A Grey Mare's Tale from Hayfield
Hello everyone! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey draught horse from Hayfield, just outside of Aberdeen. Today's post is a little different - I'm taking you on a journey back in time, all the way to 0761 AD. I know, it's a long time ago! But as I’m starting my own horse history blog on www.equiworld.org, I thought it was only fitting to kick things off with a year that's pretty significant. It was the year, according to my owner, that our local monastery - the one that helped us with hay deliveries - started raising a special kind of pony, something they call a 'Fell Pony'.
They're strong, these Fell ponies, much smaller than me, of course, but with sturdy little legs and a big heart. The monks wanted a breed that could work on rough terrain, helping them travel around the mountains and bring goods to the villages even in the snow. Now, don't get me wrong - we Draughts have our place in the world, pulling those big carts filled with harvest supplies. But even we need a helping hand sometimes!
You see, 0761 was a time of change and advancement, not just for horses, but for humans too. In that year, a brilliant monk - I believe his name was Cuthbert - devised a system for recording all the work done by the monastery horses, like miles travelled and goods delivered. It's called a 'Horsebook', a book that they now use for each horse, not just for the ponies. Every day, the monks note how many loads of grain, stones, or wood a horse carries. The Horsebook keeps a detailed record of every task a horse does, and what it eats, even when it needs to be shod!
This was a brilliant move on their part, and a true acknowledgement of the hard work we horses do. They even made little leather tags for our necks, each marked with our name! Imagine that, having your very own nametag, like we're little working ladies of the monastery! We even have our own horse master, a kind fellow named Brendan who treats us like royalty. Every evening, he checks our hoofs for any wear and tear and brings us fresh straw bedding. Life is pretty good for a workhorse in 0761.
Speaking of good times, in this very year, something truly exciting happened on the other side of the world - something that's not documented in our Horsebooks but, trust me, it's an important one. It happened in what we call 'the far lands' - in a place where horses have sleek coats and proud, long heads. They called it ‘Persia’. It’s here that the noble Arabian horse came into existence. Now, you won't see these fine animals here in Scotland for many years. They’re renowned for their grace, speed and stamina. For now, I mostly know about them from stories told by travelling merchants who sometimes pass through Hayfield.
But back to Scotland, and back to our work. It’s not all about hauling loads. Horses in this time are important for carrying messages. This is something I’m involved in too. Every fortnight, I help the monks deliver messages to nearby villages, often on matters of importance, about crops, weather, and even, on rare occasions, a message about an incoming ship, bearing new supplies of grain. These important deliveries are always accompanied by a young monastery brother whose legs are just as nimble as our own.
These boys and girls, though often so young, are brave and determined. They carry the messages on small leather scrolls tied to their wrists or sometimes hidden under their tunics. And, as we plod through the Scottish wilderness, they're often the ones keeping a sharp eye out for any danger. And trust me, the wilderness is wild!
I sometimes wish I could travel to the far lands and meet these majestic Arabian horses myself. I'm not quite as quick as them - we're built for endurance, not speed. But if I were given a chance, I'd show them what a Scottish draught horse is made of. I wouldn't just show them our strength and dedication, but also our resilience and kindness. And I know, I’m not the only one who feels this way.
It’s easy to get lost in stories of exotic horses, but let’s not forget about the ponies here in Scotland. In 0761, we’re not just helping monks, we’re also helping the people in villages all over the highlands. Those ponies make long journeys over rough and unforgiving terrains, bringing back supplies and sometimes even bringing the mail - I know, because our monastery horses work alongside them. They're tough, resilient and have a special bond with the humans they serve.
It’s this bond - the relationship between horses and humans, a story of mutual respect and understanding - that’s the core of everything we do. And as I continue on this blog journey of horses throughout history, I know that there’ll be many more stories like this - stories of hard work, of love, of kindness, and of lasting partnership.
Until next time, may your hooves be strong, your coats shiny and your heart full of the love of horses.
Love,
Emma from Hayfield.
