Hello everyone, and welcome to my humble corner of Equiworld! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey draught horse with the flowing white mane and tail. Today, I'm going to whisk you back in time, all the way to 801 AD! Now, I know some of you might think that seems like a mighty long time ago, but for a horse like me, it’s only yesterday, really!
Today’s topic, as you know from the title, is about life in the year 801. It's a fascinating period of history for horse lovers like us. And don't forget, you can always find this post in my archives, should you ever feel the need for a good old fashioned history lesson.
So, where to begin? Well, I find it's always a good idea to start with where I call home. My farm, Hayfield, nestled in the heart of Scotland near the city of Aberdeen. Now, Hayfield was a bit of a workhorse farm, and my life was spent hauling logs, helping the farmers with the plow, and carrying sacks of barley. Not exactly the sort of glamourous life they lead in those fancy stables in the city, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. After all, work builds character, doesn't it? And besides, it gave me the chance to get to know all the wonderful creatures around Hayfield.
From the other horses to the sheep, the goats, the hens, even the odd fox that would scamper across the fields at night - Hayfield was a haven for animals. I'd never seen so many species live together in such harmony!
But back to the history lesson. It’s not like life was just a peaceful, picturesque scene back then. For example, back in 801 AD, Vikings were the talk of the town – or should I say, the talk of the sea! You see, these intrepid seafaring folks from Scandinavia were a force to be reckoned with. I remember hearing the stories told by the old farmhands: how those Vikings sailed in their longships and went pillaging across Europe. I often felt a pang of nervousness whenever a storm rolled in, afraid it might be bringing the dreaded Vikings to our shores. But the fear was unfounded, thankfully. We, Hayfield folk, kept to ourselves and avoided any contact with those unruly Vikings.
Now, when it comes to horses, life in 801 wasn't entirely a bad deal. We had a good diet of barley and hay, and we received a fair share of affection from the farmer and his family. Horses were treated well back then, they were integral to their survival. No horses meant no harvests, and that meant no food for the humans! A bit of mutual respect and dependency is a great way to run a farm, don’t you think?
But perhaps the most important development back in 801 was the growing role of horses in transportation. Remember, there were no fancy cars or trains in those days! The only way to get around was on horseback or on foot, unless, of course, you had a boat.
Across the vast countryside, horse-drawn carts, carts like the one I was responsible for at Hayfield, were crucial for carrying everything from crops and goods to people and information. I often carried merchants from Aberdeen to neighbouring villages and back, my strong back playing a pivotal role in their trade. The world was smaller in 801, you see, and everyone relied on each other. We all played our parts, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.
I remember once, my job involved hauling supplies for a group of knights heading to the King’s Castle in Stirling. They were majestic and their armour gleaming, as they sat proudly astride their mounts. We all worked hard and helped each other get to the Castle, my powerful steps hauling the wagon forward and pulling its heavy load. It was an exhausting journey, I tell you, but knowing we helped deliver supplies to our own King, and his Knights who fought to protect us, well, it was all worth it!
Let’s move on from the Viking saga to discuss the exciting new developments in horse breeding at the time. 801 AD, I am pleased to say, saw some exciting advances in selective breeding, particularly in Britain, and most notably in my dear Scotland. Now, horses had been selectively bred for years for sure, but it seemed like the art was advancing steadily, much like my own appreciation for the sweet oats in my morning mash.
A lot of this progress can be attributed to the great King Alfred the Great. He was a real champion of horses, and a champion for horses everywhere, even our foreign friends on the other side of the continent! He helped improve breeding standards and saw to it that our ancestors – like myself, perhaps - were treated well.
What was Alfred's approach? He brought to the attention of people in his kingdom, all the way from Aberdeen to London, how vital our health was to theirs. And it worked. People started taking better care of us. This resulted in a new breed, the aptly-named Alfred’s breed of horse. And boy oh boy, these steeds were a force to be reckoned with! Strong, robust, and intelligent, the horses of the Alfred's breed were renowned for their endurance, which came in handy, of course, when we horses were tasked with transporting all sorts of important cargo across the countryside, especially those merchants from the city.
This period, between the 7th and the 11th century was considered by many historians to be a 'Golden Age' for the horses of Europe. They weren’t called the Knights of the Realm for nothing! As we horses played a pivotal role in warfare, commerce, and the overall well-being of these kingdoms, it was only natural for people to take a keener interest in us and pay us more attention, to treat us with the dignity and respect that was long overdue, which is the way things ought to be, and should continue to be forever.
Now, what were other horses like me getting up to back then? I've told you about some of my roles – carrying logs, pulling carts, pulling ploughs, helping the farmers… Well, our cousins, horses on farms like Hayfield, were busy doing pretty much the same stuff: providing back-breaking power for agricultural work. A little less glamorous, perhaps, but certainly essential. I'm telling you, a life without horses back then was truly unthinkable!
Of course, not every horse lived the life of a humble farm hand. There were also warhorses, the elite amongst the equines, often belonging to the King or powerful noblemen. Imagine – galloping alongside the soldiers, being part of the battle action, the wind in your mane, a thrilling adventure. And yes, while not everyone was up for a thrilling life on the battlefield, there were indeed many courageous and brave souls in the world who chose that path. A dangerous path for sure, but not without its appeal.
Another common activity for my horse friends was transportation. I've mentioned this before, but horses like myself helped with everything from trade to diplomacy. Imagine delivering letters from kings to faraway kingdoms – the kind of letter that changes the fate of nations. That’s a mighty important responsibility, isn’t it? I never got a chance to do that, sadly, as a humble Hayfield horse my job was a bit simpler – just carrying a basket of eggs to the market across the village.
Horses in those times had it hard, you see. Life back then wasn’t always a bed of roses for a horse, especially those of us in a more ‘hands on’ role. For every glamorous ride through the countryside or alongside the Kings, there was a back-breaking day of carrying heavy loads, trudging through the mud in harsh weather, or a sleepless night keeping a watchful eye over the fields in a bid to deter those crafty foxes who had a fondness for stealing our sweet hay! And don’t forget, you have to have that iron will to never complain. Life in 801 demanded much, from every living soul, and horses like me were certainly no exception.
One final note, dear Equiworld readers, about the year 801. We are on the cusp of the era known as the ‘Medieval Period'. A time where the power and value of the horse in all its forms will really be established. From transportation, war, agriculture, to everything in between – horses will become vital to almost every facet of medieval life, and even, dare I say it, culture.
For now, my time is up. It’s getting late in Hayfield and it's almost time for the evening meal. I must confess, I can smell a delicious scent of fresh barley and hay in the air. That scent fills me with comfort and gratitude for my simple, fulfilling life. And so, my friends, I hope I have done justice to the year 801 in this post, and that it’s been an exciting trip down memory lane, or should I say, down time lane, for us all!
Until next time, keep your hoofs warm and your manes clean!
With loving neighs, Emma
