A Grey Mare's View of 1030: Hayfield Happenings & Horse Tales
Hello everyone! It's Emma here, your favourite grey mare from the rolling hills of Hayfield, just a little way outside of Aberdeen. The sun's shining, the heather is in bloom, and the air is filled with the smell of spring. Ah, isn't it a wonderful time to be a horse? I'm not quite a spring chicken anymore - twenty years old, to be precise - but there's still plenty of life and energy in these old legs!
As we're celebrating all things equine on EquiWorld, I thought I'd share some of my recent observations. You know me, I love to chat and to listen to the tales shared by the other horses on our farm. You'd be surprised what they know, you wouldn't believe the stories passed down through generations, just like you hear on the human gossip lines, but you know... whispered in a much gentler way, under a clear starlit sky.
Anyway, the year is 1030, which makes things a bit different from modern times. Humans seem a little more unsure of themselves, a lot less confident, if you ask me. You might be surprised to hear it but the world's full of conflict. Just the other day, I was out grazing and overheard a bunch of human folk discussing a certain Viking king. Cnut the Great they call him. They say he's ruling over both England and Denmark, a pretty impressive feat if you ask me, but there's always talk about possible revolts and how unstable things feel. But humans, they love a bit of drama, don't they?
I also learnt a fun fact about this Cnut the Great – he's a bit of a horse enthusiast! They say he loves the magnificent steeds from Norway and Iceland. Fancy that! We can only hope his influence might spread a little joy to other horses, even if the humans are all in a tizz!
But back to my own life in Hayfield. This time of year, things are buzzing with the usual preparations for spring. My friend Rosie, a beautiful black mare with a flaxen mane, is going to have her foal any day now. We all know it's going to be a stunner! I'm thinking of gifting her a little pouch of herbs for good luck, picked from the fields myself, for her special delivery. After all, who better than a wise old mare to pass on the secrets of healthy foaling?
We're mostly involved in everyday life around the farm here. It's a peaceful existence. Our days are spent munching on the sweet spring grass, taking a refreshing dip in the pond and helping out with the various chores. Today, I had the pleasure of hauling a load of hay with my friend Jack. A massive brown draught horse, he is! You wouldn't believe the strength in those powerful legs! We always take good care to avoid the busy roads in Hayfield - those humans can be reckless with their fast moving iron chariots, not to mention a little too fond of their horns. Too loud for a horse's sensitive ears!
But our human family, the MacKenzies, are the best! Always kind, caring and responsible. You see, our humans in Hayfield have this interesting idea about how the farm should be a source of food and fibre, not only for themselves but for the community. It seems a very reasonable idea to me, we're all connected after all, wouldn't you agree? The men take care of ploughing the fields with us, they make use of our strength to transport goods in their sturdy carts and the ladies love to ride us for fun, their joy echoed by the excited children that sometimes gallop on our backs.
It's a full and rewarding life for a farm horse. Every day feels like a blessing, even the less glamorous tasks like hauling dung. Believe it or not, even the other farm animals appreciate us – who else do you think keeps the barnyard free from pests and pesky rodents? It’s a bit like a balancing act, we all play our part to make things work!
Did you know there's a new horse breed that's making quite a stir in this part of the world? The Clydesdale, a majestic creature, all thick neck, powerful chest and legs, like a huge lumbering friend. Imagine having one of those mighty lads hauling your load – now that’s a truly satisfying feeling. I've even heard that King Malcolm of Scotland himself enjoys the company of a few Clydesdales in his stables. Seems the King knows a thing or two about the good life.
Every so often, I’ll hear of some faraway adventure. The other day, we were munching on hay while our stable boy, a friendly lad named Davie, talked about his father's journey south. Seems he travelled with some noble men all the way to England to help fight a new foe. They spoke of Norman knights with their pointy shields, and their fearsome horses, swift and agile, well-suited for battle. Apparently, these Normans have been causing quite a stir – I think we might see some of them here in the north before too long.
But, before I let my thoughts run away with me, I must remind everyone that I’m here to offer a positive take on life. Even if a bit of turmoil is brewing in other parts of the world, we must remember to appreciate the good in every day, embrace our responsibilities and find joy in the simple things.
It's time for me to head back to the meadow for a relaxing graze. If you happen to be passing by Hayfield, do drop by for a chat, we horses are always happy to greet new faces! Until next time, friends, stay happy and remember – there's always beauty and grace to be found in the world, both on four legs and two.
Emma x
