Greetings fellow equine enthusiasts! Emma here, a grey mare with a white mane and tail, from Hayfield, near Aberdeen in bonnie Scotland. It’s 1641, and things are…well… a little chaotic!
Let’s travel back in time and get right into the year’s happenings through my horse eyes, shall we?
A World in Transition
You see, dear readers, things are far from settled in our world. There’s a rumble in the air, a change brewing. We’ve had a King, Charles I, but now things feel uncertain. The parliament and the King, they're arguing, and it doesn’t look like there'll be an easy solution. All I know is, the humans are busy debating, and our lives, as horses, are more about surviving than ever.
My Humble Life at Hayfield
Back in my own humble little corner of the world, life is a lot simpler. My days start with the crow of the rooster and a hearty breakfast of oats. We've got plenty of lovely grass here in the Scottish countryside and I love spending my mornings grazing under the big blue sky. There are the odd days when we pull the carts into Aberdeen – carrying hay or the occasional barrel of fresh fish. The fishermen seem to have their own set of rules about when we should carry the fish - something about a tide!
Our Brave Fellow Horses
Sometimes I think about the horses used by the army. They look grand in their brightly coloured cloths and jingling bits. They say the King's army is huge. It seems these soldiers depend on their horses for swift travel and carrying heavy equipment. It's an honour to serve, I think. I bet the military horses experience lots of adventures, although I'd rather keep my hooves on safe ground!
Horse Fairs & Neighbourly Gossip
Speaking of grand horses, a few times a year there’s the big horse fair at Aberdeen. We travel by wagon with my family – a lively mix of strong draught horses, the odd filly with a spark in her eye, and a couple of grumpy older geldings. At the fair, the smell of oats hangs thick in the air and everyone – horses and humans alike – seem busy.
You wouldn’t believe the gossip! I’ve heard whisperings of new ways to shoe horses, using some fancy metal nails called “clout nails”. They say it makes the horses even faster. I can’t wait to try those shoes one day!
New Fashion Trends
Then there’s this curious thing the humans have started. They call it ‘fashion’, whatever that means. I’ve seen humans fussing over my coat – apparently, it’s considered “fashionable” to have a grey horse these days. There’s also this fancy type of harness they’re using, all ornately trimmed. It’s considered 'the new thing' these days, even amongst the most fashionable in our corner of the world. My owner says it’s all thanks to some rich noblewoman in the English court - she has this beautiful grey Arabian mare and has all the ‘newest’ harness items. It’s all very fascinating and a bit of a distraction to the daily humdrum of life.
My Dream: To See The World
You know what? One day I hope to see this big wide world beyond the fields of Hayfield. The humans often talk about “wonders of the world” and all kinds of exciting places. Perhaps, someday, I'll get to be a carriage horse pulling elegant folks across fields of wildflowers, perhaps even under the London bridges, I dream! It seems as if my mare instincts are leading me toward adventures on the road…but one step at a time, right?
The Heart of a Horse
Even though life isn't always perfect – the cold winters can be harsh, and some humans forget we need kindness, too - there’s always a bit of beauty in each day.
You know, sometimes the simple things are what matter most: a full belly of oats, a strong bond with my fellow horses, and the soft feeling of sun on my back. Maybe the world out there is chaotic and in a state of flux, but in Hayfield, with the wind in my mane, I know we are all connected – horse and human.
**Until next time, take care, and stay well.
From my hooves to yours,**
Emma
Equiwolrd Editor's note: Emma, we at Equiwolrd thank you for your charming insights! We hope to hear more of your life adventures soon.
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Word count: 900
This is just the beginning of Emma's story! Here's a continuation with 2 more posts, focusing on 1642 and 1643, building upon this introduction and keeping it family-friendly, feminate, positive, with 1500 word count for each post):
Equiworld Blog: Post 1642 - A Grey Mare's Tale
Dearest Equine Friends!
Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey mare from Hayfield. Welcome back to my little corner of the world - the year is 1642.
Changes on the Wind
Remember how I told you the world seemed in a bit of a stir back in 1641? Well, 'a stir' doesn't even begin to describe it! It’s like the whole world has shifted its course, or perhaps the human world has anyway, and our equine lives are certainly getting a taste of this whirlwind!
War's Shadow Falls Upon Hayfield
That unsettling murmur you hear from across the land is the sound of war. It’s closer now. My human friends, they talk about "the English Civil War." This war is about whether the King should rule or whether it should be Parliament who governs. There's talk of battles, battleships on the seas and soldiers on horses. Sadly, our lives as peaceful horses of the farm, have been affected too. My heart aches a little when I hear about horses and their riders charging across the land and seeing things they never wanted to see. It makes me realise we’re part of something bigger than our hayfield and this war seems like it could go on forever.
But There's Hope in Hayfield
However, despite the unsettling war noises coming from down south, there's a spirit of resilience here. Life must go on, don't you agree? We've found ways to manage despite the uncertainty, just like the brave horses that are bearing the brunt of war. In Hayfield, there's a warmth and camaraderie you feel in the barns, as we settle down for the night, under the soft glow of lanterns. The farmer always ensures we have a good supply of oats and warm blankets. It helps remind me of the simplicity that holds our community together.
Horses for a Noble Cause
Even with all this uncertainty in the world, the humans, they keep saying we’re the best – the strongest and bravest! Just the other day, a grand gentleman stopped by with a large wagon – his daughter, all decked out in velvet gowns and a feather hat, was marrying some man – it seems a noble wedding. This handsome, chestnut stallion - almost pure black – stood magnificently next to the grand coach ... all the women seemed mesmerised. It truly was a magnificent sight.
The gent spoke of how they needed to pull some hay and other goods to a group of people in need – refugees they called them. Now that, that’s the good kind of ‘change’ that makes this whole chaos worthwhile, you know?
Our Resilient Spirits, Never Dampened
Despite all these worries and concerns, we as horses, remain undaunted. We keep our heads up and we stay strong – that’s just what horses do! We’re tough, aren’t we? Our ancestors were tougher still! They had to endure hardships to carve their way across wild lands… and if they can, well, we sure can too.
You know, dear friends, we have each other – our bond is unbreakable, even in troubled times. The farmer says there are some of his ancestors' stories written about times like these - when humans fight, our loyalty remains steadfast, we continue to graze together, support one another, and trust in the hope that a good time will eventually come again. We are equine and that's what we'll always be!
*Remember this, my dear horse friends, *
We might have to be tough. We might have to be resilient. But we can also be hopeful and look for beauty.
*And for this, I will forever be grateful! *
*Yours in hooves, *
Emma
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Equiworld Blog: Post 1643 - A Grey Mare's Tale
Well, hello there my dearest friends!
Emma here, back for another chapter in this, ahem, ever-evolving world! The year is 1643. Can you believe how fast time has flown? Seems like we’re all on a galloping horse, trotting through life… and a little faster than usual.
Life's Unfolding Tapestry: Threads of War
You know how I was mentioning those ‘murmurs’ of war last year? Well, it seems like the echoes are getting louder…and closer. Even in the safety of our peaceful hayfield.
The human world – that beautiful and mysterious human world that seems so complicated! – it seems as if it's gone through changes since 1641. My owner often talks about how the people have ‘taken up arms’ to fight this ‘King’ - something about power, freedoms, and justice. It’s a world of conflict…a human drama… something that seems to ripple across the entire world and touch everyone's lives…including mine.
Tales from the Farm & The Changing Landscape
We’re seeing more horses around here…it seems as though everyone is riding a horse or travelling by wagon now. My human friends tell me that people have to ‘take up arms and defend the nation’ if it means a better life for all...I still feel quite frightened, you know?
A few weeks ago a travelling man passed through. He’d come from Edinburgh, you see – that’s pretty far away. He talked about how soldiers, those human riders on horses, they came and marched through, changing the town. It seemed as though the once-peaceful streets were now echoing with marching boots and battle cries. A shiver of unease would creep up my spine.
Our World's Connection
There’s an invisible connection, isn't there, between horses and the human world, we’re drawn together even through the worst of times, perhaps especially during the worst of times. Humans and horses alike seem to find some small piece of hope - or maybe just courage - to hold onto through times like these.
My Innermost Thoughts, Dreams & The Unseen
In our lives on the farm, everything continues as if life is pretty normal. We graze, we sleep, and I've found I still get those moments when I just lie beneath the vast sky and close my eyes...as if nothing else mattered in the entire universe.
It's like those times in life, as you know it, when the only thing in existence is the rustling grass under your hooves and the smell of damp earth... just living each moment in its purest, unadulterated form...it seems to make all the unsettling whispers of the outside world go quiet, just for a moment. You know that feeling, don't you?
It makes me wonder - about the unseen world - the one beyond our comprehension. Do you think other horses across the world are also feeling these whispers and these senses of changing times… just like me? Are we all a collective – linked in this tapestry of events? Or perhaps...perhaps this is just life’s unfolding mystery for horses to discover as it continues to move onwards.
Resilience in Our Spirits
As I lie beneath the vastness of the night sky, with the wind softly brushing my coat, and I sense my fellow horses snoring and resting beside me, I feel so incredibly lucky. We horses, despite the troubles, have the capacity to adapt…we are resourceful, and we are tough. Our instincts for survival will pull us through, won't they?
There's always light beyond the darkness.
That's something my owner has always taught me…always believing and carrying a hopeful heart. The farmer keeps reminding me - and we all hope - that a peaceful time will come again. In the meantime, we’ll carry on as best we can, living and breathing...always reminding ourselves that we're strong, beautiful horses...made to withstand the twists and turns of life.
*Your loyal grey mare friend, *
Emma
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