Welcome back to my little corner of EquiWorld! Emma here, a grey mare with a heart full of oat straw and a spirit as wild as the heather on the hills around Hayfield. It's a fresh spring morning and the air is full of the smell of damp earth and burgeoning grass, making me want to fling my head back and whinny in joy.
This year, 1669, marks another milestone in our equestrian journey. So much is happening in the world of horses - it's a wonder my head can keep up! I'll try my best to capture it all in my own unique way, using a little more "feminine" flourishes, as some of you have requested (I do try my best, even if a little mud sometimes finds its way onto my lovely grey coat!)
A Journey to the Heart of London
Now, 1669 has been a year of adventure. It all started when the Duke of Buccleuch needed a strong and steady horse for his journey to London. You see, his family owns Hayfield, and as you know, my strength is legendary around these parts. Naturally, I was the one chosen.
You should have seen me all decked out in my finest tack! A bright red saddle with tassels, a matching bridle that even the blacksmiths were in awe of, and a brand new set of bells, jingling merrily with each stride. It was like being in a fairy tale!
Our journey was long, filled with a cavalcade of fellow horses, some pulling carts piled high with goods and others carrying nobles in fine attire. The road was rough, with miles of uneven cobblestones and wind whipping our manes. It was all quite exhilarating, to be honest. I was more excited than scared.
London! Oh, the bustling heart of it all, teeming with people and carts and the clanging of blacksmiths' hammers, all day and all night. The air was thick with the smoke of a hundred hearths and smelled of sea salt from the river, and everything was just so... different! The Duke's home in London was a massive castle, dark and imposing, with a maze of narrow streets and alleys teeming with life. Even the smallest creatures seemed to have an air of importance! I saw some rather interesting, indeed comical, people during my stay in the city - one gentleman even sported a wig made entirely of horsehair! (What a waste of good hair, I thought to myself.)
A City That Never Sleeps
Life in the city was unlike anything I’d known. I saw carriages rushing to and fro, horses pulling people about at a fast clip, unlike our more stately pace in Hayfield. It was rather frightening at first. The endless throngs of people, the roaring carriages, even the cobbled streets themselves seemed to have a personality all of their own!
In Hayfield, we are used to our gentle rhythm, working the fields, pulling the cart to market, tending the farm. But in the heart of London, there was no rest. It felt like one big bustling hive.
What was I doing all that time in the Big City, you ask? Well, mainly I served as the Duke's own steed. That meant walking alongside him to important meetings, and parading to royal events. I can assure you, being part of a Royal parade is truly something! You hear the shouts of the crowds and see the excitement in their eyes. And my, how splendid all those ladies look! Such elaborate costumes and hats. I daresay it puts even my finest coat to shame!
I didn’t carry any riders, you understand. My work involved walking alongside him. They said the horses used for riding needed more fire in their eyes, a greater boldness in their spirit. But for my part, I felt the Duke's calm presence next to me, the rhythmic clatter of our hooves echoing along the stone streets - that was enough to satisfy me.
Of course, I had to adapt my mannerisms and my posture - I did try my best to keep the cobblestones from making me jump, even when the city was a roaring inferno of carts and carriages. I felt the pressure of all the stares, trying my hardest to look dignified and stately, just as a horse should be!
Back to the Familiar Fields
As with all things in life, my stay in London eventually came to an end. I missed the scent of Hayfield, the freedom of roaming across our fields. The sound of the wind rustling the heather was more soothing than any of the city’s noise, and my dear stable mates, the sheep, goats and the chickens, had become awfully missed! My hooves even longed for the feel of the familiar soil beneath them, after all that city paving.
The journey back to Hayfield was joyful. The gentle rhythm of travel, the open sky, the chirping birds - ah, pure bliss! I found myself whinnying out a joyous song, the wind playing with my white mane. The sight of Hayfield at the end of that long road, the familiarity of the farm, brought tears to my eyes (okay, maybe just a little bit of sweat - it had been a rather tiring journey, even for a sturdy creature like me). My hooves thumped with a mix of emotions.
Horses and Men at War
And now for the latest happenings from across the kingdom! War clouds are gathering on the horizon, dark and ominous. It seems the world of man is never satisfied with peaceful skies. They seem to thrive on turmoil, violence, and discord. They build grand armies and battlefields of steel, forgetting the delicate rhythm of nature and the strength we horses lend to their cause.
It's said that in 1669 the King is trying to negotiate peace. This makes the mares around Hayfield particularly happy. We understand that man is a curious creature, easily led by his own emotions. It's good to see his strongest warrior, the noble steed, being used for other purposes. We may be magnificent, but it's best when used for peaceful work, such as plowing the fields and helping with the harvest. Or just carrying lovely ladies like me to meet their friends at a neighboring farm!
From Field to Stable: A Glimpse of Home
Speaking of home, I'm feeling quite sleepy! We’ve got fresh straw to lie on, and a good hearty meal of oats waiting to fuel my next adventures. After all, this is the life for a young horse like me.
Stay tuned for more tales of our world in next month's EquiWorld blog!
With a whinny and a wink, Emma
