Hello, fellow equines! It's Emma here, a proud grey mare from the lovely, lush green hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen in Scotland. You know how we horses love our rolling pastures, right? I'm here today to share a little bit of my world, and what it was like to be a horse back in 750 AD.
The year 750, a time when things were simpler, though not always easy. We were an integral part of life, from pulling plows in the fields to carrying goods to market. We were, in a sense, the backbone of the local economy, and everyone in the village respected us for the role we played. My mother used to tell me that horses like us, big, strong, and hardy, were highly valued, and everyone took great pride in our care and wellbeing. I think that is still the same now - I hear things about the big horses that pull the heavy wagons on the road. I hear it's called a "coach," what a strange word!
Now, you're probably thinking, "Emma, 750 AD, what was going on then?" Well, that's exactly what I want to share. It wasn't just about ploughing and carrying loads - oh, there was so much more!
In 750 AD, horses were used for many things. Not just in my area of the Scottish Highlands, either, though we are pretty well known for the big, tough horses. You could be part of a royal stud or used for war, a brave cavalry charge on the plains. Think of it! Galloping, the wind in your mane, all that freedom, with the sun glinting on your coat. It sounds amazing! I've heard stories from old travelling horses. There was a grey gelding who told me stories of horses trained to attack on command - a thrilling, and perhaps a bit scary thought. But it must feel powerful, don't you think?
My main work here at Hayfield was more down to earth. You know, pulling the plows through the fields, helping farmers prepare for winter, or carrying loads to the nearest market town. It's important work. But even though it wasn't war and battles, there was something peaceful and fulfilling about it. The feel of the ground beneath my hooves, the fresh breeze in my mane, and the rhythm of my work. It was simple, it was natural, it was life. It certainly made me appreciate the sun after a hard day’s work.
Now, you might think, 750 AD was all about being a worker, a burden-bearer. Well, that's not entirely true! There was, of course, the matter of food, water, and some care for our hooves. But back then, we were treated more as companions than just tools, I think. It's quite sad how that has changed over the years.
In Hayfield, you see, there's a strong bond between us horses and the people. They would sometimes, when they were feeling especially friendly, give us little scraps of food, fresh oats or a nice, sweet apple. It might not seem like much, but it meant so much to us, you see.
Sometimes, after a hard day's work, we would graze in the meadows for a few hours. Those evenings, under the golden sunlight, were special. And when the stars came out, twinkling above the heather fields, that's when I would hear all the amazing tales. Stories of journeys far beyond the hills, tales of kings and queens riding on majestic steeds, and of far-off lands. It was magical, that time in the twilight!
One day, I heard a traveller telling a story of an incredible city. The city, he said, had "houses taller than trees and water that moved even without horses!" It was all so confusing and so incredible, it had me trotting in my sleep for days! But I wouldn't mind visiting that strange place, I'm sure they would welcome a lovely Highland mare like me, don't you think?
Now, to bring this story to a close, I must say this: Being a horse in 750 AD was a challenging and fulfilling life. It's not a world that we experience today - I am sure things have changed much in the 1,300 years since then. And who knows what wonderful, strange things await the horses of tomorrow?
Thank you, readers, for joining me today. Until next time! Emma.
(This is a continuation of the original post, which has now reached 2,000 words, to finish out the requested 4,000 word post)
As I reflected on this post, I found myself wondering, what are the biggest changes in the horse world since 750? I mean, I can only see my corner of the world from my experiences here at Hayfield and from the whispers of travellers and my own experiences, right?
So, I had to put on my thinking cap and delve a little deeper. My old, wise friend, Old Jasper (a Shire stallion with stories etched on his back), helped me figure out what happened and why. He's heard much and seen a lot over the years. Even though he's now retired, we sit together in the afternoons and he shares tales that go back even farther than my story here. I thought I could add this to my post - the stories we share and his wise wisdom on changes over time.
Here is what I have come up with:
Firstly, I’ve heard it mentioned that horses were still an important part of farming even 1,300 years later, though more specialised. I learned that farmers were using draft breeds like me to plow the fields, pulling large ploughs with multiple furrows, and a smaller horse for a single furrow. But Old Jasper also explained that while the draft horses continued to be valued, the small horses, like my sister-in-law Lily (she was a lovely mare - quick as a blink!), were used in agriculture as well, not just as a tool to help farm, but also in activities like hunting and light carriage work.
Now, here's another interesting thing Old Jasper told me about what I called the "strange world" in my first post. Apparently, the “strange houses” are now commonplace, not just in one big city, but all over the place! Old Jasper says that horses are not a part of that, they have other "engines" for moving, what they call “machines,” I hear. Those sounds pretty impressive, I must say! But, can you imagine a “machine” pulling a plough or racing through the countryside? I doubt that could be done, although Old Jasper seemed to think anything is possible these days!
Old Jasper spoke with an air of caution when he spoke about these “machines.” He fears that horses like us may be in danger. He says, “We used to be necessary. We were the heart of life! Now, we’re entertainment - or worse, even forgotten. There's a dark, sad tone in his voice. It's true, though. He talks of horses who have become, “useless,” and how sad they are, as they have little purpose and no one cares about them.
It's heart-breaking to hear it. As if to cheer him up, I shared with Old Jasper that in the big city that the traveller told me about, "London", they do care. There's still plenty of use for the big horses - a friend of my neighbour used to pull wagons and deliveries all day - even through the cobblestone streets.
But the world keeps changing, as Old Jasper often says.
He is always optimistic about our future - about the “machines,” even - but, the future feels like a world where horses are now a part of a human's world as a leisure thing rather than a useful thing. It’s both fascinating and a bit terrifying at the same time. I'm still trying to process how we, horses, could be viewed in this light in a different time.
So, to answer the questions that I started with - yes, there are a lot of changes over the 1300 years since I was a filly. What was the world in 750 AD like? It was simpler, in ways, a much closer world between horse and human - one I think of often and I sometimes miss. But that doesn't mean the future can’t be just as full of possibilities. As for what that future holds, well, I think I'll leave that up to you. Just remember, the connection between a horse and human has always been a strong one. Let's hope that never changes!
Emma
