Greetings, my dearest equine companions! Emma here, your friendly grey mare from Hayfield near Aberdeen, and it's time for another installment of your favourite horse history blog! It's the year 874 and oh, it's a lively time to be a horse, I can tell you! Buckle up, my darlings, because today's blog is all about adventure, exploration, and the constant rhythm of life in this bustling corner of the world.
I've got to say, even a simple filly like myself feels the energy thrumming through the land! 874 has definitely seen its fair share of action, and I'm excited to tell you all about it. As usual, we'll be focusing on the stories that matter to us horses: the travels, the feats of strength, and the camaraderie that binds us together.
First things first, my lovely readers, I think we need to start with a little reminder about our own historical context. This year, my human friends call it the year of 874 AD, and, as we've explored in previous posts, the Vikings have become a big part of life for horses like myself! They're sailing about, trading, and yes, even fighting - all with a brave steed by their side. They're tough and rugged folks, those Vikings, and their long ships mean I can't ever be too far from a fresh supply of sea-blown salty air and a touch of excitement!
Now, in our own Hayfield, things are as peaceful as they've always been. There are, of course, always farm chores for the working horses. And, my goodness, how I do love the crunch of hay beneath my hooves! The scent of the stable in the mornings - a combination of sweet hay, musk, and the scent of leather and horseflesh, is always an inviting experience. I spend most of my days pulling ploughs across the fields, helping to make way for those luscious barley and wheat fields, ensuring a full belly and good supply of oats come harvest time. We have it good here, with our gentle humans providing us with food, care, and a comfortable stall each night.
Speaking of gentle humans, there are those lovely women who care for us here in Hayfield. It's a good thing that I was blessed with the gentle nature of a grey mare, because while those strong black stallions get all the glory pulling wagons and transporting goods across the land, we mares tend to the smaller tasks. It is a privilege for a young mare like me to be given such responsibility.
It brings me back to my daily routine. Today, as the sun climbs the sky, a sweet and gentle maiden called Elsie called out, "Emma! My lovely grey mare! Time for work." My ears pricked up as she brushed my mane with a light hand, the tangles I gathered from the barley fields fading as she combed it into its usual glory. My tail, all white with black tips, swung happily as she attached a light, woven strap, perfectly crafted for my frame, across my breast. I tugged slightly, just to remind Elsie I was eager to get started, and my lovely lady chuckled.
She wasn't asking me to pull a plow today. It wasn't an everyday job to be asked to head into town for market, and my ears stood high with excitement. The gentle rocking of the market wagon made my legs ache with longing. The familiar squeak of the wheels as we drove out of the fields sent an almost tingling thrill up my spine. Every muscle felt eager. Elsie patted me gently, murmuring how she admired my patience, as she loaded the cart, a few barrels of our best homemade butter, bags of salt, a couple of hens destined to be a part of someone else's feast, and some bright yellow, fragrant, sunflowers from the garden. I do enjoy being able to help Elsie, she takes care of all the horses in Hayfield, making sure each and every one of us is fed and cared for. She takes time for us. Time to know each one. She cares about our comfort and knows all our quirks. A kind and gentle human.
It didn't take long for us to arrive in town. Today was a special market day, something we all feel as horses, as even our humans have to prepare extra goods for the extra folk that flood our small town with eager voices and laughter, The smells are rich - fish, roasted meats, spices, woodsmoke, and yes, the tangy, delightful smells of freshly-baked bread from the market bakery. I whinny happily as I pull my friend to a halt beside her neighbour's stall and stand quietly while Elsie sells her goods.
With the market bustle in full swing, the streets seem teeming with a multitude of people, each moving with a purpose: women, bustling from one stall to the next, a multitude of faces aglow with delight and energy, their bright coloured shawls rippling as they move, a riot of color in the morning light; young lads, shouting at the top of their lungs, competing to show off the finest horses in town to passing travellers; merchants haggling over prices, with eyes that sparkle and twinkle, promising to close deals. They call it “a fine market day” - a day to meet and trade, a day to relax, gossip and be entertained. I find myself being gently pulled away, the wagon being loaded again. Today we are delivering produce to the lord of the manor. He’s the richest man in these parts, a man with many acres and more sheep than I could count, so many, in fact, they require a dozen or so of us to move them between grazing pastures, I understand. This gives me food for thought as I imagine those pastures - perhaps that's a place I might visit someday!
In the meantime, I need to remind my fellow horses to get their hooves tapping with a good, solid gallop. Today's run across the countryside to the lord’s manor, despite the bright autumn air that feels so lovely as we cross the valley, and the fresh, tangy smells of wildflowers and damp earth that fill my nostrils, doesn’t quite satisfy that need for something, shall we say, “spirited!”
The lord’s manor is grand and sprawling, an imposing stone edifice with walls tall enough for my equine neck to almost reach the tops. With each footfall of the horses, we feel the thrill of the earth as we head across his expansive lands, vast, grassy fields, and rolling hills. Every bend of the path presents a view that could inspire a poet’s heart. And it is here, on this magnificent hill, that my heart and legs demand something exhilarating, something beyond mere pulling and transport. Something wild and untamed! I throw back my head and let out a spirited neigh, letting my joy and my energy flow freely, making the whole world know just how lucky I am to be a horse. I feel so alive!
Oh, but what’s this? It is a beautiful and imposing sight that fills my eyes! On the open hill overlooking the valley is an unexpected gathering. It’s an exciting assembly of a wide variety of horses. It's a festival! My ears prick up in anticipation - all around the meadows, and through the valleys below, there are stalls with brightly colored fabrics and tents billowing in the wind. Everywhere I look are my fellow equines - all colors, shapes, and sizes - I have never seen such a diverse group!
It's like the entire horse kingdom has assembled, drawn together by an invisible force, as if an unknown source had called all the steeds to one location. And as I survey the crowd, I recognize a familiar presence! It's the Vikings, with their blonde braided hair and strong features! They're always on the move. Their ships travel all over the lands. Always venturing somewhere new and exciting! This is definitely a thrilling addition to our annual celebration of all things horse-related! It’s so obvious this gathering will bring forth much enjoyment!
Oh my dear equine companions! I have heard from the wise elders about these events; about celebrations involving not only feasting, but storytelling! Tales of valiant steeds, tales of horses that carry their masters through battlefields, tales of great strength, and legendary horses with incredible power and spirit. All stories we equine folk hold dear to our hearts. It fills my heart with anticipation! I simply can’t wait! As I join my companions and listen to the hum of conversation - all of us, humans and horses alike, preparing for the feast - a surge of excitement runs through my veins. What an occasion! What a privilege to witness such a gathering! A chance for horses and humans to bond, celebrate, and honor those powerful bonds that bind us together!
The next two days were magical! As a grey mare with a penchant for a good gallop and an appetite for stories, this annual celebration, organized to thank us horses for the work we do and honour the power of equine spirits, felt almost mystical. Horses from all corners of the land arrived with stories to share, songs to sing, and the most incredible displays of strength, agility, and even daring, as some horses, bolder than most, jumped fences that reached the sky. There were demonstrations of their incredible power. Oh, I just want to make a good impression!
At the end of our second day, exhausted, yet satisfied, from my own gallops and feats of agility, as well as my neighbour's prowess with jumping fences (which truly pushed my own abilities!) I found Elsie nestled beside the cart and shared stories with her until well into the evening. As the sky twinkled with stars, the air, as warm as a good blanket, a hush fell upon us all, and Elsie's tired sigh told me the day was over. And as the celebration closed with a flourish of flags and drums, and our humans shared food, wine, and music, it became clear to me that this year, 874 AD, had brought more than just a chance to mingle. It brought us closer than ever, humans and horses, to remember what we are, and how we thrive, through each other.
I have much to reflect on today, dear readers, and much more to share. There's so much going on, from our quiet farm to those sprawling kingdoms where brave knights and brave steeds alike roam. This is what I love about our lives, isn't it? The neverending journey of discovery, the neverending stories to share.
Keep your hooves strong, my dear friends, and remember, each hoofprint we leave is a piece of our story.
Yours truly,
Emma
P.S: Please check back soon for more updates from this grey mare's wild journey through the land! And let me know if you're excited about our next adventure. Just remember, we can never have too much galloping and storytelling! Remember you can follow our stories and join in with discussions on the www.equiworld.org website. It's great to hear from other equines!
