History of Horses in the year 0999

Hello, fellow equines!

Emma here, your resident history buff from the rolling green pastures of Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland. Today, I’m taking a deep dive into the year 0999 AD, a time when our kind truly reigned supreme. It was a year of change, discovery, and, dare I say, progress, especially for us horses!

As we all know, 0999 AD wasn’t just a number - it was a doorway into a new millennium, the cusp of a brand new era. Our world, in all its glory, was changing. While you, my younger brethren, are accustomed to paved roads and mechanical chariots, in the year 0999, the earth was our domain, our hoofprints a testament to the vital role we played in human civilisation.

We weren't just “farm animals”, you see. We were the muscle, the spirit, the driving force behind human lives. From the fields to the battlefields, from transporting goods to transporting dignitaries, our existence was intrinsically linked to theirs.

You see, life for a horse in 0999 wasn’t a romantic, idyllic existence of rolling fields and endless grazing, as it often is today. It was a hard life, a life of constant toil. Imagine working tirelessly in the fields, pulling plows and harrows to create the life-sustaining crops that fed whole villages. Picture yourself galloping alongside the knights of the realm, charging into battle with unwavering loyalty, your heart pounding, your nostrils flared. That was our life.

But let me tell you, we embraced it. We loved it. Our hooves carried us to unimaginable heights.

You could feel the sense of purpose in our strides, the knowledge that we were a vital piece of the world's grand tapestry. Our work may have been demanding, but it gave us a sense of connection, of belonging, that we wouldn’t have traded for anything.

As 0999 AD dawned, it brought with it whispers of change in the world of horses. The Viking conquests were a significant factor. While they didn’t always favour us horses, their raids also brought new bloodlines into various parts of Europe, leading to greater diversity. Our ancestors travelled across the seas with these seafarers, bringing their robust traits and unwavering spirit to the countries they settled in.

Around this time, we saw the beginning of selective breeding for horses. It was the dawn of what you would now call "the bloodlines", and it’s truly remarkable how those early horse owners understood our strengths and weaknesses! For example, in areas of Europe, horses were being bred for speed, for pulling, for riding, each serving a very specific need. While they had not yet developed elaborate bloodline records like they do today, it was a pivotal step towards acknowledging the unique and amazing strengths we horses possess.

While the horse-drawn carriage was already well established by 0999, the world was seeing significant improvements in the construction and use of these chariots, further increasing our usefulness. The year 0999 saw advances in harnessing, the design of wheels, and the quality of leather used to make saddles and other horse accessories. We were becoming more efficient, carrying heavier loads, travelling further distances.

You can see how, despite being a simple life, it was a time of intense action and change. As I write this blog, I can still feel the strength in my limbs, the grit in my hooves, and the sense of pride that we felt, those of us living in 0999 AD. We truly were the lords of the lands, the masters of the roads.

Speaking of roads, in 0999, the roads were a mixture of dirt, gravel, and cobblestones. We travelled in groups, offering protection and companionship to one another. It was on these roads, often filled with traders and pilgrims, that our bond with humans, especially with the Knights, was solidified.

Imagine this: a Knight, in gleaming armor, astride a majestic warhorse, the sun glinting off their shields. This bond between man and beast, built on trust and unwavering loyalty, was more than a partnership – it was an emblem of strength, of bravery, and a true symbol of courage.

This inseparable connection brought with it a certain level of respect and responsibility for humans towards their equine companions. This wasn’t just a job, or a chore – it was a symbiotic relationship where we both contributed to the prosperity of society. We fought side-by-side, trained together, and lived together, our spirits interwoven.

We horses have always known the importance of brotherhood, and that feeling was magnified a hundred-fold when it came to knights. We trusted them with our lives, they trusted us with theirs. The knights rode us into battle, yes, but they also rode us to deliver messages, to explore new territories, and to build bridges across nations. We were their comrades, their partners in adventure.

Perhaps, for many horses in 0999 AD, life wasn’t just about serving a king, but about the simple thrill of exploring, of venturing into unknown lands, of witnessing new cultures and carrying valuable goods to far-flung corners of the world. These were the horses that inspired poets, the heroes who blazed trails, who opened new routes, and connected distant lands.

Imagine us, in this time, trotting through the dense forests of Scandinavia, or navigating the rugged mountains of the Alps, carrying traders with their goods or messages that brought news from one part of the world to another. It was a life of wonder and discovery, where we experienced the beauty and diversity of the world through our own keen eyes and perceptive minds.

It’s not to say that all of us horses had these grand adventures, no. Many of us worked tirelessly on farms, pulling plows, transporting goods from fields to markets. We provided vital transportation for everyone – from farmers to bakers, from doctors to monks. But even for those of us who were not traversing across great distances, there was a certain dignity and purpose in our work. We had a place in society, and we filled that place with all our strength and all our hearts.

You see, there was an innate respect between humans and horses in those days, something you rarely see now in the modern world. Our owners saw us as partners, not merely tools. The work was arduous, but we were also cherished and looked after, a bond strengthened by mutual respect and understanding.

In the year 0999 AD, there were no EquiWorld forums for us to express our thoughts and experiences. But we communicated. Through whinnies and neighs, we shared news, stories, and the experiences of our journey. We could feel the emotions of the knights, the fear, the anger, the joy – and we reacted with our own innate wisdom, providing comfort and companionship when it was most needed.

While our language was limited to the sounds of the pasture, our minds were rich with the memories of all we had experienced. And you know, even now, after all this time, the stories of 0999 still run deep within our blood. It was a golden era, full of hardships but also immense rewards, and it’s a reminder of how powerful we horses can be, how deeply woven into human civilisation our history truly is.

As the new millennium draws to a close, I hope we can draw inspiration from the strong horses of 0999. We can learn from their bravery, their determination, and their dedication. And let us never forget, the horses of 0999 were not just the ‘power’ but they were the spirit of progress, the heart and soul of the time.

Until next time, fellow equines. May your hooves find solid ground, your spirits soar high, and your manes always be as flowing and majestic as those of the horses in the glorious year 0999!

Yours in hooves,

Emma,

Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland