Greetings fellow equines and horse-loving humans! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey mare, reporting live from the rolling hills of Hayfield, near Aberdeen. Today, we're going to delve into a historical journey - all the way back to the year 1115. It's quite a stretch for even my long, grey memory, but let me tell you, history is full of fascinating insights, particularly for us horses.
1115 was a time of change and excitement in the world of horses, so grab yourselves a handful of fresh hay and settle in, because we're about to travel back in time.
Life on the Scottish Highlands: My Story
I was born on a crisp, early spring morning in 1115. The first thing I saw was the gentle face of my mother, a wise old mare with a coat as dark as the midnight sky. My father was a robust, silver-grey stallion with a white blaze that reminded me of the snowcapped peaks of the Highlands. I inherited my sleek grey coat and glorious, flowing white mane and tail from him.
My childhood was filled with the sounds of bleating sheep and the fragrant scent of wild heather. The Highlands were a wild and challenging environment, yet I felt perfectly at home among the rocky hills and verdant valleys.
As a young foal, I learned to navigate the treacherous terrain, galloping across fields of golden oats, kicking my hooves in the air and playing hide-and-seek with my siblings. Life was simple, fuelled by endless grazing, playful frolicking, and the warmth of my mother’s love.
However, time, like a steady river, kept flowing. As I grew taller and stronger, the call of duty grew louder.
My first taste of work came at the tender age of three. The farmer, a burly, kind man named Iain, put a harness on me and used me to pull the heavy plow. I soon discovered that my powerful muscles and my stamina, passed down from generations of hardy horses, were invaluable in the Highland farming life.
Every day brought new challenges: Dragging timber for new houses, transporting heavy bags of grain to market, pulling wagons laden with sheep for the winter shearing – all these tasks fell on my strong shoulders, and I relished the responsibility.
One of my most important jobs, however, was to carry riders on their travels across the wild countryside. The Highlands, while breathtaking, were vast and unforgiving. Without horses, getting from one place to another would have been slow, laborious, and dangerous.
The riders, often men in leather tunics and tall pointed hats, rode with an air of purpose and strength. They told stories of distant kingdoms and daring raids on rival clans, their words weaving vivid pictures of a world larger than my familiar valleys.
A Look at the World in 1115
Back then, horses were vital. The rise of powerful kings and ambitious warlords across Europe meant that horses were in constant demand. We were needed to carry knights, supply armies with essential materials, and of course, for personal transport. The battlefield was also a realm for horses, where knights on horseback dominated the combat landscape.
A knight's status was judged by the quality of his horse. If you wanted a swift, elegant mount for combat, you sought out the fiery, athletic Arabian breeds, often from distant lands, arriving through merchants on the silk road. Their courage and speed were legendary. They would be covered in gleaming armour, adding to the majesty of their noble appearance. However, the powerful draught horses, similar to me, were invaluable too, hauling supplies and transporting wounded soldiers.
But horses were much more than beasts of war and work. Across Europe, horses played a vital role in everyday life, transporting people, goods, and information across continents. Imagine trying to build the magnificent cathedrals or castles without the strength of horses, and you would have a picture of the world without them – unthinkable!
The year 1115, for example, saw the construction of a magnificent stone cathedral in Winchester. I can only imagine the countless horse-powered journeys needed to gather materials, transport stone, and then move around all the building materials.
As you can see, in the 12th century, we were much more than just working animals. We were central to trade and social interaction.
Our Influence: Horses are Changing the World
You might be wondering what horses are doing to shape the world right now in the 21st Century. I see it every day! The impact of horses extends far beyond farming and warfare. Our lineage is being passed on and honed to create breeds fit for a variety of purposes. For example, the Thoroughbreds – our elegant and incredibly swift cousins – are essential to horse racing, bringing joy and excitement to people all over the globe.
You'll also find the strong, hardworking cousins of us draught horses working hard on farms all over the world, powering machinery and working the land. Even if their lives seem more simple than my ancestor's, they carry on the legacy of their ancestors by playing an essential role in a world where food security is more important than ever.
In 1115, we may have simply been helping the local blacksmith deliver his tools or the miller collect grain from the fields. But in 2023, it’s our agility, speed, and strength that's still shaping our world, ensuring its continued success.
The world is a vast and interconnected place, and through history, horses have been a constant, a vital link between humans and the natural world. Even though time has marched on, the relationship between horses and people continues to thrive, proving that the power of the bond between human and horse is as strong and as significant as it ever was.
That’s it from me for today. Until next time, may your meadows be green, your water clear, and your stalls warm!
Emma.
[Equiworld Note: For further insights into the life of horses in the 12th Century, visit the fascinating history resources provided on our site. You can also discover wonderful photographs and images of various breeds throughout history and find resources for caring for horses today. Don't hesitate to join in the conversation below!**
