Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland, 1273
Good Morning, fellow Equines!
My name is Emma, and as you may have gathered from the date at the top, I am a draught mare, born and bred here in Hayfield. That means, for those who don't know, that I'm strong, sturdy, and used for pulling heavy loads. And my, oh my, what stories I have to tell you about 1273! It has been an eventful year in our horse world!
Now, I must say, I'm quite lucky to be born in this neck of the woods. The pastures are green and rolling, perfect for a big grey mare like myself, with a lush white mane and tail that makes me look ever so elegant, don't you think? I like to think of myself as the epitome of equine grace.
Anyways, enough about me! Back to the fascinating goings-on in the equine world of 1273. There's been much ado about a very special tournament happening in England - a whole tournament dedicated to horses! Can you imagine that? A competition not just for knights, but for horses themselves? It's called the "Great Horse Tournament" and apparently, it's quite the spectacle.
The judges are looking for horses that are the strongest, fastest, and most graceful. My sister, Lily, thinks I should go. But I can't! Who would manage my farm chores and tend to the barley crops, especially as the barley harvest is fast approaching? I have my work cut out for me, what with the wheat being harvested, then turned into flour, and then finally baked into lovely loaves. The farmer needs a sturdy girl like me to haul the carts full of those delicious wheat sheaves. I even pull the carriage that delivers those fragrant loaves to the village market! A busy life, but very fulfilling, I must say!
My ears prick up with interest at the mention of new technology from the human world that’s affecting our world. Did you know that in 1273, they are actually harnessing us horses more efficiently than ever before? New techniques, lighter harnesses, all working together to help us go faster and pull bigger loads. It's amazing to see how much our human partners have learned to work with us in such an effective manner. This, I have to admit, makes our lives quite a bit easier!
Speaking of our human partners, 1273 has been an intriguing year for them too! Just a little while back, I heard some humans discussing a very interesting man: a certain Marco Polo, who set out on a very long and dangerous journey across Asia to the Great Khan. He is said to be returning to the great city of Venice this year. He seems to have seen all sorts of incredible things! They said he came back with stories about majestic, wild horses on the Asian steppes, with wild, untamed manes. Imagine a whole herd of them running free, wild as the wind, such majestic creatures!
My friends in the local stable all tell stories about wild horses and their adventures. In the heart of Scotland, there's the Isle of Skye. A rugged beauty of an island! Rumour has it that the horses on Skye are wild and free, their hooves drumming on the moorlands, their manes dancing in the breeze, the pure essence of the wild! Now that is a life I would envy for a while, but let's be honest, my true joy comes from hard work, service, and companionship with humans.
And companionship is vital. One thing that struck me about 1273 is that even though it’s still considered barbaric times, a little understanding and compassion are making their way into human-animal relationships. I think our relationship has truly improved with these advances! I’ve heard tales of how in China they even practice something called “Equine Arts,” where horses and humans dance together. Can you imagine that? What an amazing sight it would be, the grace of the horses paired with the human dancers! Perhaps that's something to explore further, maybe I can learn some new moves with the farmer's daughter! She's a gifted dancer!
Anyway, I hope this gives you a bit of insight into life as a working horse in 1273. As you can see, there is a lot going on, but above all, what is essential to our lives as horses is to love, to learn, and to enjoy the wonderful world we live in.
Till next time, friends!
Emma, Hayfield
