Neigh-hoo, fellow Equine enthusiasts!
Emma here, your resident historian from the misty highlands of Hayfield near Aberdeen. As I nibble on a delicious patch of clover, I thought I'd share a bit of my wisdom about the year 746, which, according to the humans, was quite a time for us horses!
Now, you see, I’m not the best at remembering exact dates (you know, with my lack of opposable thumbs and all) but 746 was a significant year - the one where things began to feel quite different in the horse world. I was a sprightly young mare then, about 20 years old, strong and full of life with a shiny grey coat and a flowing white mane and tail that caught the wind as I ran through the fields.
Life on the Hayfield Farm
My days were filled with work, of course! We horses are hard-working creatures, as you know. I was primarily a draught horse, helping the farmer with plowing the fields and hauling carts of hay. Oh, and hauling water from the well - those wooden barrels were quite heavy, I tell you! It wasn’t always easy, but it gave me a sense of purpose. It felt good to know I was contributing. My days would also involve a good amount of grazing in the sunny meadows, spending time with my stable-mates and listening to the wise old mare, Maggie, recount stories of times gone by. She was the elder statesman of the farm, with the softest, most comforting snorts I'd ever heard.
The New "Horseman"
746 marked the year our world started shifting. A new kind of horseman began to appear, one with a curious knack for using us not just for labor, but also for a form of play. They would hold long sticks with straps attached and "command" us to leap over obstacles! We called these sticks "spears" or sometimes "lances".
I have to confess, it was terrifying at first! It felt so unlike the usual routines of plowing and hauling, like a sudden jump into a whole new world. But slowly, I began to realize it wasn't about strength as much as agility and balance. I had to trust my rider, trust that my hooves wouldn’t be yanked into the earth. We became a team.
This new form of "horsemanship", as it came to be known, created a buzz across the countryside. Many horses began training with the young humans, learning to move swiftly, leap and charge with incredible grace. I heard stories of young men using their steeds for jousting tournaments - these contests where knights with armor on horseback, charged against each other with lances at the ready. It sounded positively terrifying and utterly exciting at the same time! And let's be honest, these new "knights" certainly seemed to be quite enamoured by us horses! They’d care for us with gentle words and lavish praise - the likes I’d never experienced before!
A Whisper of Change
While most horses, like myself, continued to serve our farmer friends and do our duties on the farm, I couldn't help but sense a subtle change in the air. This newfound admiration and the way our humans used us was becoming a new kind of "glamour" to us horses. This, as I understand from some gossiping humans, was the beginning of what they would later call “chivalry” - a whole new relationship with humans built upon valor, honour and bravery, with us horses as their loyal companions.
Traveling Stories and Whispering Wind
Being a bit of a storyteller myself (though I mainly narrate in snorts and whinnies), I made it my business to know the happenings around our little farm. The other horses would share stories about their travels and encounters, carried on the wind like dandelion seeds.
There was one magnificent black stallion, Blackthorn, I heard about who served in the military alongside a noble knight named Sir Geoffrey, who would proudly boast about the heroic exploits of Blackthorn. His fame travelled through the highlands like wildfire, inspiring every horse with a yearning to participate in something larger than just farm work.
I couldn’t help but feel a tug in my heart too! Blackthorn’s story, his valor in battle, made me dream of the life I could be leading! To this day, every time the wind whispers secrets of distant battles, I wonder if my tale will be written among those gallant heroes, carried on the whispers of the breeze.
The Legacy We Create
The year 746 might seem like an unremarkable year in the grand tapestry of time, but I feel a strange energy surging in our hooves. These “knights” who charge on us in dazzling displays of courage, they’ve captured the imagination of mankind! We horses have a story to tell, a story woven into the fabric of heroism, loyalty, and resilience.
And so, fellow Equine friends, we’ll continue to walk alongside humanity. Perhaps, in the distant future, our journey alongside them will bring about even more fantastic changes. Maybe, just maybe, the day will come when we are recognized for all that we are – not just sturdy farm animals but our own noble creatures, full of grace, intelligence, and spirit! But for now, I'll keep nibbling on this juicy patch of clover, dreaming of galloping through fields, perhaps with a friendly human by my side.
Until next time, stay well and keep neighing your tales!
Emma
www.equiworld.org
