A Scottish Chronicle by Emma of Hayfield
Neigh Neigh, dear readers! Emma here, your grey draught mare from Hayfield near Aberdeen, ready to chronicle the fascinating equine happenings of 1479! I’ve been living and learning in the beautiful highlands of Scotland for 20 years now, and the stories I’ve gathered over the years just beg to be shared. It’s all about sharing the joy, the power, and the incredible history of horses, because we’re not just beasts of burden, we’re companions, family, and sometimes even, heroes.
Today, I'm feeling extra nostalgic. The spring air has that crispness only a Scottish April can have, the wild oats are whispering their secrets to the wind, and I can almost taste the salty spray from the sea just a short trot from Hayfield. It's times like these that make me think back to the incredible stories of the horses before me, the ones that paved the way for my own life.
1479: A year of change and adventure!
The world feels abuzz with energy this year, especially in the human world. They’re calling it "the Year of the Grey Mare" in some places. Not quite sure what that means, but it seems like everyone’s going mad over anything grey in colour, and for a grey mare like me, well, you can imagine the fuss!
Now, let's start from the beginning of our tale… back in 1479, when things were quite different to what we have now. The year opened with news from London! King Edward IV – not my favorite monarch, I must say – is battling to keep his throne, and poor Richard is busy dreaming up a plot to claim it for himself. These men are always at it! While they squabble, we horses work hard, pulling carts and plows, and bearing knights in full armor. It's all in a day's work, as they say.
The one thing that makes life interesting around Hayfield is the constant comings and goings. Our area is bustling, with traders passing through, bringing news and stories from other lands, tales from across Europe and even beyond. We've been hearing whispers about a grand adventure: Columbus and his crew – with horses, of course – are heading across the ocean to discover new lands! Now that is something worth snorting about, wouldn't you say?
The changing times and our place within them
The stories that the traders bring tell us the world is changing. The war in France keeps everyone on edge. You know, I once pulled a carriage across the English Channel, so it’s good to see they haven't figured out how to bridge that body of water, at least not in a way horses would like! But I’ve been hearing whispers about a new way to move on the water - called a “sailing ship,” that doesn’t rely on the good grace of the tide to push it forward. Now, I've seen ships, lots of ships. My kind is a part of how they get things done, but what is this “sailing ship,” I wonder? Could that be the reason humans have gotten so far from home? What sort of adventures await across those oceans?
It seems all these new stories and ideas mean we have to change, too. Just the other day I saw this strange contraption being used for ploughing fields: a wooden plough, mounted on wheels and drawn by horses. I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, and my fellow drafters weren't much better at figuring out what was happening! It seems humans are always looking for a quicker, easier way to do things. And, if I’m being honest, this change can feel a bit unsettling!
Our horses, our community, our history
Change is hard, especially for someone like me, who prefers routine and the feel of solid earth beneath my hooves. However, change also brings excitement! New technologies, even the seemingly bizarre, give horses new skills, a wider range of duties, and in some cases, better comfort! But even as things change around us, we must always remember where we come from. My favorite time is in the early mornings, the mist hangs low around the fields, the sheep are bleating, and I can smell the fresh grass – a reminder that even in times of change and discovery, things in nature still remain the same.
So, if you are a horse – whether a sturdy workhorse like myself, a prancing war steed, or a speedy racer - let’s not get lost in the new ways! Let's not forget that we're not simply steeds of work or play, we're symbols of courage, strength, and grace. Our place in history, just like our hooves in the soil, will remain firm.
I look forward to writing to you again soon and sharing more about this fascinating time in history, through my humble equine eyes. Until then, let your mane fly and your hooves tread freely.
Emma
www.equiworld.org
