Hello, dear fellow equines and horse-lovers! It's Emma here, your trusty grey mare from Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen. Welcome to my little corner of the world on EquiWorld.org. It’s always a pleasure to share my musings about life as a horse, especially on a beautiful day like this.
The air is crisp and clean, the sun is painting the hills with gold, and the barley fields, where I often find myself working with the farmers, are gently swaying in the breeze. I am filled with contentment.
But let's not dwell too much on my personal bliss just yet. Today, we’re taking a little trip back in time, to the year 0686, a year which holds a special place in my equine heart. Let’s just say it was a year of… let’s call it... change, a year that definitely impacted life for horses, particularly for those of us in Britain.
Now, if you’re a regular visitor to my little corner of EquiWorld, you know I love a good yarn, a story. But before I weave you a tale about how life was for horses in 0686, I think it's good practice to lay out a few historical facts. Because honestly, horses like history. It’s the most fascinating way to look at where we’ve come from, and where we’re heading! And what’s better than to be told these stories by a fellow horse who’s got all the experience, eh?
So, strap on your metaphorical saddle and hold onto your hats, because here’s a little insight into 0686 and its impact on us, the four-legged champions!
A Political Dance
The year 0686 AD was quite a tumultuous year in the world of politics, especially in Britain. Remember King Egbert of Wessex, the guy who pretty much became the overlord of most of England? Well, things were getting pretty hairy for him! He was up against his neighbours, battling over land and power, like we all have our fair share of territorial disagreements amongst us horses! There were skirmishes, raids, and alliances, just a constant back and forth that meant those who wanted peace – including horses, especially working horses like me – were hoping for some calmer times!
You see, conflict wasn't good for any of us horses. Whether we were helping in battles, dragging carts, or tending the fields, conflict just brought hardship. Imagine running back and forth with knights who don’t know what they’re doing, getting caught in the crossfire, having to navigate through a mess of chaos and anxiety... Not the most pleasant experience, I can tell you!
Now, even though all this was happening around me, you see, back in the heart of Hayfield, we still lived our peaceful, farm life. It’s funny, how you can live right alongside a political struggle, yet the world outside can seem so far removed.
Life at the Farms: Back to the Basics
Imagine fields of golden barley, stretching under the azure sky. The smell of freshly tilled earth in the air and the sight of sheep grazing peacefully. We horses, in 0686, played a critical role in this idyllic scene.
We were the engines of the farm, you see. Imagine hauling carts loaded with freshly cut hay, pulling ploughs through the earth, and trotting alongside our farmer as he monitored his fields. We knew the rhythm of the farm like the back of our hooves. Each season brought its own set of tasks. The thrill of spring ploughing, the tireless labour of harvesting, the steady plod of winter journeys to the market… Each season brought its unique set of challenges and its own sense of fulfillment.
Back in 0686, our life was pretty basic. We ate hay and oats, slept in sturdy shelters, and worked hard alongside our farmer. Simple, but good! He understood us well, and I believe we had a kind of bond… you know, a unspoken, equine connection that helped us understand each other. Sometimes he even talked to us while we worked. I found him quite a reasonable fellow, even though he wouldn’t have shared my oats – always got those grubby hands all over them!
Now, if you’ve read my earlier posts, you might know about how some of us horses back in the day were pretty lucky to be saddled up and carried a knight or two! You might have been impressed by these grand warriors who fought on our backs, their shining armor, the clatter of their swords... quite a sight! However, the truth is, most of us horses had never known such excitement. It was more of a "farm horse life" for most of us, pulling the plough and bringing in the crops!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I'm not saying farm life wasn't thrilling in its own way. There’s something immensely satisfying about working with nature, contributing to the wellbeing of the village and seeing the bounty of the land. That's why I believe being a farm horse is an honourable role!
Horses: More Than Just Beasts of Burden
Here's a little secret about us horses: we have personalities just like you! It’s a fact we forget sometimes, given the history books often only describe us as "beasts of burden.”
In Hayfield, I shared a stable with two other mares - Fiona, a beautiful chestnut with a heart of gold, and Millie, a wise old grey mare who seemed to know everything. Fiona, with her boundless energy, loved a good romp in the fields. She was always eager to take a lead in our play sessions. As for Millie, she was wise beyond her years, watching over us like a mother, giving advice and dispensing quiet words of encouragement when times got tough.
Those days in Hayfield were golden. We spent our evenings in the cool meadow, enjoying the sun’s setting rays while sharing stories, discussing what happened in the day, maybe reminiscing about times gone by! I always listened, but didn’t usually share, for a bit of calm amongst us is a good thing!
But you know, even though my life might have seemed ordinary, I couldn’t be happier to be living the way I did. There was a sense of deep satisfaction in simply living and working as a farm horse. It's that old adage: Simple things often hold the greatest treasures.
A Day in the Life: 0686 Edition
You’ve got a pretty good picture of life back then, but let me share a day from the year 0686, so you get a better picture of how my day unfolded.
Dawn: The rooster's call signals the beginning of the day. I wake up, feeling the straw beneath me. A hearty breakfast of oats and hay.
Morning: Time to help the farmer with his morning chores, dragging in supplies, fetching water, all the usual stuff. As I work, I’d feel a certain rhythm, a connection to the earth, a feeling of shared effort.
Afternoon: It's ploughing season, which is a physically demanding job, but very satisfying to see the neat rows created as I walk back and forth through the field. The sun is hot, but a nice breeze makes it a delightful time to be working! A pause in the shade, then we'd work a little more. It felt good to be strong, a part of something greater!
Evening: The sky transforms into a tapestry of fiery oranges and blushing pinks. As the day winds down, the farmer feeds me more hay and gives me a warm, appreciative pat on the neck before leaving me for the night.
Night: Time for rest and dreaming of the next day’s challenges, under the silent gaze of a million stars. A sense of gratitude for being able to do my job, a little bit of exhaustion, but also a sense of fulfilment… ah! The good old days, I tell you!
So, there you have it - a glimpse into a farm horse's life back in 0686. Simple but full, just like the meadows that bloom in Hayfield! And it is through these simpler things that we really appreciate the little wonders life holds for us, just like in those times past.
Well, my friends, I’ve said my bit! Thank you for joining me on this trip back in time, and if you have any questions or tales you’d like to share about the horses of 0686, please feel free to post them below! It’s always lovely to share with like-minded folk and discover new facts!
I hope you found this post illuminating. Keep your heads held high, my dear equines! It's good to remember where we come from. It helps us understand how far we've come and reminds us that no matter what the future holds, the heart of a horse beats with timeless courage and determination.
Until next time! Emma
