History of Horses in the year 0703

*Hello everyone and welcome to another journey through history on Equiworld! As always, it is lovely to be with you, even if we are separated by time, space and ... well, the obvious! *

It's been a wonderful week in Hayfield, and I've been reflecting on what an incredible life we horses have, even if things have changed so very much since the days of our wild ancestors. Today I'm taking a step back in time to 0703 AD and what an exciting year it was!

It seems the people are finally taking some time to relax in Scotland. Perhaps it's the changing seasons – the wild, windy weather we know in autumn is coming to a close, and soon the snows will be here, so perhaps the humans have more time for horse related activities and not just ploughing the fields!

Now, I’ve got to admit, it’s quite challenging trying to find detailed historical information about our equine kind in these early years. There aren't so many records as there are today, but luckily, we’ve managed to piece together some information.

We're in the early years of the Medieval Period. A period where humans lived in small communities. The big towns like London were slowly becoming bigger, but many humans were living their lives in tiny villages scattered around the land, so there was lots of land and lots of space for all the animals, including us.

So let's have a wander around 703 and see what the horse scene is looking like:

Imagine you’re a powerful horse, your powerful legs carrying you along a winding dirt path, the scent of woodsmoke filling the air. You're going to see a friend, a beautiful mare from the village down the valley. This would have been my day to day existence. There were few bridges in the area and our lives were usually spent going from one meadow to the next. I’m sure many of you have a similar life today and we've definitely come a long way!

So what were we horses used for back in the year 703 AD?

Let's break down the basics:

• Farming • Warfare • Transport • Personal use for local travelling and hunting

*Farming: * Our biggest role, as we still are today! In those times we were essential in working the land. We were the muscle behind every task from pulling the plough through heavy soils to hauling the harvest in. Without us, there would be no food, so yes, we were incredibly important! We even helped to clear forests. We powered mills. And we helped to carry those heavy logs into the villages. It was back-breaking work but necessary to sustain the local communities.

Warfare: We horses played a very different role in the armies of the day than we do in 2023. We're talking chariots and light cavalry, but still so important for fighting! Just think, without horses how would these courageous men (and women – women even rode in the Roman legions) get from point A to point B?!

Transport: We were the movers and shakers of the time, even if these moves were pretty local. We pulled carriages, transporting everything from people and trade goods to building materials. Our powerful, strong legs and back meant we could take just about anything over challenging landscapes, especially the wild and rocky countryside of Scotland, where I spent my time!

Personal use
Horses, we were incredibly special in this era. Not just tools but loved members of families. We weren't just "farm animals" - we were close friends. Horses provided vital transport around a village and they provided freedom. There weren't many of our modern roads or ways to travel! And you could also use horses for hunting!

Breeding in 0703 AD:

The world was our breeding ground! The focus was on keeping horses healthy and strong - the kind of strong horses that would have helped to move goods and plough those fields. I imagine that some of my ancestors in Scotland were even involved with wild ponies from the Highlands who came from very strong breeds. Imagine!

And a quick look back to see what people thought of us:

Back in 0703 AD, the majority of the population weren’t even wealthy. There weren't a lot of people who had the time or resources to go into “sports riding" so to speak. But, there were certainly some people who wanted good horses to show and that could even pull a bit faster, for travel. The more wealth someone had, the better quality horse they could afford and they definitely made this known with great pride.

So much has changed in the years since 703. But for us, horses, the core values have always remained – strength, power, freedom. We are symbols of dedication. And I believe the love of horses is something we’ve shared across the centuries!

*How did you experience 703, fellow equine friends? Share your memories in the comments! *

Until next time!

Emma

*P.S.: Join us on Equiworld next week, where I'll be taking you on a tour of the very different world of horses in the 1800s – a journey filled with exciting developments in how people travelled! There's no shortage of adventures and exciting details – see you next week! *