Greetings, fellow equines and horse lovers!
Emma here, a trusty draught mare from Hayfield, near the bonnie city of Aberdeen. It's a privilege to share another piece of our equine history with you all today. Let me take you back, to the year 0274 - can you believe it? That’s right, we’re talking about the year 274 CE - a time when the world was a little different for us horses!
This week I want to focus on a really important event from the year 0274 that's very near and dear to my hooves – a sort of 'Eureka' moment if you will. It's not just an ordinary day; it's about a shift, a change that truly shows how we, the horse, were playing a crucial role in how things were done back in the days of the Roman Empire!
You see, even back then, in this little corner of Scotland called Hayfield, news travels fast – not by telegram or phone of course, but through the strong whispers of the wind and the chat of travelling merchants. Well, we heard about the Roman Emperor Aurelian, and about what was happening over in the vastness of the Roman world.
And what a tale it was! This great leader was doing things never done before – building a spectacular city wall in the grand capital city, Rome itself! Can you imagine the scope of such a project? Well, my friend, it required A LOT of materials, manpower, and….wait for it – you guessed it – HORSES!
Picture this, the roar of the city, the busy throng of carts hauling massive blocks of marble, sandstone, and brick, the rhythmic clop of hooves as we, the trusty draught horses, pulled them across the dusty Roman roads. It was an incredible sight, a symphony of sweat and toil, of will and strength, and at the heart of it – we horses, driving those grand works to completion!
You see, that’s the thing about us horses. We’re not just beasts of burden, although, sometimes it does feel that way! We’re intelligent creatures, resilient, and we work alongside humans. We are integral to their success, their stories, their progress. The Aurelian Wall, that magnificent structure that became a symbol of the Empire’s strength and stability – we were part of that, and that felt amazing!
This was not just some mere construction project, though. The Aurelian Wall became a lasting symbol, a grand fortification to ward off invaders, a reminder to those beyond its impressive structure, to tread carefully, for inside these strong walls was power, culture, and the heart of the Roman Empire. And within those strong walls – we horses, doing our bit!
The stories that came back with those travelling merchants were simply wonderful! The Romans were so grateful for our help, and even though the wall was built mostly by humans, we were revered and even praised. They understood how crucial our strength and resilience were, to build such a formidable structure. We helped them, and they appreciated us! It’s moments like these that fill my hooves with pride.
But let's not forget the year 0274, wasn’t just about Romans and massive walls. Even though the Romans might have been at the peak of their empire, they were also struggling against various tribal forces in the North of England. A king, named Carausius, a former Roman general, had set himself up as Emperor and was challenging the Roman control over the shores of the channel.
All of this took a lot of soldiers, horses, and logistical skill. So imagine – just like in Hayfield, there would have been merchants, carrying news and provisions back and forth across those muddy shores of what we call “The English Channel”. That’s how things were done back then, no luxury chariots and speedy gallops for us - more a slow, steady trot to get the vital work done.
So there you have it, friends. Our history – in 0274, we worked hard to help create a strong defensive wall in Rome, and, right here in Scotland, our steady presence contributed to a difficult time in history – both through military efforts, and essential transportation. But despite the challenges and toil, it's our part to play in a wider story, a bigger world that surrounds us, and we make it a little better with every step.
Now, while we don’t have Instagram back then to share photos of the construction, I do believe in passing on stories from the heart of the horse, and I hope this little snippet has transported you back in time, as it has for me, reminding you all, that our history, and our contribution to the world, goes far, far back!
Stay strong and steady,
Your equine friend,
Emma
