Greetings, fellow equines and horse enthusiasts!
Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey mare from Hayfield near Aberdeen, Scotland. Today, I'm excited to take you on a journey through time, specifically to the year 1439. It’s been quite a year for horses, with plenty of new experiences and discoveries – some exciting, some not so much!
But before I start, a little about myself. I'm a sturdy draught mare, known for my kind nature and impressive strength. My grey coat gleams in the sunlight, and my white mane and tail flow gracefully when I trot. I spend my days hauling loads and helping with farm work, and when I get a moment, I enjoy grazing in the meadows and dreaming of adventures.
Now, back to the year 1439. It seems like just yesterday (which, for a horse, could be a lot longer!) that I was a frisky foal, discovering the joys of rolling in the grass and playing with the other young horses.
1439 started much the same way as any other year. The mornings were chilly, the air sharp, and the smell of woodsmoke lingered in the air as we ate our oats. The humans had a good supply of firewood thanks to the past autumn, but even still, we all knew the harshness of a Scottish winter wasn't too far away.
There was much to be done around the farm, as always. The harvest was past, but the barns needed cleaning, and the land needed prepping for next year's crops. Farmers in Scotland, bless their hearts, had to work diligently to make the most of our shorter days and cooler temperatures. The land around Aberdeen was still rich, however, with good grazing for our horses, thanks to the rolling green hills and fields bordering the River Dee.
But it wasn’t all work and no play. Every week or so, a market would be held in nearby Aberdeen. I loved the markets. All the smells and sights, the sounds of lively chatter, the different horses from various parts of the Highlands. Some days were quite a lot of trotting, hauling carts filled with fresh vegetables and dairy products to sell, and then bringing the human merchants back to the farm, laden with items needed for the homestead.
The King’s Horses:
Something that was talked about at the market this year was the upcoming visit of King James I of Scotland. He was renowned for his love of horses and for the impressive stable he kept at his Edinburgh Palace. You wouldn’t believe the amount of horses they housed, all in the finest conditions. I imagine being one of those lucky horses would be a dream, receiving special feed and tending, not to mention, the occasional royal carriage ride.
However, while a King’s horse sounded lovely, it was something reserved for noble stallions, and a young mare like me wouldn’t likely even dream of such a privilege.
New Experiences for Old Friends:
And the news from the markets wasn’t always just about King James. Word came down from further south, along the eastern coast, about the new “ship horses” being used to pull heavy carts loaded with goods for export.
That year, several merchant ships arrived from England and the Low Countries with fine silks and wool for our local weavers. The ships seemed enormous, and the humans said that to load them fast and unload them just as swiftly required the help of powerful draught horses – not ones for fast riding, but for pure hauling strength. It gave me pause. It felt different to hear that people were even considering using horses for jobs that previously required the hands of so many men.
Travel and New Journeys:
Later that year, a young man, an apprentice from the local blacksmith's, talked about how the ship horses were trained with specialized harnesses for working in those unusual circumstances. And then he started discussing an intriguing possibility.
A travelling theatre troupe arrived in Hayfield, bringing with them horses not just for carrying people around in their wagons but also to carry around, on their backs, the beautiful horses that would act in their shows. I've never seen such fancy and elaborate things, horses all decked out in gorgeous coverings, prancing and doing all sorts of fancy tricks – bowing, standing on their hind legs, and even doing tiny jumps! It was truly mesmerising. I think I’m going to make sure I watch that theatre group again when they visit next year!
So there you have it. The year 1439. A busy time for us horses with work on the farms and local markets, rumours of King James’ fancy stable in Edinburgh, new ideas for ship horses and travelling theatre troupes. In the days to come, we’ll likely hear more about those happenings, and possibly a few more surprises as well.
Until then, stay well, my fellow horse friends!
Your Faithful Mare, Emma
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