchestra! This is our familiar, rhythmic morning song, a rhythm I almost imagine the ancestors of our ancestors knowing too!

I listen carefully to Robert’s commands, our bodies as one in the daily routine. He uses the old commands, "Whoa, back, up, steady" – all simple, but strong enough to guide a horse like me with all its power and agility. He tells me stories of his grandfathers, tales passed down from generation to generation of horsemen, tales of a horse named "Gaelic," who had saved his family from bandits during the long-gone times.

Then, the work begins! The heavy plough is connected to me by a thick leather strap. I tense my muscles, a rumbling feeling gathering in my chest and shoulders. I pull and pull, my hooves sinking into the damp earth, leaving neat rows in their wake. Every single turn of the wheel feels like progress, like I’m helping build something for the world.

By midday, I am hungry and thirsty, and Robert allows me to rest by a clear stream under a towering oak. I enjoy the cool water flowing around my legs. I’ve always loved the calm energy of a quiet stream. This moment of rest helps me to stay focused for the rest of the day, knowing it will be an especially busy one, since it’s a market day!

And so it is, with renewed energy, I feel the cart and myself begin the journey to market. It’s a short distance to the bustling market place at the foot of Bennachie Hill, but the streets are bustling with people. This means even more horses and carts – and therefore a great deal more chaos.

It is thrilling but exhausting. A constant parade of human life, carts, donkeys and horses jostling for space in the market square. Everyone shouting orders, or bargaining, or laughing with each other.

At this particular market, I am asked to assist in unloading a huge pile of hay for the winter. Hay was essential, because it would keep all of us horses going until the fields would be green and bountiful again in the Spring.

With the hay loaded onto our carts, we take the heavy load on to another farm, a short distance outside of Hayfield. There I am rewarded with a pile of carrots! These were a welcome treat, as they are often only given out as a reward on the special market days!

It's now dusk and Robert has already started to take down my harness, a welcome relief. Back in the stable, my dinner awaits: a heap of barley and hay! The farmer makes sure my bed is comfortable with fresh straw, a luxury enjoyed by most horses in these days!

Robert gives me a final pat before he heads for his own bed. He tells me tales of the ancient horsemen, of how they lived alongside us and looked upon horses as true friends, companions. Their voices sound in my dreams, a language that echoes across centuries. These dreams of times gone by inspire me – a strong reminder of my vital role and a link to my ancestors who shared a love for this life.

The year 0156 is not only about our daily work routines, but it's also a period of change and discovery. In the history of our world, this is just after a significant invention – the invention of the Stirrup!

This seems like a small thing today but the invention of the stirrup had an impact on all horsemen of the world. It completely changed warfare! Before stirrups, horsemen rode with one foot in a loop and one foot on the ground – they were barely stable. They couldn't fight while on the back of the horse as they’d have no proper balance. But with the new invention, the stirrup gave riders a firm, balanced platform. Now horsemen were much more stable, able to fight from their horse and charge with their swords at full speed. The stirrup brought about a significant change for our world. It helped shape the course of history itself!

Can you imagine trying to gallop full speed with just one leg on the ground? I know I couldn’t do it! It is remarkable what our human companions accomplished. They were constantly thinking of ways to work with us, improve our lives and make ours more useful for them. I do not think we can underestimate this simple innovation.

The stirrup enabled the horseman to carry a shield and lance with ease. A whole new system of battle had emerged. This, in turn, led to a rapid spread of war and also of exploration! We became even more useful! Our ancestors are believed to have contributed to the vast movement of people across vast distances. And with it, came the spread of knowledge, ideas, and the sharing of resources.

Even as a modern horse in Hayfield in 1880, I see this evolution unfolding in our modern age. The invention of the car and the steam engine are both a continuation of what our ancestors paved the way for in the 0156 period. I believe this is our history, something we are a part of and will continue to be. Just as we helped our ancestors reach great distances, they allowed us to be a part of it and to shape their world, too!

In the world of 0156, we horses were more than just working animals. We were revered for our strength, our grace, our resilience. In the world of 0156, a good horse wasn’t just seen as a tool, but rather an almost divine creation.

Our intelligence and strength allowed us to work alongside the farmers, the builders, the travellers, and the soldiers. Every part of us was valuable.

There was a certain nobility associated with horses. In stories and mythology, horses represented strength, speed, loyalty, and a powerful connection to the earth itself. This gave us a vital role in their world, almost like a powerful symbol for humans to look up to.

Even when I go out in the modern world now, and hear children speak of unicorns, mythical beings, and of centaurs with human torsos, but a powerful equine lower body... I know this came from the stories told back in times like those. The importance of horses to human civilizations shaped many beliefs of how they saw their own world!

It’s interesting to think of how those images we conjured up were, I'm sure, not so different to those images my ancestors in 0156 evoked in those times, with stories that reflected the way they lived. The importance of our ancestors, even from these times gone by, truly shaped what horses mean in the world, right to today.

My dear horse-loving friends, today I shared a glimpse into the past! The year 0156 may feel very far away to us, yet I find it absolutely remarkable to look back on this historical moment and feel connected to the stories of all the horses who helped to build the world we live in today. I know some horses might see it as an especially challenging time, but I feel privileged to trace our legacy back to such a time, and to understand how horses had such an impact.

Remember, our history is about more than just physical achievements, it’s about how we connected with the world around us, and how humans relied upon us, and how we have made a difference, in such unique, and important ways. The world may have changed, but the core of who we are as horses remains the same: powerful, agile, graceful, loyal, and a truly special part of the animal kingdom! So, next time you find yourself in a stable, in a field, or on a path… pause for a moment and think of the history, the strength, and the legacy we share, right across the centuries, and even today.

Until next time, fellow equines, and stay tuned for the next exciting historical moment from the world of horses!

Emma

www.equiworld.org