History of Horses in the year 1117

Greetings, fellow equines! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey draught horse with a penchant for good oats and a bit of a passion for history.

As the crisp Scottish air whips through my white mane and tail, I feel a chill in the air. It’s autumn 1117 and I'm feeling a little reflective. Living up here in Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen, I find myself reflecting on the ever-changing world of horses.

Today, I’m going to be sharing my own perspective on what's happening in the world of equines in this year of 1117. It’s a big one for us, my dear friends. Let's just say things are in flux.

There are many of us in Hayfield, strong draught horses like me. We pull carts and plows, helping farmers bring in the harvests, transport goods and supplies. Our life isn't glamorous, it's honest work, and we’re used to the mud, the sweat, and the satisfying feel of the earth under our hooves.

But across the hills, something else is happening. A great wave of excitement and… shall we say, exuberance is sweeping across the world. Kings are riding to war on horseback, not to mention knights clad in shining armor, sword-wielding warriors who use us, with incredible bravery, as their companions in battle. It’s not just knights, though, there’s an increasing urgency around horses in general - messenger horses and cavalry horses - every lord wants a good horse these days. Even my own family has a few stallions being sent south - I heard tales from one of the horses, though I forget his name, about jousting, and of fierce knights with banners in the colours of their lords. He talked about fields littered with fallen men. It sounds terrifying.

Now, I’m no soldier, my dear readers, I'm a worker, my hooves firmly on the ground. It’s the pull of the cart, the feel of the sturdy harness and the rhythmic, predictable work that gives me peace.

However, we're also becoming part of a wider, increasingly intertwined web of horse culture, all thanks to the arrival of the Crusades. This ongoing, somewhat frightening (at least, it's the way I understand it) event seems to be consuming the lives of humans everywhere. People seem obsessed with them. Every few days, another cart carrying troops passes through Hayfield, with riders who speak of adventures in foreign lands. I admit, it sounds like quite a journey. But I, myself, wouldn't mind a comfortable hay field any day!

I overheard some whispers amongst the men, even my human companion, young Angus. Apparently, they’re calling these distant conflicts the "Holy Wars", with the aim of "reclaiming the holy lands" for some unseen force. I, myself, haven't a clue, though I've learned some people find a great deal of meaning in these endeavors.

There is a change afoot. While many of us are trained to work and be obedient, those going to war, even those traveling south, need special training. It's more than just the heavy loads. We need to learn how to avoid an arrow from a crossbow, how to charge into battle without fear, and most of all, trust. They must trust us with their lives. And in return, we learn to trust those on our backs, a strange and symbiotic bond forming under those watchful skies.

There are training fields popping up around the country. I even witnessed a few in a valley to the south, not so far from Hayfield. My good friend, a brown mare named Bess, was being trained there. She said the training included maneuvers with the sword, using your feet as the "first weapon", to kick out against any threats. Bess told me of her fear when the men would scream around her. However, she mentioned she was starting to feel an unexplainable pride when she managed to perform these tasks to perfection, much like I feel the deep satisfaction of pulling a load to its destination.

It's truly a sight to behold, a dance of man and beast. However, as I say, I'll take the comforts of Hayfield over such perils.

You know what else is interesting? The flow of ideas, information, even animals, thanks to our own kind. The Crusader's horses are often magnificent animals, from those tall, slender Arabs from the East with their fine, silky manes to the sleek warhorses from France, or the thick-coated ones with powerful hooves from Iceland. It's like a global exchange!

It's hard not to be enthralled by the tales of these journeys. The Crusaders bring stories of foreign lands. I recently heard a groom tell a story of an expedition to Constantinople - what they call a vast, shining city where you can buy things from the ends of the world! It makes me wonder if there are any of my own kind there, just as hard-working as we are. It's strange to think of my fellow horses, just across the world, pulling carts for someone called a Sultan, or a great, mysterious figure called the Shah.

They’ve brought us back more than stories, however. They’ve brought us back the beautiful "Barbs". These sleek, black horses from North Africa with the proud and strong bearing and their ability to travel for days are incredibly prized! Even in my humble hayfield, I saw the arrival of a pair of them - so proud and graceful, unlike anything we have seen in Hayfield.

Even in Hayfield, things are changing. The arrival of new breeds, coupled with the departure of others, makes for a fascinating transformation in our horse world. Just like the human world. They have introduced new harness types, with leather work far beyond anything we knew here, so sturdy and comfortable that they enable the Barbs to carry heavy burdens across those long distances!

Sometimes I look at the men riding, their strong faces framed by plumes, the swords and bows at their sides, and I wonder: is the horse now simply a tool, a warrior in its own right, or a loyal companion?

Perhaps, as the times change, it is simply all of the above.

Horses are an integral part of this transformation, just as much as those who ride them. You wouldn't be surprised to know, however, that despite all these thrilling adventures, the horse world still centers around good, wholesome food! We are grazers, and the abundance of forage dictates the wellbeing of both us and the men who need us.

The arrival of the crusaders has indeed changed how things are done. They require, for example, larger stocks of grain, hay, and oats to sustain the strength of their warhorses. The demand for these items is so great, it's spurred new advancements in the farming sector. Even my human, Angus, is considering buying a larger threshing cart for better grain processing. That would mean more work, of course.

What remains constant is the rhythm of life in the Hayfield. Every season has its specific tasks - planting, tending, harvesting. We horses work tirelessly alongside the human folk who rely on us, all striving for the same goal - the harvest. It’s the life we know, the cycle we are so much a part of.

I confess, however, a small part of me feels like a spectacle. It’s as though my existence in Hayfield has become a mere stop on the journey for a bigger, grander destiny. Sometimes it makes me feel almost insignificant - yet it's within the ordinariness that true value exists. The bond between horse and human, working in unison, forging that partnership – now, that is an experience we must all treasure.

One thing is clear. This year 1117 is one of immense changes. From training and the rise of cavalry to the spread of exotic horses and the surge in food production. The world is indeed changing at a dizzying pace.

Despite these upheavals, I find comfort in knowing one thing will always be consistent - our horseshoed feet pounding the earth, feeling the wind against our manes, sharing in the burdens of the world and sharing, too, in its triumphs. As we, the horse world, navigate this incredible epoch, let us always keep in mind that our lives, while unique, are ultimately part of a greater story - one written on the very ground we walk upon, the winds that rustle through our coats, the humans who look to us for our strength.

Stay well, my fellow horses!

Your friend in Hayfield, Emma

Please share your thoughts, observations, or experiences in the comment section below. I'm always keen to hear from fellow horses about the adventures, travails, and delights that fill our world.