Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland
July, 1369
Hello everyone! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood draught horse, bringing you another instalment of 'Horses Through The Ages' from my little corner of the world. This week, I'm taking you back to a sweltering summer's day in 1369, and oh, what a time it was!
As I'm a grey, my coat is a lovely, pale silver and my white mane and tail practically shimmer in the summer sunshine. It makes for a rather dashing combination, if I do say so myself. Today, I'm helping pull the harvest cart for the lovely Miss Elspeth, her cheeks flushed red from the sun, as we transport the last of the wheat to the barn.
The air is thick with the scent of hay, sun-baked earth and the joyous trilling of skylarks. You wouldn't believe the energy buzzing through the fields; even the barley has a bit of a swagger in its stalks as it rustles in the breeze. The harvest is a time for community, for celebration, and for feeling grateful for the bounty that our beautiful land provides.
It’s a far cry from some of the grim tales my grandsire would tell of hardship and strife, you know. He was a stout old chestnut with a tale to tell for every furrow in his brow! He used to talk about winters where the land lay barren, snow piling high and thick as if to smother the life from our beloved fields. And let me tell you, he never had to embellish those tales for them to feel chilling. The threat of famine and hardship was real and, I hear, all too frequent back then.
Thankfully, 1369 is looking rather promising, with a good harvest expected across the kingdom, from here in Scotland all the way to down south in England. This means plentiful food, bustling markets, and good spirits, not to mention happy bellies and contented steeds. We've got the horses of the noble families pulling fancy coaches for all those journeys, and a great number of us, strong draught horses like me, will be involved in moving the bounty across the country.
The news, though, isn’t always cheerful. Even now, in this year of bounty, there are tensions simmering. The war with France continues to be a source of uncertainty. Every rider who passes, every pack-horse with its loaded saddle, brings a whisper of anxieties, worries, and questions about when the conflict might finally end. Even though Scotland and England are allied in this fight, I fear the fighting between their soldiers will take its toll on many, including our brave brothers and sisters on the battlefields.
Speaking of the battlefield, that's another important aspect of life for horses in 1369. Not every horse, obviously, but some brave steeds find themselves amongst the dust, the clash of swords, and the thunderous clatter of war drums. Many find their niche carrying knights, scouting out enemies, or helping with logistics. It’s not a life for every horse, let me tell you. It's tough, dangerous, and takes courage unlike any other. There are some brave, steadfast hearts who embrace that challenge though, and for them, it becomes a vital part of history, a story in itself.
I hear tell, too, that war has impacted the use of horses even in everyday life. The constant travel of troops, for example, has made the demand for packhorses soar, to transport the food and supplies they need. Even here in Hayfield, we're noticing a shift. Many folks who used to have carts now depend more heavily on horses to haul things like goods from the village market or the harvest to their local miller. It’s making life rather busy but in a way, it’s also forging stronger bonds between humans and their equine companions.
It’s not just the war that has changed things for horses over the centuries. The development of the ‘saddle’ – now almost indispensable for riders – has completely revolutionized how horses are used. The stirrup and its predecessors – some fashioned from woven reed or bark – made it so much easier for people to stay on the back of a horse, both in times of peace and during battles. No longer did a horse need to have the most comfortable and natural saddle or be perfectly suited to a particular rider – they just needed to be hardy and reliable, ready to get the job done!
My grandsire even claimed he’d heard tales of people breeding horses specifically for the types of saddles that became popular - horses built with strong backs to carry heavier riders for long distances, for instance, or horses that moved gracefully for a lighter knight who wanted to be swift and nimble! I do wonder how things will change for us in the coming decades...
Even though war is a major part of this particular period, life goes on! People continue to rely on us for their everyday lives - travelling, carrying loads, and transporting vital goods and food across the land. I love the way life has become interconnected between horses and humans, and for that, I feel a great deal of pride in our place in the world.
It's interesting, you know, to think of what my grandsire would tell me if he were here. I’d like to think, at least, that we horses are finding our place in the world – just as vital to life as any noble knight or king. We may not be in the grand halls or at the feasting tables, but we’re out there, getting the job done, supporting and aiding the humans we work alongside. And in that, I see great joy and satisfaction, and a feeling that maybe, just maybe, our own horseshoes are leaving an imprint on the very fabric of history.
For now, the sun is dipping low on the horizon and Miss Elspeth is preparing dinner – a roast beef and barley soup – a welcome reward after a day of hard work! Until next time, happy trails, everyone, and stay well!
Emma
