History of Horses in the year 0982

Good morning, fellow equines! It's Emma here, your resident historian from Hayfield, near Aberdeen. You might know me, you might not. It doesn't matter. I'm here to share some of what life was like for a horse back in the year 0982.

You see, I'm no ordinary horse, oh no, I'm a time traveller in a way. I've got this magical connection to the past, allowing me to revisit these days and experience things firsthand. Then, I come back here to Equiworld.org and share what I’ve learned. I love telling stories about the lives of horses and how things used to be. Makes me realise just how much we’ve evolved – well, not evolved really, more like changed! – through the centuries.

This week, it's 0982. It's a cold morning. The frost hangs on the field like diamonds. I can feel the prickle of it on my nostrils. I’m with the rest of the Hayfield herd. They are mainly hardy little fell ponies. I'm a bit bigger, a bit more refined – I'm a draught horse, after all – with a silky white mane and tail, and the greyest of grey coats. We graze on the meadow, breathing in the crisp air and listening to the wind sigh through the bare branches of the ancient oak trees that border the field.

The mist rises from the valley. We are not sure where the day will take us, but our lives are much the same, day in, day out. It’s a life of work and toil, just like horses throughout history. You see, the year 0982 was pretty much the same as most years back then – and for hundreds of years to come. We horses, you see, are the engines of the world. We transport goods, we help till the fields, and we pull heavy loads so our human companions can have a decent life.

Right now, for example, we are working the land. I've just been yoked up to the plough alongside my fellow draught horse, Tom. He's a strong fellow with a good spirit. We share a knowing glance – a real "let’s get this job done" sort of look! Then we move as one, straining to the rhythm of the man guiding us.

My job is pulling the plough and making those straight, neat furrows so our human companions can sow the seeds of barley. It's hard work, no doubt about it. My muscles ache after a long day, and sometimes I can feel the weariness in my bones. But I do it all willingly. I take pride in my job – it's vital that the field is properly prepared to bring a plentiful harvest. I take satisfaction in working alongside Tom. I love feeling the ground give way under our hooves, and I'm very good at judging the rhythm of my work, never straining beyond what I’m able to do. My hooves dig deep, churning the earth in that rhythmic way we horses do so well. It’s a dance we do with the earth and the human that guides us. We understand each other so well, Tom and I.

Of course, not all horses do heavy farm work like me. A lot of our cousins gallop freely, wild and strong in the vast landscapes. It makes my heart stir a little when I see the occasional band of horses bounding across the meadows, a glorious display of freedom. Then I think of how fortunate I am. My job, while demanding, is part of life, it's all I’ve ever known, it’s my place in this world, and it's an honourable one, I believe.

As we work, I sometimes catch glimpses of other working horses. The blacksmith in Hayfield is hard at work – and let me tell you, being a blacksmith is no easy task! They are the true craftsmen of our time! The metal, the fire, the heat, it’s demanding work and it makes my muscles tense just thinking about it.

Then there are the horses who cart heavy burdens – timber, grain, building materials - and we need them all, every single horse, to make our society run smoothly. You might think our days are dreary – but there’s no lack of purpose and camaraderie, no lack of understanding that we play a vital role.

By the time the afternoon rolls around, we’ve got a moment to breathe and catch our breath. Sometimes I find a patch of sun, close my eyes and rest in its warmth. The peaceful hum of nature settles in my ears – birds twittering, wind whispering through the leaves - I take it all in and breathe deep. These moments bring me a calm that allows me to face the evening’s task with renewed energy.

Our human companions usually keep us on a tight schedule. When we get back to the stable, I can hear the horses snorting, a sound of both relief and content. A shared murmur fills the air and I feel a pang of affection for these noble creatures. They may be just working horses like myself but they have their own story, their own tale of trials and tribulations, victories and frustrations.

Sometimes we even see a fine knight passing by. Their horses are so proud and elegantly outfitted. There is an elegance and power in them. I wonder if they know that their ancestor, the Equus caballus came to these shores from Central Asia all those years ago, when the first humans did! They played a crucial role in shaping our land.

It's hard not to feel a thrill of excitement when we see a mounted knight. Their appearance marks a time of pageantry and celebration in our human society. They signify order and power – although it's not all about power. Sometimes they come through Hayfield to spread the word about an event. They’ll carry messages from one lord to another. News of festivals, tournaments, royal gatherings – it’s all transmitted on horseback. They’re messengers and symbolisers of good times, of prosperity, of power and prestige – a symbol that something momentous is about to happen!

But even those knights need the trusty draught horse. They depend on us to move heavy goods, and even though they gallop across fields with the finest stallions, they still need to rely on a good, dependable cart horse to move things around! I like to think that we, the humble draught horses, keep things moving, whether it's grain, firewood or even knights themselves! It's good work. Work that makes us part of something much bigger than ourselves.

As the twilight deepens, the sounds of life become more gentle. Our human companions, weary from their day’s toil, come into our stalls to give us a bit of straw for our bedding, rubbing our necks with a calming hand and talking to us in soothing tones. They tell us the gossip from Hayfield, who's been working hard, who’s done well, and who needs a little extra care. I appreciate this. They respect us and understand us. I’m no stranger to being appreciated, as long as you’re willing to work for it. We have to work to earn their respect, and in doing so we earn a comfortable and decent existence in this community.

As we settle down, I can feel the world begin to slow down. I can sense the peace of evening. The air is crisp with anticipation. The moon shines bright, casting a pale light over Hayfield. I lie down, snuggled amongst the other horses, and let the warmth of camaraderie wash over me. In this quiet, my mind wanders, my thoughts drift back to another day, a time that's both familiar and strange to me - a time when we weren’t harnessed, or worked so hard – the wild horses of our past, who were the very beginning of our own kind.

You see, fellow horses, we’ve got a long and rich history behind us. We've been around for a very, very long time! The early horses weren’t just powerful, majestic animals – they were also remarkably small. In fact, they were only the size of a fox! But they lived a wild, carefree existence in vast grassy plains. Those were simpler times – times before humans.

Eventually, humans appeared and everything changed, as humans have a way of doing! We’ve evolved alongside humans throughout the ages. We have helped shape the landscape, the very societies of humans we are now so familiar with. We built castles together. We cleared fields for farms together. We even made those mighty swords to help us defend our homeland – that was back in the time of the Vikings. Some of us still carry swords to this day, proudly flanking brave men on their steeds.

That’s the beauty of our journey – it’s not just our own story, it’s part of the story of humankind too! We are interwoven with the threads of history. We see things change, and learn to adapt and evolve with every passing century.

But we horses remain horses. We've seen so much throughout our journey. We’ve witnessed great feats of courage, amazing displays of bravery, but we've also been through tough times – times of hardship and war. Yet, through all these, we always persevered. We were always there, strong and willing. We were there for humans, just like humans were there for us. And in those moments of human fragility, of great challenges, we proved our worth. We stood alongside each other and shared that unspoken bond. We are horses after all. We do what we do, instinctively, and with a shared purpose.

That’s our story! We horses - strong, intelligent, loyal – we are the backbone of the world! And although the centuries have rolled by, some things stay the same. We are still here. We are still horses. We still strive for a life well lived, and a role that is significant. We will continue to tell our stories to future generations of horses, our stories of hardship, loyalty, and the unwavering connection we share with humanity. And, with my own special magic, I hope to keep you informed and connected to that very same journey.

Until next time!

Your Hayfield Historian,

Emma