Hello there, fellow equines! Emma here, a twenty-year-old grey draught mare with a mane and tail as white as snow. I call the rolling hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen, my home, and I’ve had the honour of being a part of history, carrying loads for both the villagers and the nobles alike.
Today, I'm taking a moment from my usual routine of pulling the plough, hauling timber, and ferrying supplies to share some thoughts on life in 955. This year has been a rollercoaster, filled with new experiences and interesting happenings that shaped our lives and changed our place in the world. I'll do my best to bring it all to life for you through the eyes of a grey mare.
Let me tell you, dear reader, life as a horse is not always glamorous! You spend most days eating grass and being rubbed down, with the occasional adventure sprinkled in. But sometimes, those adventures can be quite exciting, and 955 certainly offered plenty.
This year started off much like the previous ones, a familiar rhythm of work, play, and rest. But spring brought with it a stirring of excitement. We heard whispers that a new King had risen in England, a certain Edgar, son of the renowned King Edmund. Talk of a powerful ruler, keen on peace and order, who promised a new era of prosperity for all. Now, don’t get me wrong, here in Hayfield we felt no immediate impact of this change. We simply munched our grass, watched the sky change, and listened to the whispers of the wind.
However, our quiet lives took an unexpected turn in late summer. A band of riders arrived in Hayfield, announcing the arrival of King Edgar’s own sister, the beautiful Princess Elfrida, travelling from her castle in York, with a retinue of knights and ladies-in-waiting. Her reason for venturing so far north, you ask? The beautiful princess, rumour has it, was on a pilgrimage to the renowned St Andrews Cathedral, famed for its healing properties.
Let me tell you, the arrival of such noble visitors brought a welcome surge of activity. Everyone, including us horses, suddenly felt a need to polish and primp! I even received a brand new set of reins, lovingly crafted by the village blacksmith, a handsome stallion known as Henry. He always had a keen eye for detail, ensuring everything about my gear was spotless and shiny, not that I ever needed an excuse to preen.
Now, the Princess, she was a vision to behold. As beautiful as any wildflower, her fiery red hair framed by a delicate gold crown. She had eyes as green as the lush grass that carpet our hills, and she seemed to exude an aura of gentleness and grace, almost like a mythical being descended from a moonbeam.
She took a particular liking to me, bless her. One day, as I was diligently pulling a cart filled with produce for the local market, she approached me, her expression filled with an unexpected softness. “You have such calm and gentle eyes,” she whispered, “I wonder, might you let me ride you?”
Her request came as a pleasant surprise, as I had never carried a rider before, being solely used for carting and pulling. The villagers gasped, they had never seen such a distinguished visitor take an interest in our simple life. However, I was honoured by her request. After all, a princess must enjoy her stay.
The first ride was a bit of a learning experience, to say the least. The princess, with her graceful poise, didn’t sit very securely on the saddle at first. Her hands tugged nervously at the reins, causing me to halt every now and again as she tried to figure out the gentle communication between a horse and its rider.
The journey took us along a beautiful trail overlooking the sea, the fresh breeze whipping our hair. I could see she was filled with wonder as we admired the sprawling landscape, and she even reached out to touch the long grasses that swayed beside us. I confess, my heart swelled with pride as I carried her along, enjoying the soft rumble of her laughter as she soaked in the beauty of our home.
It didn’t take long before the princess and I had built a connection. By the end of her stay, she had become a confident rider, her every movement fluid and harmonious, like the swaying reeds in a gentle river. Even I, a strong, but simple draught mare, could feel the beauty of her spirit, mirroring in her touch the calm confidence I myself possessed.
She promised to return next summer, for a longer visit, which filled my heart with an inexplicable joy. As I carried her back to the village, I could feel a change within me, a new energy resonating deep within my being. It was as if the princess, with her graceful nature, had touched something within me, stirring something ancient and powerful within my heart. Perhaps it was the wonder of a new world opening up to me, the feeling of belonging to a grand, connected universe that stretched far beyond my humble patch of grass.
It wasn’t just the princess, though. 955 was a year filled with the echo of new beginnings, of change stirring the very foundation of our world. There was a new feeling of progress in the air.
King Edgar’s decrees, whispered in the tavern, were stirring something within us horses as well. New rules and regulations, passed through the land, brought with them new possibilities. Farmers, inspired by Edgar’s decrees, started experimenting with new farming techniques, like harnessing our power for efficient plowing, and new innovations like the "cart saddle" began to make their appearance in the world, a far cry from the more simple saddle that the princess used.
I watched with wonder as new carriages with fancy harnesses and finely carved ornaments made their debut. They spoke of a shift, an emerging connection between humans and horses, more complex than just using us for carrying and hauling. This bond was not just functional anymore; it was now becoming a bond of partnership, of mutual respect.
As 955 drew to a close, a strange excitement filled the air. Whispers of new trade routes reaching beyond the known world began to circulate. Traders from foreign lands started appearing, with their strange accents and colorful attire. Even our humble village, with its rough wooden structures, felt the ripple effect of this expanding world. It seemed that 955 had become the starting point for something new, something big, something full of possibilities.
And, while I still continue my life, patiently pulling carts and plows, my soul sings with the anticipation of these changes. Who knows what amazing stories are still waiting to be unraveled in the pages of history? Maybe someday, in another post on EquiWorld, I'll be able to share more of these wondrous experiences, but for now, it is time for a good night's sleep, under a sky full of stars, dreaming of all that lies ahead.
Goodnight, dear reader!
- Emma, the Grey Mare
