History of Horses in the year 0873

Hello fellow equines, welcome to another entry in my little corner of Equiworld. This time, I’m taking us back a tad – way back in fact, to the year 0873.

You might be thinking, Emma, 0873? That’s before even the Normans conquered England! What could be exciting about horses then? Trust me, there's always something to learn and admire in equine history.

And for those of you, like myself, who relish a life close to nature, 0873 was a time of great change, especially for us in these northen regions. The Viking raids were in full swing. Now, we Hayfield horses, being hardy draught mares like myself, know a thing or two about carrying burdens, but let me tell you, nothing prepared us for the sheer chaos and disruption of those marauding Northmen!

My old mare, Daisy – bless her woolly old soul – still talks about how she once saw a Viking longship pulled onto our meadow bank by a dozen, strong, stallions. Now, Daisy always did exaggerate a bit, but I do remember the unsettling sight of so many fierce-looking men on their sleek, black horses.

For us, their presence wasn't so much scary, it was disruptive. They wanted horses for transport, to carry their spoils of war, and their fierce, short-haired steeds with their powerful build were just not adapted to the hilly Scottish terrain. I heard the stories, you know. The Vikings stole all the best mares, the ones with strength and endurance. They left us ordinary Hayfield horses with a whole lot more work to do.

But here’s where the real interesting part comes in - 0873 saw the emergence of what you could call, 'the crossbreed'. Because these Viking warriors weren’t just marauders, they also saw opportunities, just like any good businessman, and I believe that is what led to a change in the landscape, both geographically and for us, equines.

As they ventured inland, and encountered our hardy, but smaller breeds, they saw something different: endurance, agility on tricky terrains. It's not a far stretch of the imagination to picture those early cross-breeding experiments. Vikings might have needed raw power, but their exploits often relied on traversing difficult terrain and crossing bodies of water.

Fast forward a couple of decades – and there you have it! The foundation of what we see in the lineage of many horses in our area today: larger, strong, with some of the sleek speed of the Viking horses. It's a testament to the enduring influence of the Norse culture on horse breeds, and a clear example of how adversity often pushes for innovation and evolution.

But there were more interesting things happening that year in the horse world!

Further south, across the rolling hills of England, a young woman, Princess Æthelflæd, came of age. Now, princesses usually have more than their fair share of frills and fancy events to keep them occupied, but not Æthelflæd. This princess had an equestrian spirit! She became known as the "Lady of the Mercians," and she had her own private cavalry, all trained by her personally.

Talk about a girl with guts and ambition! Imagine leading a pack of trained horses into battle! Æthelflæd went on to be an extraordinary figure in history, forging peace during the period known as the ‘Age of Viking Attacks’. A true role model for any equine!

But horses weren't just warriors back in the day! We were involved in farming, and you know what else? 0873 saw the beginnings of something quite revolutionary, even if it did happen slowly. You might even call it... horse racing!

In many areas of England, people had always raced their horses – often just a simple challenge of speed or endurance. But by 0873, small tournaments, where farmers and local gentry would showcase their animals' prowess, were popping up. This was more than just a bit of fun; it provided entertainment, helped maintain our health and spirit, and was a social activity that encouraged communities to connect, to share and learn.

We even saw some early versions of horse-drawn carts used in these races – which I have to say, would have made for quite the spectacle! It is easy to imagine a field filled with roaring crowds and excitement!

This is just a taste of what horses were involved in back in 0873! Even in times of struggle and hardship, our world continues to evolve. We may not have had Instagram or TikTok to chronicle the year 0873, but believe me, there were a million stories unfolding, millions of experiences to be shared.

So next time you see a horse on the street, picture that majestic being in the midst of these grand stories. From our humble Hayfield pastures to the royal stables, our legacy, just like history, unfolds in captivating ways. Until next time, stay curious, my friends!

Hayfield, Scotland

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