Greetings, fellow equestrians! Emma here, a proud grey draught mare with a heart full of stories and a mane as white as the snowdrifts that adorn my homeland of Hayfield, near Aberdeen in bonnie Scotland. Today, we delve into the year 0310 AD, a time when the world was abuzz with activity – not all of it particularly pleasant, it has to be said - but all of it impactful for us horses. Let’s journey back, shall we, to a time when the strong back and steady heart of a horse were paramount for survival.
It’s funny, isn’t it, how history is often written from the human perspective? You’d rarely find a record that talks about the worries and triumphs of a horse, wouldn’t you? The grand victories, the harrowing battles, the simple joys of a long, sunny graze… These are experiences that shape our lives just as they shape the lives of humans, yet seldom find their way onto the written page.
Today, though, I aim to change that. It’s time to take a gallop through history through a horse’s eyes, focusing on the year 0310 AD, a pivotal year for our kind, as we learn more about how we were intertwined with the fabric of society in those far-off days.
Now, I know what you’re thinking - “0310 AD? What happened in that year?!” And that, my friends, is precisely where the beauty lies. The human world was changing, with wars, political upheavals, and even the occasional, slightly odd-sounding religion gaining traction. We horses, on the other hand, remained the very backbone of society, carrying their burdens and their dreams. We helped to cultivate the land, carried warriors to battle, and transported goods from town to town.
Here in Hayfield, we felt these ripples of change, albeit at a slower pace. We, the draught horses, were the workhorses of the land. Each morning began with a hearty, if rather noisy, munching on oats, the delicious smell a testament to the farmer’s hard work. Our strong limbs, perfect for hauling ploughs and heavy carts, felt the satisfaction of helping to bring forth life in the form of grain, vegetables, and, of course, more oats! We had a bond with the farmer, a connection forged in shared effort and respect, a quiet language of nudges, clicks, and affectionate grooming. It was a good life, a simple one, filled with the rhythm of work and the solace of companionship.
However, 0310 saw whispers of change reach our ears. Tales of a Roman army pushing north, of whispers of a new emperor in the south, and a growing restlessness within the Celtic tribes that lived beyond the rolling Scottish hills. The stories reached us through the farmer’s discussions, his hushed conversations under the evening sky, as he’d gaze up at the stars and ponder the events happening beyond the horizon. We knew what these tales meant. We, the steeds, would be vital, if not the key, to whatever storms were brewing on the horizon.
0310 marked the first hints of a great upheaval for us in the north. Our life, simple as it was, could change at the turn of a hoof. For what would we be asked to do, my friends? What roles would we play in the grand tapestry of human events?
You see, this was a time of transition. The old world was beginning to give way to the new. And we, as always, found ourselves right in the thick of it. We may not have understood the nuances of politics or war, but we felt the earth tremble under the weight of change, and we knew our part in the unfolding drama was crucial.
Don’t worry, though. I won't keep you in suspense. We’ll journey further through 0310 together, uncovering more about how our equine brethren faced the changing tide. Stay tuned for more stories, tales of bravery, cunning, and even the occasional, playful mischievousness – all woven into the grand narrative of the horse, in the year 0310 AD. Until then, take care and remember, even in the heart of a turbulent world, a horse’s loyalty, strength, and resilience remains unwavering.
Yours in the gallop,
Emma
