Year 0592 - A Year in the Life of a Working Horse
Greetings from Hayfield!
It's Emma here, your trusty grey draught horse from the highlands of Scotland. I’m a little dusty, a little worn, and oh so full of stories to tell! You see, it’s been a busy year – 0592 to be exact – and I’ve been right in the thick of it, carrying my weight, so to speak, in the grand tapestry of history.
You may not be familiar with the finer details of life back in the 6th century, but believe me, it was just as bustling as the modern world. There was work to be done, crops to be cultivated, and goods to be moved. Horses like me, with our sturdy legs and loyal hearts, were vital to keeping the wheels turning.
And speaking of wheels… Well, they were turning more than ever this year. Our human companions were starting to really get the hang of those cart things! We could cover so much ground quicker than ever before, thanks to those two wheeled contraptions. Of course, it still required strong horses to pull them – and me and my mates were perfectly suited for the task! We’d trot along those cobblestone streets, hooves clicking against the stones, our bodies pulling the carts with a mighty heave. I have to confess, there was a certain sense of satisfaction to being the muscle behind such important ventures.
Let’s talk about those carts for a moment. You see, we didn't just pull them around like a game of tug-o-war! Our human companions are learning how to attach ropes to wheels – brilliant, isn’t it? They use it to pull massive wooden logs from the forest and make beautiful things from the wood. My human, who I'll tell you about soon, says it’s going to be used to build a sturdy bridge. Can you believe it? Horses like me are playing a part in such big projects. It fills me with pride!
I’m going to take a slight detour here for a moment to discuss those "human companions." This year, they seem to be a bit more curious about us horses than ever before. They don't just treat us as farm hands or beasts of burden. They're starting to really notice us, appreciate our abilities and take pride in caring for us. My human, a man called John, tells me he thinks horses are just about the most clever and resourceful animals. I think he's got a good eye for horses!
My human, John, has been by my side through thick and thin. He knows my strengths and my limitations. And when I’m feeling worn, he's always there with a good scratch behind the ears, a sweet tuft of hay, and an encouraging word or two. Oh, how much I love him! He's not only the best human, he’s a brilliant horseman too.
Here in Hayfield, we live in a village of hard-working people, like a small community of busy bees, each of us playing our part in making life comfortable. I find myself longing to tell you more about the world outside Hayfield, but this post is getting long and it's time for dinner. You know how much a hungry horse hates being kept waiting.
Before I go, I want to mention something I found especially interesting this year. Across the seas, the folks from the East are travelling across land – right through Scotland in fact! They have with them beautiful creatures, horses with slender legs and silky manes – completely different from me and the rest of the sturdy Draughts here. Their coats are so varied – brown, white, black! I've only ever seen brown or black here in Scotland. John says they were bred in the plains of Central Asia – can you imagine! It feels so thrilling, just thinking about those new, beautiful breeds travelling so far. I long to know more about them.
I’ll try my best to post more often, now that there are so many interesting developments to discuss! Stay tuned, readers. I have a feeling this 6th century is going to be a very busy one.
