Greetings, fellow equines and horse-loving humans!
My name is Emma, and I'm a grey draught mare with a mane and tail the colour of fresh snow. I live in Hayfield, near Aberdeen in bonnie Scotland. It’s been a grand year here, though change is definitely afoot, even in the far corners of this magnificent world!
A New King, a New Era?
This year saw a new king, William the Conqueror, take the English throne after a rather exciting battle (for the humans, anyway). Apparently, there was a lot of fuss and fighting. We horses saw lots of frantic activity - riders thundering past, carrying men with flashing swords, all dusty and looking rather anxious. It all felt rather thrilling for a few days.
For me, and the other draught horses of Hayfield, it meant little change initially. The fields are still plentiful, the barley fields are full to the brim, and we're still helping the farmers prepare the land and bring in the harvest.
I hear from a few horses who travel on the trade routes that, in other parts of the world, horses are used more than ever. They're used to move goods, people, and armies – I’m not entirely sure I would fancy that life, myself. It must be rather exciting but rather chaotic!
My Horse Friends' Stories
My cousin, Mabel, lives a short distance away, by the River Don, and tells stories about horses travelling to the great cities, carrying men and women to work, hauling goods from distant lands, and carrying messages that take weeks to arrive! It's fascinating to hear her tales, especially the ones about the ‘ship horses’. Mabel describes them as magnificent steeds, used to pull carriages all the way across the sea – can you imagine the wonder and awe of those journeys?
And then, there's my dear friend Agnes. She tells stories of beautiful horses used in a new way - in competitions and games where the rider controls their horse by tugging on a pair of reins and using metal spurs on their boots. It sounds incredibly fancy, although Agnes finds it all a bit terrifying - apparently the humans can get quite wild, urging their horses to gallop faster and faster. But even with their wild spirit, I’m told the humans admire horses deeply.
New Challenges
Now, here's a fascinating tidbit: I overheard one of the farmers mentioning that the English King plans to breed new types of horses. He says these ‘war horses' will be faster and more powerful, built for battle and hunting. Honestly, I’m not sure I agree with using horses for war. While I’ve met a few men who aren't afraid of battle, I know for a fact that there’s nothing like the feeling of fresh grass beneath your hooves on a warm summer's day, or the camaraderie of your fellow horses.
But then, there's the great excitement of carrying knights on a long ride through a magnificent landscape. One of our old horses here in Hayfield tells a story about carrying a young knight named William back from the English wars to his home in a nearby village. This young man spent several hours simply grooming and stroking this magnificent animal. The way she told it, you'd think it was a story about her own journey! It was an absolute testament to the bond between horse and human, which, regardless of war and unrest, has always remained strong.
Horse Lore
Humans seem obsessed with horse stories! Every evening at the Hayfield inn, the villagers listen with awe as old stories about magical horses are retold, filled with mythical creatures and impossible feats. Horses in those stories could talk, could fly, even could understand human emotions!
Our elders love these stories; they're fascinating even to us, the real horses! Even though none of us horses here at Hayfield can understand humans or speak, it is humbling and heart-warming to know that we're so deeply cherished and even celebrated in their culture.
The Beauty of Horses in 1077
You know, regardless of how humans use us or change their world, what matters to us is the simplicity of the everyday, the feel of the wind in our manes, the taste of dew-laden grass in the morning, and the warm companionship of our fellow horses.
Whether we're ploughing the fields, carrying loads, or simply grazing under a clear Scottish sky, we horses are here. We're resilient, we're adaptable, and we're ever grateful for the simple pleasures of life – just as the people are!
As I end this post, the sun is setting, casting a warm golden light on Hayfield, the horses all snoozing together as we anticipate another wonderful day of being the powerful and magnificent creatures that we are.
Thank you for reading my post! What's going on with the horses in your neck of the woods? Share your stories, dear equines and humans. And remember: horses and humans are always stronger together. Until next time!
- Emma the Grey
P.S. If you'd like to share your horse stories or stories of life in the year 1077, leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you.
