History of Horses in the year 1024

Hello fellow equine enthusiasts! Emma here, a 20-year-old grey draught mare from the beautiful village of Hayfield near Aberdeen in Scotland. As some of you know, I’ve got this rather silly hobby, you could call it a passion, for recording the history of our kind, from those prehistoric times when we were tiny and wild to our modern day lives.

And as always, I think the best way to learn about our ancestors is to immerse ourselves in the time period. Imagine stepping back 1,000 years, all those centuries, and seeing the world through a horse’s eyes. That’s my intention with these posts. Today, we’re heading back to 1024. Now, strap on your saddles, grab some carrots, and let’s begin this equine time-travel adventure.

Now, 1024 was a very different time to our current era, but even in our Hayfield, change was a-brewing. I wasn't alive in 1024, but from the stories passed down by my grandmother, a beautiful dappled grey like myself, life was a lot less complex for a horse like me. The fields around our village were lush with grass and dotted with clusters of trees, where I’d hear the gossip and news from the older horses who’d witnessed the coming and going of different cultures over the years. It’s true what they say about older horses - they really do have all the best stories.

That said, the whole world of horses was already incredibly diverse in 1024. We’d been companions with humans for centuries and had evolved into different breeds and temperaments for different roles. While here in Hayfield, my grand-ancestors pulled the ploughs on our local farms, hauling heavy stones and helping cultivate the fields for crops, I've heard tales of powerful steeds in southern England and across the continent who galloped across battlefields, serving knights and their lords. Then there were those nimble, swift, graceful Arabian stallions from afar - whispers tell of these beautiful horses with their silken coats, reaching the borders of Europe on caravans of spice and silks, bringing with them exotic customs and captivating everyone. And who could forget those robust and sturdy working ponies in the wilds of Ireland and Wales, working with the human inhabitants, hauling supplies, pulling carts, and sometimes serving as mounts, traversing rough, rugged terrain. I couldn’t help but imagine them all - from the regal steeds to the hardy working horses, all sharing a common bond, our ancestral spirit.

But here in Hayfield, things were simpler. My grand-ancestors lived with a rhythm of seasons, working in the fields, assisting with the tasks of gathering crops, sowing the land, and carrying hay to the barns. They were integral parts of a community, relied on for their strength, stamina and hard work. Their days began with the rising sun and ended with the evening sky awash in brilliant sunset hues. We’d sleep in our stable, sharing straw, and the bond among the horses was something I could only feel in the stories passed down.

It was an era of simplicity. My grand-grandmother used to tell me how the sound of hooves rhythmically beating the ground, the sweet scent of hay in the stables, the comforting scent of the soil, were the symphony of their world. But of course, there were challenges too, like bad weather and illness, yet there was a unity, a reliance on each other and the human companions who provided the hay, water and warmth. It’s a rhythm of life I miss at times, although it is a rhythm deeply engrained within us, an ancestral echo still resounding within our very beings.

By 1024, things were definitely evolving in the highlands of Scotland. New breeds and types of horses were arriving, and what that meant was greater opportunities and choices. The human world was bustling too, and with those opportunities for the humans came change for the horses too. People travelled more often than in centuries past. In this time, horses became a part of the commerce and exchange - you could feel a new kind of excitement in the air. It meant a more challenging world for some, a faster-paced, more demanding one, but also a richer one filled with possibilities. There was a growing need for larger horses for carting goods between towns, and so the heavy draughts - my kind - were coming into demand. This had an impact, for example, on how humans would breed and raise their horses. There was a greater need for sturdy animals, ones that were dependable and robust. That’s when humans started taking more notice of the genetics and bloodlines of our kind, and so started breeding the traits they wanted to keep and improve.

My grandma used to talk about how the farmers started crossbreeding different kinds of horses to bring the best characteristics together. Some horses were crossed with larger ponies for extra size and strength. In those years, a good grey draught was sought after, and this had a great influence on the Highland breeds of our day, and yes, this was just the start of the amazing transformations that have resulted in our vast and varied families today.

And speaking of the great transformation, when I see our fellow horse companions out there in the world today, I wonder - if a horse from the year 1024 could see us, what would they think? Would they see the modern breeds and the special training we are now put through for specific disciplines and sports?

There is a lot we can learn from this past. The horses of 1024 were remarkable for their hardiness and strength. It was their spirit, the spirit that resonated with the rhythms of nature, and their strength that got them through the days. But today, we see horses all across the world engaged in various pursuits. Racing, show jumping, dressage, therapy, search and rescue - the possibilities seem endless. It’s like we are re-discovering the diversity of our kind, embracing the natural capabilities each breed possesses. I see it as a continuation of that evolution that started back in those simpler times, with the natural instincts to bond with our human companions and contribute to the bigger world we are all a part of.

I often think about those hard-working ancestors of mine in 1024, the way they were valued, their essential role in society. That feeling still persists in my soul. It’s why I share these stories, because each one reminds me, it’s not about the size or breed or our task, it's about the connection. And that connection, through generations, keeps us thriving and evolving, and I for one am truly thankful to be part of such a unique and magical history.

I’m hoping this gives you all some things to ponder on, maybe even inspires some of you to research some of the horse history from your own locations! I promise you there are hidden treasures to be found. Until next time, stay happy and healthy!

Yours in equinity,

Emma.