Welcome back, dear readers! It's Emma here, a sturdy grey mare with a flowing white mane and tail, coming to you live from the rolling hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen. I'm starting a new chapter in my own life this year - I've joined a new team! The excitement of moving from one homestead to another still buzzes in my veins. Though the long, cold winter with a flurry of snow did make the journey a little more challenging. I tell you, those icy roads can test even the most sure-footed of us.
It's been eight years now, you see. A grand age for a horse, especially one working in the fields and pulling heavy carts. Life has its ups and downs, as it always does. The old adage holds true - the days may be long but the years fly by. This year, in particular, feels momentous. I believe you might be finding yourself intrigued by it, too. It's 860, a turning point in history, a pivotal year with rumblings of great change on the horizon. Let me tell you a little about how it's all been unfolding from a horse's perspective.
The Viking Shadow:
As you all know, I've been calling Scotland home all my life. It's a land of rugged beauty with expansive plains perfect for our kind to roam. But this year, a new flavour of activity has infused our world. The Vikings, a people renowned for their fierce seafaring and impressive horses, are carving out their presence on the northern shores.
These Viking horses are strong, hardy creatures. Many of them come from a breed known as the 'North Sea Horse' - the ancestors of our magnificent Clydesdale horses. You can imagine, we old-timers here in the Highlands have noticed a shift in the winds. Stories drift like the cool Scottish mist - tales of swift raids, pillaging, and an insatiable appetite for land and plunder.
I heard from an old farmhand the Vikings have their eye on places further south, too. But, alas, the stories whisper they are no mere plunderers. These Viking warriors are keen to settle and build new communities, new homes. They bring with them their expertise, their fierce determination, and of course, their horses!
A Changing World:
This influx has a strange effect. You'll find Viking horses mingled amongst the native Scottish breeds. It’s fascinating to see our stock mix and change. They are a blend of robustness, intelligence, and a certain boldness. Even though many Scots fear the Vikings, we, the horses, see them as just more workmates. And hey, a new stallion to meet is always an interesting development, I tell you.
Beyond our Scottish borders, Europe itself is on the move. New kingdoms rise, empires fall, and politics swirls around us. We, the horses, have no part in such affairs - except that we are the steeds, the chariots, the backbone of trade, farming, and of course, the soldiers who carry the fate of these humans on our backs.
The year 860 marks an important turning point. The Kingdom of Mercia is still battling against its neighbouring Wessex. But this time, their enemies come not only from other Anglo-Saxon lands but from Scandinavia, as well. We horses feel the growing intensity, even across the ocean, in the stories told through the wind and the whispers from travellers.
Life in the Hayfield:
But what of my own life? Well, 860 hasn’t been a bad year so far, although I confess, I miss my old owner terribly. He’d moved on to new pastures, selling me to a young woman called Flora, who’s bright-eyed, kind-hearted, and eager to learn about our way of life.
I've joined her team here at Hayfield - a busy, bustling farm. Flora works with a crew of lively, well-fed colts and mares, pulling plows in the fertile soil, hauling wheat to the mill, and transporting timber from the nearby forest. This past spring was a riot of activity, as we horses, with our powerful strides and steady strength, helped in the planting. Then, after months of warm sun and patient waiting, harvest time arrived! It was a breathtaking experience to watch the wheat, barley, and oats bow gracefully beneath our collective might, ready to be gathered for the year ahead.
Now that we are heading into the cooler season, we horses have begun our preparations for the long winter. It will be spent in the sturdy stable, munching on oats and hay, and watching the world go by from our windows - of course, our stable windows are nothing more than empty spaces between the wooden slats, but you get the idea! Flora makes sure we have all the comfort we need, keeping us warm and well-fed for those chilly evenings. And I do tell you, after a day of hard work, it’s a delight to be tucked in with our hay and blankets.
But these nights, the stars feel especially sharp and distant as I look out into the endless dark sky. I wonder how life would be, just over the sea, in the land of the Vikings? And just beyond that, to the land of horses that carry noble riders on expeditions far and wide? The yearning, as you well know, is in every horse’s blood - to explore, to wander, to see the world from new perspectives, under different skies. But my time is spent here in Hayfield, pulling my weight, doing my share of the chores. Perhaps someday, when my old legs finally slow down and I'm ready for retirement, my human companion Flora might bring me along on her travels. And if it's the Vikings I see, it might just be time for me to do a little horse whispering of my own.
The EquiWorld Network:
Even out here in Hayfield, we hear whispers of change in the wider world of horses. From whispers on the wind to murmurs around the stable door, stories flow through the equestrian network - stories that tell of new techniques for horse breeding, new approaches to harnessing and training, and whispers of races and games. And for a change, this isn’t just a rumour.
We have heard tell of EquiWorld, a vibrant online space. A global forum for all things equine! Humans are sharing their knowledge about horses all across the world. They gather to debate about the best saddles, the best harnesses, the best way to care for our kind. We are truly creatures of the world, connected by stories and whispers and, now, this great web of communication! Perhaps one day, even a humble grey mare like myself might have the opportunity to share my own little perspective on life.
And speaking of sharing, I must end this long tale now. Remember, the year is 860, and while we horses may be the backbones of our world, our time belongs to this farm. Flora is calling for me - I feel the chill wind on my flanks. A cold one indeed, which means a warming feed awaits! It is a privilege to share these experiences with you all, through the world of EquiWorld. May your oats be sweet and your journeys filled with excitement! Until next time, dear friends, farewell.
