Welcome, my fellow equines! It's Emma here, your grey mare blogger from Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen in the bonnie highlands of Scotland. I know what you're thinking: “0902?! That's ages ago! What's a horse to write about in those days?” Well, my friends, I assure you, 0902 was a time of great change, excitement, and… let's just say… “interesting” fashions. So buckle up, because we're riding back through time, past the muddy roads and medieval markets of the year 902!
First off, let's set the scene. The year 0902 is nestled right in the middle of the Viking Age, a time when those burly Scandinavians were raiding and conquering their way through Europe. In my little corner of Scotland, the local Pict tribes were still battling them off, which I have to admit made our pasture life rather jittery! Not to mention all those big, noisy war ships! (Seriously, you've never seen so many sails in your life!)
Now, my ancestors – big, sturdy draught horses like myself – were absolutely essential in those days. No tractors, no lorries, just pure muscle power! We pulled heavy ploughs through the fields, carried cargo, and of course, carried our knights into battle. You see, while the Vikings loved to loot and plunder, they also were big fans of a good horse, so even our fiercest enemies were respectful of the powerful grey mare!
Speaking of power, you'd think all those fierce Viking battles would make our lives dangerous, right? Not entirely. Believe it or not, those war horses were often very well cared for! They knew a healthy and happy horse meant a stronger, faster warrior. It seems that respect for horses runs deep, no matter which side you are on.
And don't even get me started on what we pulled! From wooden wagons laden with grain to hauling supplies on the backs of our pack-horse buddies, our hooves pounded the paths and dirt roads. We moved everything from timber to the King's mail - truly, our efforts made life for those early people possible!
We weren't just workhorses, either! People in the 9th Century adored us, naming us in their poetry and song. You know, “noble steeds,” “beautiful creatures” – all that stuff. I wouldn't mind being described that way! There were even horse races happening back then - a bit more simple than the elaborate events of today, but with a lot of cheering and festive merriment!
Life as a draught horse was certainly hard work. It's not all sunshine and hay in those times, especially for us mares. A working life means you're the “engine room,” carrying everything and everyone – the cart, the plows, sometimes even our little foals in baskets.
The care for our bodies was important too - our diet wasn’t as complex as you guys get today, mostly good oats and barley, but the emphasis was always on strong, reliable muscle and the proper care of our hooves, the foundations for our hard-working life!
One thing that always fascinates me is how horses and people have always found ways to communicate with each other, even way back then! The language of clicks and soft whinnies, the guiding of the reins and gentle touches. It's a wonderful bond, my friends, something special and strong between us and those human partners of ours!
But it wasn’t all mud and work, even back then! As a mare, you can imagine how many foals were running around Hayfield in those days. The young colts playing rough, the filly foals full of life – it was truly a spectacle! We mares spent hours watching our young ones frolic. They learned from the old stallions and mares, all the things we learned from our mothers and grandmothers - the art of survival, being able to care for yourself, finding your own grazing patch, all those simple things!
Oh, and can I just say a word about grooming? Believe me, grooming isn’t a modern-day luxury! Our coats, even those that are tough and thick, needed cleaning and care, keeping the flies away and letting us bask in the sun. Our humans knew it, even then!
But the thing is, you wouldn't catch them using those shiny metal grooming brushes we have today. It was all about a good old-fashioned hand scrub, a rough stone for rubbing those tangles out of our manes and tails, and a bit of natural oils and berry concoctions to make us shiny. I hear tell some humans even had special herbs to keep our hooves healthy.
Did I tell you about the smithy? They didn't have big, automatic shoe-making machines then, oh no! Those farriers were artisans! They spent days working the hot iron and crafting the perfect shoes for every hoof, always respecting the rhythm and strength of each horse. I'd always be so excited to get a new set of shoes – they made a satisfying clang and thump as we trotted on cobblestone roads!
So there you have it, friends - life in the year 902, through the eyes of a hardworking draught horse! It may not have been as advanced or as luxurious as today, but the core principles are still the same - our connection to humans, our love for running, our need for good grooming, and the endless beauty of simply being horses.
I hope you found my first journey through time interesting! Remember to follow Equiworld for future blog posts where we explore the stories of horses throughout history - you never know what adventures await! Until next time, my friends!
Emma
www.equiworld.org
PS Remember, if you're enjoying my posts, share them with your fellow horse lovers! And if you have any questions about horse history, leave a comment below and I'll do my best to answer! I'd love to hear your thoughts on my post!
