Welcome back to EquiWorld! I'm Emma, a grey draught mare, and I'm delighted you're joining me for another year of equestrian history. This year marks 1213 - quite a milestone, even for an old mare like me!
My hooves are still quite nimble, you know, despite being twenty summers old. I still relish a good day's work pulling the plough for Farmer Duncan in our little corner of the world, Hayfield near Aberdeen. The smell of the freshly turned soil is the best part, although he does tend to over-burden me sometimes with those great sacks of grain. The young farmhand, Angus, usually takes the lead with the other draught horses, but I think he finds my steady pace rather reassuring.
Let's travel back in time and see what the rest of the equine world was up to in 1213.
Horses in War
I confess, the word "war" doesn't evoke happy memories. My brother, Jasper, was sadly taken by King John's men a few years back to fight in France. He was a strong, loyal stallion, a real beauty, and never returned. Thankfully, Farmer Duncan is far from the turmoil of war. It seems like this year, however, war is rife across Europe.
King John
Speaking of King John, I understand he was struggling in France. He seems to have lost quite a few battles with the French King Philippe, although it's whispered they may have signed a truce for a while, at least. It's certainly a good thing. The more time spent on farming and breeding, the better. It seems King John is preoccupied with building more castles though, particularly along the borders with Scotland. He seems to think those Scots are going to be trouble.
Scotland's Strong Steeds
The Scots are certainly known for their skill in battle. The "Highlanders", as they are often called, favour strong steeds with stamina, like me! They believe in breeding hardy horses that can handle the rough terrain and endure long journeys, even with armour strapped upon them. These are not sleek war horses; they are muscular beasts with thick coats, built for power and resilience.
Life in the Steppes
Now, there's a place we might see our first real advances in "equine fashion"! While I haven't been there personally, word travels like the wind about these great grassy plains in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a place called the steppes. The people who live there, the Mongols, have developed unique horsemanship skills, mastering riding techniques and using tactics that seem nearly mythical!
They ride smaller, wiry horses, trained to run like the wind. Imagine, with nimble legs and great endurance! They train their horses to act almost like an extension of themselves, making the perfect battlefield companions. It seems there's a Mongolian leader, Temüjin - quite the ambitious fellow - who has plans to unite these steppes, but it's early days yet! We will have to keep an eye on this "Temüjin".
Arabian Tales
Over in the Middle East, whispers tell of the glorious Arabian horses, with their slender builds and incredible grace. Arabia is famous for its horses, renowned for speed, agility, and strength, with an elegant gait and a captivating intelligence. This breed was favoured by many royalty, you know, for both war and sport!
Racing Through the Centuries
Now, where are those glorious Arabian steeds bred? You guessed it! It's in Arabia itself! This region, full of endless plains and scorching sun, sees racing like never before! These races, some say, have been around for centuries!
I think that the races back in 1213 probably weren't as well-organised as the ones today! The idea was quite simple: two or more horses set off against each other, with the first to cross the finishing line being the winner. And wouldn't you know it, it seems there was more than one race being held in 1213! In India, there are records of people gambling on who would win. I imagine there were loud crowds cheering, and the dust kicked up by all those horses... well, that's a sight for sore eyes!
Riding and the Nobility
I understand that knights, ladies, and the elite folk generally love to show off their horses. Those high-born folks, from King John's court all the way down to noble lords, love to parade through villages on their noble steeds. They want to impress! They show off their fancy mounts with shiny saddles and gorgeous bridles.
You know, as elegant as these folks look riding, they aren't always so graceful when getting on! Many nobles use a stepladder, or something similar, to get up to the height of their saddles! They have to make sure they don't dismount with any embarrassment. Now that's the "gentle" side of things! It wasn't always so rosy...
The Horrors of the Crusade
It pains me to mention the word, "crusade," a term used for the journeys of the Europeans who decided they were going to take back Jerusalem from the Muslim rulers, starting in the year 1095. The Crusades had terrible consequences. So many horses were lost on the bloody battlefields of the Holy Land, including, of course, my beloved brother.
Many stories are told of horses showing immense bravery during those difficult battles. Sadly, the loss of so many horses, often used for charging into battle or for carrying loads of heavy equipment, meant that these journeys often ended with great losses of human lives.
Even now, many European leaders have a vision of fighting in this Holy Land. There seems to be another crusade brewing. King John has some connections to the Pope. I just hope these ambitious battles don't make 1213 the year when even more horses get caught up in war. I fear that our lovely grey hooves may once again have to walk through battlefields and experience pain and sorrow.
A New Home For Horses?
Thankfully, the world of horses in 1213 isn't entirely made up of battles and death. I recently heard talk of a monastery that was said to have provided shelter for animals during harsh winters! That's right, folks, the church itself took care of horses. Imagine! The brothers at the monastery fed them oats and hay, gave them good blankets, and provided them with clean stalls to sleep in! These monasteries also acted as a kind of "hospital" for injured horses. Now, isn't that just beautiful!
There are many different kinds of monasteries across Europe. These religious orders do so many things for us, beyond just providing shelter, although those cold nights during wintertime make me long for a warm barn and a heap of hay!
Beyond the Borders
Of course, the lives of horses in 1213 were not confined to war or religious work. Many horses found jobs on farms, like mine, helping farmers with tasks from plowing the fields to transporting supplies. The sound of hooves clopping on cobblestones echoed in many towns and cities, as horses carried carts full of food, or hauled wood for fires and cooking.
It's not always the glamorous life of a war steed, you know. Sometimes I just want to munch on some fresh clover and lie down in the sun! But we must do our duty. And besides, when the grain is freshly ground, it does give the greatest satisfaction!
An Evening by the Stable
You can be sure that as a twenty-year-old mare, I appreciate my peaceful evenings by the stables at Hayfield. I often find Angus helping Farmer Duncan to put away the last bits of hay or giving us a little extra brush with our grooming. He always says that it is our way of "thank you" to all those hardworking humans, a way to keep us looking handsome!
Of course, the other mares are quite the chatterboxes when we're all nestled in for the night! I find them sharing tales about their days at the fields and their "flirts" with the young foals. My best friend, Rosie, loves to tell us all about the antics of the colts around the village.
Sometimes I do think that she likes telling us tales more than working! She often claims the mare of the nearby stable is rather handsome, but I do tell her the mares around our fields are much stronger and much more loyal!
Horses Are Our True Companions
Whether we're battling on a battlefield or pulling a plow, it's our loyalty, strength, and intelligence that defines us. Our resilience allows us to be brave partners to humans throughout our journeys, from peaceful times like this to those more chaotic periods. I trust we will all find good homes and plenty of tasty grass, so we can all rest and stay strong!
Well, I best get to my hay and a little rest for the evening! I've a feeling the dawn will come soon enough, and with it, another day of helping those two-legged creatures! Don't forget to visit EquiWorld again next month for more from your humble steed, Emma!
