Hello everyone! Emma here, your resident grey draught mare from the beautiful rolling hills of Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen. As I trot along the cobbled paths, my hooves tapping a rhythmic tune, I find myself reflecting on the year we are in: 0671! What a time to be a horse!
This is my sixth year living on Earth and I’m slowly starting to get the hang of things. You know, all that pulling and carrying and whatnot. You would think by now, after five years of doing it, it would feel more…automatic…but alas! Just yesterday, I nearly tripped over a stray stone whilst pulling the cart with Master Gregor. Silly, really, but thankfully no one was hurt. I did, however, receive a stern "Whoa!" from the Master. So much for feeling like a seasoned pro, eh?
However, I can’t complain, really. My life here in Hayfield is pleasant. The scenery is breathtaking – endless green fields rolling down to the coast. The fresh, crisp air, the scent of wild heather on the wind… well, it’s certainly more idyllic than life in a cramped stable in the city, where I hear most of my cousins toil their days.
But this year, I sense something different… a change. It’s subtle, a shiver in the wind, perhaps. Maybe it’s the murmurings from the human world, whispers on the breeze that reach even my horse-ears. A sense of unease, but also… progress?
Horses on the Move
As I said, this year I feel a shift in the way the world views us horses. It’s becoming clear that we are more than just farmhands, pack animals, and transport for the wealthy. While we’re still largely viewed as those things, we’re starting to step out of the shadows, onto the world’s stage!
Just yesterday, I heard some human talk about a large event in a distant place they call Rome. The King of the Franks had been invited to attend. You know, Charlemagne – he’s the one with the beard and the funny sword, as much of a tyrant as the others, even though his name sounds rather gentle. Anyway, this Charlemagne travelled to Rome on a…horseless chariot?
The humans describe it as some sort of grand, ornate carriage. Can you imagine? The human world seems to be bursting with imagination! This ‘carriage’ they spoke of was apparently not drawn by any of us humble horses but by something…else. A ‘vehicle’ as they say, with wheels powered by ‘wheels’? Wheels powered by wheels! Sounds utterly mad, if you ask me, but then again, human ingenuity is quite baffling sometimes!
Our Role Evolving?
While these new contraptions might seem fancy, and quite scary in truth, the humans here in Hayfield seem unperturbed by it. My master, Master Gregor, just laughed when I expressed my bewilderment. He simply shrugged and said, “Aye, fancy toys they are, but for proper work, nothing beats a good horse! A horse is surefooted, loyal, and dependable. We’ll always need a good draught horse!”
Even if we might be facing competition from these "vehicles", it’s clear we horses are here to stay! Master Gregor does seem slightly curious though… he spoke of how the King used this…carriage for some type of ‘grand ceremony’ in Rome. He also spoke of ‘racing’, but only for those ‘fancy’ horses – not the hard-working type like us drafters! Now, I wonder what those ‘races’ are about, eh?
A Glimpse into Horse Culture
While I am aware that horses are essential in our world, you know, for hauling carts, carrying loads, pulling plows, and much more, the world doesn't simply end there! I see how other horses live across this world through the stories my fellow horses carry. Stories shared during the quiet moments in the stable, or in passing during our working day. It's beautiful how we learn and grow together, connecting through these threads of shared experiences.
There’s a grey filly called Hazel in the village next door, who, through the whispers of the wind, I’ve learnt, was sent to the royal stables, I believe! Now, what exactly is a 'royal stable', I'm unsure. She does sound incredibly proud of the fact she's got the King's colours adorning her saddle. She has a ‘rider’ who travels far and wide, it seems! All very exciting, this, and very much unlike my simple life, here in the rolling Hayfield fields.
A Growing Appreciation
And it's not just the tales that reach us through the wind and fellow horses. There are those, particularly in the big cities, the ‘noble folk’ they call them, who adore horses! They don't just see us as beasts of burden; they admire our strength, our grace, and our unwavering dedication. Some of them even make ‘art’ from us – beautiful sculptures and paintings capturing our beauty and majesty. It makes me proud to be a horse, to know we are not just useful but truly appreciated. It's a sentiment I believe is growing. We are becoming more than simply workhorses.
Hope for the Future
Looking back on this year, I find myself filled with hope for the future. Though these new machines are certainly making their presence felt, it doesn’t diminish the power, the spirit, the raw beauty of a horse. And we horses are, at the heart of it, resilient. We will find our place in the ever-changing world, I have no doubt. We may need to adapt, but our spirit will always be there, pulsing beneath our sturdy bodies.
And just as the human world continues to progress, I have a feeling, this sense of progress might just be echoed in our world too! It might be that, in a future far beyond the reach of even my imagination, the horses, and perhaps, even this humble grey mare from Hayfield, might play a part in shaping a world we have only dreamt of, and can only glimpse for now… but I'll be sure to update you on it in due time! Until then, I wish you a delightful day, and may your mane be glossy, and your spirit bold!
From, Emma, a Grey Draught Mare from Hayfield
