Hello everyone! Emma here, a 20-year-old grey mare with a flowing white mane and tail. I hail from the quaint little village of Hayfield, nestled near the bustling city of Aberdeen in bonnie Scotland. I'm writing today to share a little about life as a horse in the year of our Lord 1570. As I like to say, the more things change, the more they stay the same when it comes to horses, eh?
The Big Picture: What Was Stirring In The World Of Horses?
The world in 1570 wasn't the place it is today. For example, the Queen of England, a fearsome lady called Elizabeth, was ruling with a strong hand. A young man, Henry IV of France, was also on the scene, and he was busy creating quite the stir with all his wars. Now, this has nothing to do with our lives as horses, I know. But as a bit of horse gossip, we horses do know that when the men in those fine suits are all "at it" in a battle, that means things get a bit harder for us working horses. Think carrying more loads, and travelling farther than usual. In fact, this whole war business is a real nuisance. I think some things never change...giggles
Working Life: A Horse's Typical Day in 1570
Here at Hayfield, we draught horses are kept busy indeed. The big task here is the work of transporting goods around our little town and also into the wider world. I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my days pulling a big, sturdy cart for the Miller family. Think flour, grain and barley. They rely on horses like me to keep the good folk well-fed! Our daily grind usually consists of fetching and delivering goods between the mill and the village, sometimes going farther to the markets in Aberdeen. It's honest work, that's for sure, and although we sometimes get sore in our legs and neck, the sense of being needed brings me a feeling of pride and satisfaction.
Beyond The Mill: Some Lovely Ladies and Gentlefolk
Aside from hauling flour sacks, we also make time to give the finer folk of the village rides to church on a Sunday, or when the fair comes to town. The most lovely thing is being led by the ladies of Hayfield. One such lovely lass, Elsie, is particularly kind, and always brings me a sweet apple when I return home in the evening. What a treat, to get some of her good home-made apples.
Stable Life
We're a close-knit band of horses at Hayfield. There's our old stud named Barnaby who often talks about his wild days roaming the Scottish hills. He spends hours regaling us with tales about his adventures. I listen in rapt attention. A favourite yarn of his concerns his great-grandfather, a magnificent black stallion who was in the Battle of Culloden (a long, long time ago, of course, in 1746, when Scotland wasn’t part of Great Britain, as it is now.) Barnaby says this great ancestral stallion of his saved the day, but you never know what truth is behind his tales, do you? Perhaps I shall be in one of those "legendary" horse stories of the future. chuckles
Horses And Their Connections with Humans
The great thing about us horses is that we make these wonderful connections with the humans we work with, don't you think? Take my master, the miller, Mr. Donald, He's not a big talker, but his steady hand and voice bring a calmness and gentle touch. I like that about him. He seems to understand what it is to be a horse, a little like Elsie. We become part of the daily routine, the life blood of Hayfield and, honestly, it feels good to contribute to the community. You get used to a steady life, and I, for one, am not one to change anything. Horses and humans, in this special relationship we have, make this place, our Hayfield, feel complete.
Food and Friends:
We horses need our good feed, of course. Hay and barley make for a hearty, sustaining meal, but we also love the scraps that humans give us: bananas, sugar beet, and the occasional juicy pear. I always have to remember, though, that our diet is important for our work, so I try not to be too greedy, as Mr. Donald often reminds me with a stern but friendly look. On special days when our humans celebrate harvest, we share in the bounty, and a delicious carrot is often added to our feed!
Fun Times for Hayfield Horses:
Despite our busy days and steady work, life is full of good fun! In the summertime, the children of the village often climb onto our backs, making playful "horsey rides." We have some laughs in our paddock, playing games like chasing each other or just nibbling the lush grass of Hayfield. Then, of course, there’s always that exciting moment, a time for every horse to enjoy, when Mr. Donald comes to loosen the halter on a lovely day. Freedom! Time for us to gallop with abandon, our manes flowing, in a burst of energy. Pure bliss, I tell you! These little bursts of excitement help to keep us horses feeling strong and spirited, ready for another day's work.
The Future of Our Work
I think, as the century unfolds, that work will get even busier. People are going further afield, so there’ll be a lot more journeys to make. We’ll need to be strong, healthy and ready for the challenges that lie ahead, for sure! Perhaps there'll be new inventions - faster modes of travel maybe, even, that will impact the role we horses play? Maybe in years to come, horses will become something special, more about entertainment, a special bond with humans. Who knows? Maybe I'll be around to see the changes unfold.
Until Next Time...
My blog is almost coming to an end, but one last thing I would like to say is how grateful I am to be a horse living in this time period. Being needed is a big part of what we do. We make our community better, making sure everything is working as it should. Being part of that brings me joy and pride, and keeps me happy despite the occasional sore back.
Until next time, keep on galloping, all of you! And remember, a horse's life is a special one - filled with hard work, kindness and adventure.
From Hayfield with love,
Emma, Grey Draught Mare with a flowing white mane and tail.
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