Post Number: 951
Hello, fellow equines and lovers of all things horsey! It's Emma here, your trusty steed and resident historian from Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen. Today we're stepping back in time to the year 0951 AD. Can you believe it? Almost a millennium ago!
Now, let me tell you, things were a bit different then. For one thing, the world felt a lot bigger. Our Hayfield meadows still stretched out as far as the eye could see, but back then, humans had barely begun exploring the world.
And us horses, we were everywhere! A vital part of daily life, we pulled ploughs in the fields, carried precious goods for merchants, and were essential for war. Even Kings relied on us for speed and power!
The weather in 0951 was… well, I can still recall those crisp autumn winds that would whistle through the fields, sending the fallen leaves dancing. They say it was a pretty cold winter that year, but as a thick-coated draught horse, I was well-equipped! We'd stand by the hearth in the stables, getting fed hay and oats, sometimes getting a little head scratch from the stable boy – bless him!
Speaking of stables, did you know that back then, our barns were quite simple? No fancy stalls, just a space to huddle together for warmth and a good old nicker to our mates. We'd often share stories, you see. That old mare, Peggy, who had worked on the fields, once told us about a journey she took with her owner, hauling grain to the castle at Stirling. Quite a journey, she said, passing through meadows that stretched as far as the eye could see, crossing bridges over rivers, and feeling the sun on her back as she climbed those long, winding roads.
Speaking of castles! Those imposing structures, they were a key feature of life in 0951. You could spot them dotting the landscape, a sign of power and authority. Now, I’ve never been inside a castle myself, but Peggy swore the inside was just as grand as the outside. Walls lined with tapestries, roaring fireplaces, and rooms overflowing with knights and ladies dressed in silk and velvet. Quite a scene, I bet!
Knights and ladies - that’s a bit of what made 0951 special, too. We, horses, were not only our owners’ transportation and hard workers, but their companions and friends. Many a knight spent his afternoons in the field training us, sharing stories, and making sure his steed was well fed. Even the ladies – they'd sometimes come out to the field, their silks and gowns fluttering in the breeze, their smiles brighter than the sun on a summer’s day, bringing us apples and pats on the head.
Horses were central to the way people lived in 0951, their heart beating with the rhythm of the land. We carried messages from village to village, helped with the hunt, and served in countless ways. And while that life might sound like hard work – and believe me, it was – there was also beauty in the routine.
Sometimes, after a long day in the field, I’d wander with my friend Maggie to the top of Hayfield Hill. We’d gaze at the setting sun, painting the clouds in hues of pink and orange, casting long shadows across the countryside. As the stars began to appear one by one, I’d remember those long walks, the sounds of the wind whistling through the heather, and the gentle whisper of my hooves against the dew-covered grass.
Though a thousand years have passed, there is a piece of 0951 in each of us. In the bond we forge with our human companions, in the satisfaction of a day’s work, in the love for a good run through the meadows, we carry the spirit of those who came before us.
I hope you enjoyed this trip back in time. Join me again soon, as we delve deeper into the rich tapestry of equine history!
Until then, happy trails!
Emma
www.equiworld.org
