Hello there, my fellow equines! Emma here, a fine grey draught mare from the lovely Hayfield near Aberdeen, Scotland. The year is 1567, and I'm here to tell you all about the incredible year that's just gone by, a year bursting with change, excitement and some most challenging moments.
It seems ages ago now, but I can still recall the feeling of sunshine on my coat, the scent of fresh grass and the exciting anticipation of being paired up with a brand new cart! I was only a couple of years old, full of energy, and my new life with the blacksmith, Master Hamish, seemed perfect.
Master Hamish: A Man of Honour, and Steel
Master Hamish is a kind man. You see, my sire, a big black Percheron named Baron, wasn't quite the docile kind of horse, which made him somewhat unsuitable for the quieter duties. It took him ages to calm down enough to pull a cart for any distance, which made Master Hamish very keen to ensure his new team member - that's me - was just a touch more…reliable. He wasn't the first to realise that a grey coat was an advantage, as he spent most of his day hunched over a glowing forge. A dark coat is prone to getting very hot in the heat of summer!
Of course, my initial lessons with the cart were somewhat rocky. But, under the guidance of Master Hamish's daughter, Elspet, my new partner and a young woman with a wonderfully patient heart, I quickly learned. Elspet is one of the kindest souls you'll ever meet - calm, sensible and incredibly good at singing. I must say, I enjoyed our early mornings pulling the cart filled with fresh vegetables to the bustling Aberdeen market most for her company. We'd even share some bread with her pony, Charlie, who was always such a funny character. I never knew what kind of prank he was going to pull!
Change in the Air: The Rise of the “Saddle Horse”
As the weeks turned into months, I began to notice a rather interesting shift. More and more gentlemen began to ride to Aberdeen. I'm sure many of you have heard the stories – these noble knights with their glittering armour, travelling long distances on nimble horses that can cover incredible distances. The steeds were not the hefty, solid draught horses that pulled the carts. These “saddle horses”, they are called, are lighter and quicker, bred to carry men and their weaponry across treacherous terrain.
It's said these new horses have something called a "gait." Apparently, it's like a smooth and easy rhythm that doesn't shake your rider to pieces! Honestly, just thinking about that makes my own neck muscles tense.
These new horses made for much livelier sights than the carts filled with vegetables. A great number of the gentry were coming to watch a game at a nearby field - they called it the gowf, if I recall correctly, and there was such a lot of excitement! The gentlemen wore elaborate clothing, with velvet tunics and stockings, and some even sported colourful feathery caps. It truly was a wondrous spectacle, one I was happy to watch from my comfortable stable at Master Hamish's forge, which offered a wonderful view of the games!
A Year of Loss: The Great Storm of 1567
The end of 1567 brought a change that none of us will forget - a ferocious storm. I'm told that it was a "Great Storm," the biggest and most violent storm this country has experienced for a long time. I can't forget that morning: The heavy rain that pounded on my stable roof, the fear-filled neighs of my neighbours, and the chilling wind that howled through the trees.
Our lives were disrupted, not by the storm itself but by the awful things it brought upon us. There were so many destroyed homes, uprooted trees, and many fields were flooded. The farmers in the Hayfield, our providers of the delicious hay that fed us, lost a vast quantity of their crops and livestock. There was very little food for the winter, and the storm's toll on the farm horses was heart-wrenching. It seems as if, with the sudden arrival of such a violent force of nature, the peace of life we had taken for granted had been tossed out to the waves like the broken bits of a fragile ship.
Even Elspet's family, our friends, weren't untouched. We learned with horror that their little boy, Jamie, fell ill after the storm, a victim of the cold and hardship. It was weeks before he began to recover. There was such an atmosphere of sadness. Even Master Hamish seemed a bit withdrawn for a time, which is saying something for a man who was never a gloomy fellow.
New Beginnings
But we did recover! This, you must understand, is the strength of horses. We never stop pushing, working, even in times of loss.
Master Hamish, bless his kind heart, used his extra time in the months following the storm to teach us more - all the draught horses he had, and even Charlie, Elspet's pony! It seemed the gentle warmth of his teachings was just the remedy we needed, to bring back a bit of hope to our world after such a rough time.
What's more, I feel very proud to tell you that even Master Hamish had a little extra spring in his step this year! He won the coveted Blacksmith's Trophy, an incredible prize! Elspet and Charlie took home the ribbon for the prettiest horse and cart. As we saw the trophy come home, there was a joyous celebration in the forge - even Master Hamish danced a little jig, and his feet are more sturdy than most!
It is true, however, that this very special event was dampened a touch by an announcement from Queen Mary. I couldn't help but overhear Master Hamish discussing it with his neighbour, an older man with a limp named Master Donald, at the pub near the marketplace. Apparently, the Queen was fleeing Edinburgh to seek refuge in England, for fear of some treacherous individuals.
It all felt a little dark, especially after all we'd endured already with the Great Storm. We never quite know what will come next, and there were still anxieties in our air. But what the storm also reminded us was that we needed to be ready. Even in the deepest valleys, the first rays of a new dawn will rise.
The lessons I've learned this year - in hard times and good - will stay with me for as long as I live. This is the life of a horse. To learn from adversity, to adapt to change, and to continue working alongside our companions through good times and bad. The future may be full of surprises, but one thing I do know for sure: there is much work to be done, and new journeys ahead.
As the first hints of Spring arrive and the world wakes to life, I'm excited to face whatever challenges might be on the horizon. To our future journeys and adventures together! May your saddles be steady, your feet strong, and may you all experience the kind of joy and love that Master Hamish and Elspet bring to each other.
Until next time, my friends, Emma
