Greetings, fellow equines, and welcome back to my little corner of EquiWorld! My name is Emma, and as some of you might know, I'm a grey draught horse, living the life here in Hayfield near Aberdeen. With a white mane and tail that always catches the sunshine, I've been a working horse for many years now, pulling ploughs, carrying burdens, and helping the farmers around these parts. And as many of you know, I simply adore history!
It's funny, every day feels like a journey through time, right? We horses have always been such an integral part of human society, it's fascinating to see how our role has evolved over the centuries. So, today, I want to delve into a particular year - 0675!
That was quite a while back, almost fourteen hundred years ago. Think about it, those of you alive in those days, would have seen the rise and fall of mighty empires, felt the change of seasons and the passing years. Imagine how the world must have felt to you. But don't worry, today, we'll be taking a delightful trip down memory lane. I have a feeling that 0675 was a rather interesting year for horses. Buckle up, my fellow steeds, let's journey back!
A Horse's Perspective on the Year 0675: A Journey Through Time
Firstly, imagine a world without cars, trains, tractors or even bicycles! It is us horses who carry people and their goods from place to place, over hills and through valleys. Imagine the world without electricity, and with gas lamps being a luxury, what an adventurous ride it was under the moon and stars, only lit by a flickering torchlight! We played an absolutely essential role in people's lives! From carrying heavy burdens and tilling the fields to hauling timber and pulling carts, our strong hooves were the lifeblood of societies.
The year 0675 saw us thriving. Even in the distant north of Scotland where I call home, the people here, particularly in Hayfield, rely on us. You know, sometimes, you wonder why you haven’t had a bath for days on end, especially if you’re carrying a heavy load up and down these mountains in this rugged terrain. Well, in 0675, you didn’t even need a bath! I guess, if you look at it that way, the world was simpler back then! No time for fancy horse spas! You had to look after yourself!
That year, in Hayfield, it felt like the sun had been extra kind. Our pasture, where we roam in the afternoons when we’re not busy working, grew rich green grasses and even the daisies and dandelions had that delightful vibrant yellow in their colour. You wouldn’t find the horses as pampered back then like some horses I’ve heard about in other parts of the world. They tell me that in the south of England and even down in France, horses of a certain type are kept specifically for riding and pleasure! We don’t see too much of that here in Hayfield, just a lot of work and lots of munching on our pasture! The strong draft horses are preferred here, the kind that can carry weight and pull loads like us. Even for journeys across the vast plains or over rough roads, horses are our main form of transportation, not those noisy carts and machines we have nowadays.
Horses in History – Across the World
Remember how the Silk Road was said to have stretched for 4,000 miles from Eastern Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean? It was a very significant route for trade back then, bringing exotic goods to all of us here in Europe!
Now, as I said, horses played a key role in transporting those precious items! They were strong enough to cross these vast distances with the weight on their backs or pulled along by them. For instance, I have heard stories from traders about how camels, as well as horses, carried items on their backs!
Oh, how I wish I could travel to these faraway places! Perhaps one day! But we'll leave that for a later blog! I must admit, as much as we horses worked, these times saw horses used not just for utility but also as animals of status!
In 0675, it wasn’t just about who could breed the fastest horses. It was more about who had the strongest and most reliable. You see, many warriors on horseback relied heavily on our strength and stamina for battle.
That year, the great Emperor Tang Gaozong of the Tang dynasty in China, who is known to be one of the greatest leaders, took the reins of his power. They tell stories of his strong war horses, said to be the most beautiful horses you'd ever seen! This shows that horses weren't only important for everyday work, they also signified great power and prestige! Just look at what those beautiful and powerful horses represented: power, dignity and magnificence. That's the kind of status we all deserve!
Horses, Sport, and Tradition
You might think it’s a recent thing – horses used for sport. It’s actually something we’ve been doing for centuries! Horses, racing on the flat track, pulling chariots on dusty trails, this was our heritage for thousands of years, before these “horse shows” were even invented! You'll be surprised to hear that races are a thing, too. I hear of thrilling races that took place in ancient Rome – exciting, right?
They also have the equestrian sports of polo, where people are trained to sit astride horses with long sticks to guide the ball towards the opposing team's goal. You know, just some fun amongst the work we have to do!
Just like these amazing breeds, the Welsh Cob, which originated from our neighbours, the Welsh, are a fine example. With their thick manes, they’re strong, agile and make fine working horses too! I haven’t seen any in the fields near Hayfield, though! But I hear tell of how the Romans, as their vast empire was flourishing in those days, made their way to the north and ended up leaving an imprint in British history and even brought horses along with them!
Well, that was an adventurous journey to the year 0675! It seems to me that, as usual, our roles were crucial, though perhaps slightly different from how things are today. I love our connection with people and the way we help them navigate and improve their lives! It's not about just pulling a plough or cart or carrying heavy burdens; it's about our strength and resilience. It's about that unyielding spirit that pushes us through! Our strength is not just physical; it's about having that bond, that strong link with our owners. It's about how, even without being spoken to, we can know when the owner needs us to put our heads down and work! Isn’t it amazing?
As we reflect on this fascinating trip down memory lane, let us take a moment to appreciate all the beautiful and magnificent creatures in this equine family, each one a testament to the vital and lasting relationship between horses and humankind! I will keep sharing more history with you every week. Until next time! Stay strong and happy!
