Good afternoon, my dear Equine friends! Emma here, writing from the beautiful rolling hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland. It's a lovely, sunny morning here and the smell of hay and dew hangs heavy in the air, promising a beautiful day for work in the fields. Today, however, I thought I'd take a break and catch up on some equine history for you all!
I know, I know, history isn't always the most thrilling thing in the world - we'd all rather be out cantering in the meadows! - but knowing where we come from helps us understand where we're going, don't you think? So settle in, put your hooves up, and join me for a trip back in time. Today, I'm going to share with you what I've discovered about the year 185 - a particularly interesting year for the world of horses!
You know, back then, life wasn't quite as easygoing as it is for us today. The horse was truly the 'backbone of industry', the only dependable form of transportation in most parts of the world. People couldn't simply hop into a car to go shopping or visit their neighbour - the horse was their feet, so to speak!
In 185, I can just imagine a whole range of activities for my equine counterparts. I would have found myself in one of the following scenarios:
Working on a farm There'd be plenty of work on farms in 185 - ploughing the land, hauling carts of grain and hay, even delivering goods to market. It wouldn't have been all backbreaking labour though. Imagine the joy of running free in the fields after a long day, or the feeling of kinship with your fellow workhorses! I can only imagine the strength and the power they had to carry on through such tasks!
Pulling carriages and coaches Of course, I wouldn't have just been in the fields, for there were exciting adventures in town, too! Some of my colleagues would have been pulling elegant coaches through bustling cities, ferrying passengers from place to place, carrying people to work, taking children to school or allowing travellers to enjoy the beauty of the countryside in comfort. It's hard not to imagine that was a truly magnificent sight, watching their glistening coats pulling carriages full of people against the backdrop of Victorian England!
Taking part in equestrian activities Not to be overlooked was the growing love for horses! The art of riding and horse training had become quite sophisticated back then. This meant many of us were also part of the sporting world! Some of my friends would have been racing against each other, displaying their agility and speed on the racecourses, while others would have been jumping over obstacles or performing complex dressage movements. Just think - the adrenaline rush, the excitement, the applause of the crowd! A very special life for my brothers and sisters, indeed.
Joining the military And let's not forget the horses that proudly served in the military! Back then, the horse was a critical part of the army - carrying soldiers, pulling artillery, and playing a vital role in battles and campaigns around the globe. Their courage and loyalty were legendary. What an honourable duty to serve!
You know, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, of course. 185 saw the continued evolution of mechanisation, the rise of steam power, and the beginning of the end for many types of horse-drawn transportation. It's a time when horse-drawn power was beginning to be eclipsed by other methods, especially for some kinds of jobs like pulling carts, and although it took a while for horses to feel the impact of this fully, this time period must have felt like a very special moment for all the hard working horses, who could proudly remember what the world had been like 'before' - a time when every form of movement relied upon us!
And of course, horses are more than just tools - they are living creatures with hearts and minds of their own! They had feelings and emotions - fear, excitement, affection, loyalty - just like we do!
The horse was more than just a working animal. Horses were symbols of freedom, courage, and power, they featured in art and literature, were woven into mythology and folklore. The sight of a sleek, strong, powerful horse galloping across the fields would still have captured hearts and imaginations everywhere! I'd like to think the horse, in 185, remained an integral part of people's lives and hearts, even as mechanisation gradually transformed society.
In fact, I believe that people recognised their role as part of a 'team' - working together to achieve amazing things. We weren't just a means of transport, we were the means of bringing communities together, bringing crops to the market, taking loved ones to be cared for at the local hospital - we played a fundamental role in making their world tick! I know from our lives now, that these were very special relationships indeed.
What’s changing in 185 for us, then?Well, you can't ignore the technological advancements. The steam engine and the railroad, especially, are on the rise! It means things are changing for all horses. I can only imagine that a new chapter is opening in history! My 'family' on farms would have still relied on horses for labour - to turn the fields, haul crops, move supplies. But in cities, new roads with rails would be appearing for carts pulled by trains instead! Even today we feel the effects of these changes on our lives, as we adapt and continue to help people and the world in new ways. There's a wonderful and exciting feeling of possibility when we look ahead into the future - that's what I hope this period in history reminded you of, my equine friends!
We may no longer have the same role as we once did - we are now no longer the dominant mode of transportation - but we still play an incredibly vital role in people's lives - both in leisure and on farms - and we continue to be part of their stories. I think that is a pretty great thing for us!
That's it for today, my friends! Remember, the horses of the world are our history, and as they evolved over the centuries, they also shaped the world. Now go enjoy the beautiful weather, and next time, I'll talk about life on Hayfield farm in 185. Until then, I wish you a pleasant day filled with happy gallops and lovely moments with your people!
Yours hooves, Emma
Don't forget to visit the www.equiworld.org website and discover more about horse history - past, present and future!