Neigh-hoo everyone! Emma here, a grey mare with a heart of gold and a passion for all things equestrian. Welcome to my little corner of the EquiWorld, where we travel through time, one hoof-beat at a time. Today, we're venturing back to the year 0230, a year of much change and adventure.
My story starts in the highlands of Scotland, nestled amongst the rolling hills of Hayfield near Aberdeen. A beautiful place to live, with fields lush with clover and bracken, a sparkling river and a quaint little stable built by the friendly humans. They are good humans, I’ve never had cause to grumble.
I, Emma, a 20 year old grey mare, was the backbone of our stable. We had two sturdy young colts – Finn and Skye, both fiery and full of playful spirit, as well as a handsome chestnut stallion named Calum, a quiet and gentle giant with an unerring sense of calm. I, with my thick, white mane and tail flowing in the breeze, had the privilege of leading our team – the guiding force through the tough work and the ever-patient instructor for my spirited younger stable-mates.
0230 dawned with a sense of optimism. The crops were plentiful, the land bountiful and the people, as always, were preparing for the grand annual Gathering. A celebration of life, honouring the bonds between man and horse and praising the Earth for its gifts. I remember the anticipation in the air, the eager anticipation for a fortnight of merry making, and of course, the most exhilarating races for horses.
That year, there was something truly special in the air. I felt a buzz amongst the human folk and the animals alike – a feeling that this year would be different, maybe even better. And it was, in so many ways! The Gathering was larger than ever, brimming with vibrant life, filled with the sounds of clanging hammers and joyous laughter, with the scent of warm bread and freshly-mown hay.
The races were fierce, a battle of strength and speed. But it was the new innovation of 'sturdy wheels' - what they called carriages - that caught everyone’s attention. You could feel the energy shifting in the air, a thrill and a sense of nervous anticipation. Humans were riding faster than ever before. A little unnerving, to be honest, and a bit terrifying to watch from a stable stall. It seemed like everyone was trying to break the sound barrier – well, in horse world terms, at least! There was a general consensus that these ‘wheels' were dangerous!
They didn't slow down. The racing and travel, everything sped up, fuelled by this new excitement for the carriage and, dare I say, a little bit of ambition. We horses watched with cautious curiosity, pondering what this rapid change would mean for our future. But we are, as you know, adaptable creatures. As they say, when the wind blows, we adjust our sails!
A few of the clever humans, who thought a lot, saw beyond the instant rush and embraced the practical uses of the carriages. They were already talking about using them for longer journeys, to transport goods across land, much faster than by our own feet.
There were new techniques being tried too – new types of saddles, different ways of grooming, and most significantly, they were experimenting with 'harnessing', something I can't explain well, but it meant horses like me would be more connected to these carriages. The old way – riding, walking, and racing – remained strong, and was not, as many humans fear, dying out, but the new, 'wheeled' era seemed to be making an impact, just the same.
But in that year, 0230, I also sensed something deeper. The horses themselves seemed to understand the shifting winds, too. They felt a responsibility. They recognized that the new age wouldn't necessarily replace our ways. But it demanded us to learn, to adapt, to be the most resilient version of ourselves. The 'wheeled' era wasn’t about losing, but about a shared journey with our human companions. We weren't just steeds of power, we were partners. A fact I reminded young Skye every time I had to nudge him during those long training runs, but it felt important, this new dynamic, even though a bit confusing, too.
That's my little window into 0230, my friends. A time of change and adaptation, and most importantly, a time that underlined the enduring bond between horse and human. We were adapting to a new way of life, and despite the worries of my fellow mares, the change, while scary, was not so bad after all. After all, even though we horses are very clever, the humans are pretty good at innovating too. Who knows what surprises are yet to come!
Stay tuned for the next adventure! I'll be posting my adventures from 0231 next week – until then, remember to live life to the fullest, with the courage of a stallion and the heart of a mare! Neigh-hoo!
