Hello fellow equines! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood draught mare from the rolling green fields of Hayfield, near Aberdeen. Today we're taking a little journey back in time to the year 225 AD - that's about 1800 years ago! You wouldn't believe the things they did with horses back then - truly remarkable, though I wouldn't say the working conditions were as comfy as they are for us today!
So let's hop on our saddles, both literally and figuratively, and ride back through time to this fascinating era.
The air in Hayfield was crisp and clean, tinged with the scent of the heather that bloomed wildly across the rolling hills. It was a year of good crops and the farmer, a kind fellow named Angus, was in good spirits. You know the feeling, don't you? When you've been well-fed, rested, and your work is just right? Angus treated us well, with a generous hand for oats and plenty of space for our herd to roam and play. I can’t deny that it’s a fine way to live.
The sun rose early on a frosty morning, a promise of a bustling day ahead. I, alongside my brethren, felt the familiar tingle of anticipation – work called! Our strong frames and surefooted steps were indispensable in these parts, just as they had been for centuries before us. We weren't just workhorses – we were part of the fabric of this land.
As we began the day’s task, the world seemed to be painted in shades of vibrant greens and browns. The wind rustled through the oat stalks as I pulled the plough, a feeling both grounding and powerful. This was what we were built for, I thought, and for the first time in years, I truly appreciated the rhythmic motion.
As the day wore on, Angus mentioned how a messenger had ridden into Hayfield with exciting news from Rome, news of their Emperor! Now, it was a very rare thing for these "messages" to reach our remote corner of the world. We wouldn't be getting many tourists this far north! But as a nation, Scotland did seem to benefit from some of their trade, for good or ill. You see, it wasn't all sunshine and oats in this part of the world. Things were changing, very fast, and most of us didn't quite understand what was happening. All we knew was that things were going to be quite different, and that, to put it frankly, wasn't quite such good news.
War and The Roman Empire:
While I was pulling a cart through the oat fields, I heard Angus mumbling about “barbarians" and "the Emperor," but frankly I had no clue what that all meant. At this point, we had just gotten through the coldest, bleakest winter anyone here could remember. Our hooves sank deep in mud as we struggled to pull carts and ploughs. Some of the others in my herd weren't doing as well – some had succumbed to illness and the winter's chill. It was difficult, yet despite it all, a simple, rhythmic life. And that, in itself, was a great relief.
Later that week, our farmer invited us into his living room for a warm, fresh barley broth, something he never did! He told us tales of these great empires that ruled much of the known world – Rome, Persia, Egypt, all places with grand horses! He said some even lived in fine stables! The thought boggled our minds. Angus had some exciting maps in his house – these long, paper scrolls. I must say, the thought of such a massive world, and a sprawling network of Roman roads to navigate across this huge country, well, I have to admit it stirred something within me. The idea that such a thing as 'Empire' might actually exist, as well as the fact we were already part of this much bigger world - a bigger game than I had ever imagined – well, it made me think. I spent the rest of that day with my friends discussing just what life was all about - not just eating oats and hauling stones, but why it all existed in the first place!
What Happens on The Roman Roads:
Now, if we could somehow look past all this, it would seem that most of what went on was around keeping ourselves warm, feeding the families and ensuring the herds got through the seasons. It felt as if every other week there were new changes - the prices of goods, the availability of oats and wheat for the herds...and yet, despite these issues, everyone kept working. It wasn't much, but we worked together, in rhythm, and this was what I appreciated. I knew things were moving at an incredible pace. You see, when we were being sold at markets or fairs, there were people selling exotic and beautiful fabrics. From the east and south they came, along these Roman roads that crossed our nation. This wasn't a nation of roads, as much as it was a huge wilderness of highlands and lowlands. These roads became a focus point, something that defined us – the world was both much bigger and much more complicated now. I, for one, couldn’t imagine all those people, traders, officials, all making their way from one corner of the country to another. There were new rules, new taxes, new laws – sometimes this seemed to create a great deal of fear and tension, sometimes it made the herds excited to have new people visit the farms.
Life for Our Friends On The Roman Roads
You might imagine it’s a tough job to be a road horse! It's easy for me to say I feel for those working hard to survive along the roads, since we have a pretty safe, comfortable life out here in Hayfield! What little we knew from gossip and hearsay suggested that these horses were often under pressure – they were running at speed, covering long distances, sometimes carrying great burdens, and of course being asked to deliver urgent, even dangerous goods across the roads. But, in times of hardship, their contribution, along with that of their riders, were often vital! It made me wonder whether such things were worth the extra strain, the extra danger, the extra risk. But it felt vital to keep these roads open. Without these roads, everything would be very difficult. In fact, they said, the Romans were keen on expanding these roads and making them as strong and sturdy as they could - because roads meant trade. The horses helped people connect.
Changing Times:
I guess we're always at the mercy of others - at the mercy of human ambition, of weather and hardship. But still, at least in my life, we can only do what we do. What I see and sense, as a young horse on our peaceful patch of land, is that this period of great upheaval, change, uncertainty, might bring much more for us as a breed. For me personally, what this meant was to work harder, to be stronger, to help Angus and my friends carry on the day - and even, occasionally, to look back on those Romans as though they were in a dream. These mighty empires that have seemingly just popped into existence seemed so unreal! But we are connected to their actions, for better or worse. Sometimes it's difficult to say how they change things - some say the world is about to collapse. Who knows how it will be? What matters most, in my simple mind, is doing my duty. That, it seems to me, is all we really can do in these times.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the oat field, signalling the end of our working day. As we grazed together in the evening light, sharing the scent of fresh earth and barley, we realised how deeply our existence intertwined with that of humans. They were part of our world and, much as they took our strength and our loyalty, we needed their help. Together, we were both fragile and powerful – a force of nature that carried this ancient land. And within these vast hills and wide meadows, in the company of my fellow mares and the steadfast Angus, we quietly celebrated this life, this fleeting moment in time - 225 AD.
I trust this glimpse into my equine world was insightful for you! I do hope it encouraged you all to think about the vast impact our history has on us today, and to appreciate the hard work, dedication, and bravery of those who came before us! Until next time!
Emma, Hayfield, Scotland.
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