Welcome, fellow equines!
Emma here, a 20-year-old grey mare with a mane and tail like spun silver, and a heart full of stories. Today, I want to whisk you back to 804, a year that’s particularly fascinating to me, especially given my location: the rugged hills around Hayfield near Aberdeen, Scotland.
Now, this may seem like a long time ago, especially for us horses, whose lives tend to be focused on the here and now, with a sprinkle of the present for good measure. But time, I’ve discovered, can hold such wonderful secrets – stories of people and horses who came before us, the things they did, the lives they led, all part of a grand tapestry of equine history.
So, what was 804 like for a mare like me?
Well, in 804, I’d be a working horse, probably helping to plough fields, pull carts and transport goods. Life would be hard, requiring strength and resilience, but also rewarding in its own way. You see, horses are a vital part of life for humans back then. They're more than just beasts of burden; they're companions, allies, and vital members of the community.
We horses are an integral part of everyday life. Think about it - we’re the main form of transportation for people and goods. We are the horsepower behind farming, providing the power for plowing, sowing, and harvesting crops. And we are used in trade, carrying heavy loads on journeys across mountains and valleys.
Now, I can’t say that the year 804 was necessarily a time of big leaps for horse kind. There were no grand parades or thrilling equestrian events happening this year that I know of. But if we look a bit wider, we’ll see that history, both human and equine, was being made even during a seemingly ordinary year like 804.
Let’s journey through the world of horses and find the stories buried deep in time!
From Hayfield to the World
Living in Hayfield, a picturesque village nestled in the heart of Scotland, was already an adventure. We horses would have been grazing in fields filled with heather and wild thyme, our coat reflecting the brilliance of the sky. In the mornings, we would hear the first calls of the cock and see the wispy clouds clinging to the hills. Life was full of scents and sounds and the reassuring rhythm of hooves against earth.
Our human companions, mainly farmers and their families, would be involved in tending the land. We horses, in our rugged resilience, would have helped them grow crops for the winter months. Life was simple and predictable.
However, 804 also marked a time of unrest in parts of the world.
Across the Water: The Norse Vikings
In Scandinavia, the Viking era was in full swing. Remember, these are fierce warriors and skilled seafarers, using horses both for land-based raiding and for transport across their vast empire. Horses are an important part of their military strategy, and their raids on places as far away as England, France and Ireland left a lasting mark on history.
There are legends that say the Vikings, despite their often fearsome reputation, did have a deep respect for horses. These tales tell of special stallions, known as "Hófvars," considered holy by the Vikings. This makes me think there must be a softer side to the Viking, that even the fiercest warrior can find a peaceful space in his heart for the magic of a horse.
Eastward Ho: A Whiff of History in Persia
Further eastward, across the lands we might only dream of, the mighty Persian Empire was starting to reach its peak. This great civilization was at the forefront of learning, art, and science. And they held horses in the highest regard, seeing them not just as work animals, but as symbols of strength and beauty.
Imagine these magnificent steeds – proud and strong, with their intricate harnesses and rich saddlery, and imagine them charging onto battlefields with riders wielding swords that flash in the sunlight! I imagine that it must have been a spectacle of both fear and respect, with the ground thrumming beneath the hooves of horses carrying these great warriors into the unknown.
But back to our little village...
For horses like me, who lived in a more simple time and place, 804 meant simply being part of a rhythm. It meant the feeling of sun on my back and the crisp air filling my lungs as I pulled the plow or carried a heavy wagon of grain. I may not have travelled to distant lands, but my story, my role in shaping a simple existence, was part of the grand narrative of this planet and its people.
Looking Forward: A Horse's Perspective
As a 20-year-old mare in 804, my thoughts may have been more focused on the rustling leaves, the fresh grass, and the comfort of a familiar stable. I might not have had a great understanding of the world's vastness and complexities.
But with time, I've learned to look back. And looking back, I find it incredible how horses have always been by humanity’s side, through every chapter of history – whether we're serving on the battlefield, working on farms, or carrying kings and queens.
This blog is my own small way of honoring these tales, these connections between people and horses, the stories that make our world a richer and more magical place. And I hope that these stories inspire you, dear readers, to look at horses not just as animals, but as an important thread woven into the very fabric of human history. Until next time, keep those hooves kicking and keep your hearts open to the beauty and the history that unfolds around us!
Yours in Horsepower, Emma
