A Hayfield Gal’s Tale: A Grey Mare’s Adventures in 1469
Good day, my fellow equines, and welcome back to my corner of the internet! As you know, I’m Emma, a grey draught mare with a white mane and tail – I like to think I’m rather handsome! And this month, I’m going to take you back in time. A whole seven hundred years ago, to be precise!
To my surprise, even in the midst of our lives today, horses are still doing things that we’ve been doing for centuries. Though now we have fancier names for things. They say, ‘heavy haulage’, but it’s the same work we've always done - pulling the big loads and making sure those burdens reach where they need to go.
Today, let’s rewind and talk about a time when most horses lived to serve and to be useful to mankind. It was a time before cars, lorries, even proper carriages. It was 1469 and it was a tough but ultimately rewarding year for horses like me.
Hayfield - My Home
For those who don’t know me, I live in Hayfield, just a stone's throw from Aberdeen in Scotland. It's a lovely little village where you can see the peaks of the Cairngorms to the west. It's a beautiful place for a horse, lots of green grass to munch on, and even though it gets chilly in winter, you learn to love the frosty mornings and the sunshine peeking through the mist in the spring.
My job at the moment involves carting goods to and from Aberdeen. The road is cobbled, a bit bumpy at times, but you get used to it. There are times when we need to use the ‘King’s Highway’ which runs from Edinburgh down to England – it is quite a trek, but worth it when the job gets done and I can get back to Hayfield and have a nice bowl of oats!
But there are other uses for horses back then, and believe me, I hear lots of stories about what others are doing across the country, thanks to the travelling folk. You see, 1469 is a time where a lot is happening in England!
Life in the South: Kings, Tournaments, and Warfare
I haven’t been down South myself but it is where the action seems to be. I hear about Edward IV, the King of England. He’s the guy they call the "White Rose," he’s involved in these 'Wars of the Roses'. Not sure what roses have to do with it all but apparently these wars have a big effect on how horses are being used down south. There’s plenty of work for heavy war horses and steeds, like me, because the knights are always getting ready for battles, needing horses to pull the big cannons, and even carting supplies! I even hear whispers of 'livery' – where they give their horses to knights to use and they're kept by someone called a 'master of the horses' at court. That sounds fancy!
Now I must confess that sometimes I think a king's life must be very exciting, all that travelling, hunting, and riding with people shouting your name. The world has come alive through stories about Edward's travels – a sort of a long riding holiday, only he’s going around settling some sort of squabble. They talk about a huge feast with jousting, I reckon that sounds quite splendid! They’re talking about a hundred and fifty knights. Fancy that! Horses must be quite popular down in London and York with so much activity.
The king even has a fancy place for all his horses, it’s called 'the royal stable' - the stables there are big and even have a roof! Imagine, they even have proper stable lads to groom the horses and feed them. It sounds like the good life!
And I hear these knights, in the midst of these wars, are having things called 'tournaments'. I've been hearing whispers of these for some time. These knights dress up like proper warriors and have a go at each other in a fight on horseback, only they’re meant to be ‘playing’! These battles even have a referee to see who has won!
But of course, these are only rumours - they travel like wildfire and people embellish their tales along the way! Who knows if all these stories are true? But my best guess is that horses have got it tough but rewarding in the south! It certainly sounds like life there can be lively!
Working for a Living
But don't get me wrong, being a horse back in 1469 is hard work! And our lives aren't all fancy journeys and fighting. We pull carts, plough the fields, and haul wood to heat those castle fires. Every day is a new adventure! And we aren’t the only ones who need to work. The farmers need to grow our feed – oats, hay, and even some barley. All the hay and barley needs to be collected and bundled ready for when winter comes. And those grain carts need strong horses like me to help move the heavy harvests.
There's also a fair bit of travel between villages for horses like me. The merchants like to trade with different regions. Some bring fish from the coast up north, others carry cheese from the south. All good stuff that needs to get to the markets for people to buy. And they’re not the only ones who travel. Even though we're pretty big, we also have to make room for people – especially those that have the fortune to travel.
There are other roles for horses, ones that take much skill and patience – transporting goods, fetching things like mail and newspapers. This takes a strong horse and, to be honest, one with a good disposition. No need to be in a rush when the letter could go astray and cause an even bigger mess!
And then there are those magnificent, strong steeds who carry men of stature and dignitaries. The monks, dressed in their long robes, and the travelling showmen with their bears, they need us horses to keep them in the limelight and on the road! It’s tough going at times, but they say it is worth it and worth doing well because there's good reward for horses who manage it!
Horses' Daily Routine
We lead busy lives in Hayfield, and my owner has done well for me. My home stable is pretty basic but has a proper stall, big enough for a tall, grey horse like myself. Every morning I am taken from my stall and tied up at a big block of stone that makes the most wonderful "thump" when I’m chained up. That’s my cue for the day, followed by my favourite thing – eating my breakfast of a generous pile of oats and hay.
The cart is already waiting for me by that point, with either a load of sacks ready to be taken into town, or some barrels ready to take to a merchant just down the road. And off I go! That’s a usual day. The only things I can do is keep my feet in a good rhythm and not get spooked! The horses down South tell me that some days are longer, they haul goods for longer distances. My own travel is pretty easy. It’s mostly on cobbles, some times in the fields – though a rough ride it can be! I even have to share the road with goats and sheep, a proper test of my temperament!
Sometimes we’re also called on to plough the land, making the fields ready to be sown. That takes a lot of effort, it’s a great workout and a way to loosen the ground for those vital crops to grow. It’s hard, and dusty, but if you think about what’s happening – food and warmth! It feels good to help people survive.
And in the evenings, when I’m finished working for the day, we’ll be fed a delicious mix of oats and barley - my energy source and strength! Evenings are when I am let loose to munch on grass, something my kind has done for generations! It’s our way of living, the world and I. The grass smells fantastic! I think it makes up for the hard work during the day!
Life as a Horse is Simple
Though life in the late 1460s is different from now, there’s some similarities – still good to keep a strong bond with our masters and care for each other! All horses need to eat, have fresh water, be cared for. We horses like to be part of something bigger than ourselves, even if it's simply being useful. Whether you are being loved, being ridden or pulling a heavy cart, we are all about making things move and making people smile. It's an honour. We've been doing it for a very long time!
And that brings us to the end of my story for this month. Do join me again next time for another trip down memory lane - maybe next time we will talk about horse shoes or how far we travelled to find the best horses for the different jobs! I hope you’re all well! Until next time. Keep well!
Yours,
Emma
