Hello everyone! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey mare. I live in the rolling hills of Hayfield near Aberdeen, Scotland, a place where the air is fresh and the heather is as purple as my mane and tail. This blog post marks a milestone – the year 1700! A year full of exciting happenings, and of course, horses.
It’s been a busy year for me. My owner, Farmer Angus, is a kind soul, though a bit gruff at times, but we work together well. It’s not easy pulling the plough through the Scottish soil, but my strong build and my willingness to learn (okay, mostly to avoid the flick of Angus's whip!), means I’m one of the most useful workhorses around.
As for the world of horses, 1700 was an eventful year, and a busy one for us - horses, I mean! Just yesterday, we all had a grand gathering in the town square of Aberdeen, celebrating the "Royal Riding". It's an annual event where the finest horses and their riders, dressed in their most colourful attire, strut their stuff before the watching crowds. A glorious spectacle to see, and I am just grateful I got to watch! Imagine me being the one being ridden by someone other than Angus... Well, that might not be such a good idea! As I mentioned, my main talents lie in the strength of my legs, not my delicate trotting skills. Anyway, the riders do such a fantastic job – even the very young children are brilliant. It’s heartening to see the next generation of riders already being nurtured, promising years of skilled equestrians to come!
My stablemate, Bonnie, tells stories about her late grandfather who rode for the Black Watch - one of the Scottish regiments in the Army. He’s said to have fought bravely in many wars. It fills me with pride to know our ancestors have been involved in the big events shaping the world, and there’s no doubting the essential role horses have always played in history. From warfare to commerce and trade, we’ve been part of it all. And of course, we’re the trusted companions, providing farmers, traders, and families a trusty hand… or a trusty hoof!
But it wasn't all fun and games in the year 1700! There were challenging times, too. The cold winter meant long nights in the stable with a blanket and a good layer of straw. The weather also caused crops to fail in some areas of England, meaning fewer horses were needed for farming and the market for horse trade dipped a little. But that is the way of nature, and we just have to be adaptable!
And now, let me tell you a bit more about life on the farm. This time of year is a joyful one! Harvest is around the corner. We are all eagerly waiting to get back out into the fields, smelling the hay, feeling the wind in our manes, and of course, for those wonderful, delicious carrots Farmer Angus offers at the end of a good day’s work. There is nothing like fresh carrots straight from the garden – nothing!
A big event that happened here in Scotland, and I think around England too, was the emergence of the "heavy drafters." This breed of horses, they’re built like sturdy oaks, were even better than us! Their power and size amazed everyone – pulling much heavier loads and getting much more work done in less time. Some say that even a small group of these new giants could replace dozens of horses like me!
I remember thinking "what's the point?" How can you possibly compare yourself to an oak? It's simply different. But even I, in my grumpy way, can see the benefit. I've also heard tales about some horses having trouble with new horseshoes. This new horseshoe with nails designed to keep them from slipping is called a "caulk." It sounds frightening to me, but apparently it's much safer. Imagine how worried we’d all be if the blacksmith hammered in nails with such force!
Life changes. It's always evolving! As long as I'm strong and healthy, and my stablemate Bonnie continues to tell me exciting stories of daring escapades, I am perfectly happy to help Angus, and I hope to be pulling that plough for many years to come. It’s good work, honest work. As we say here in Scotland - "A horse's work is never done!"
This post was inspired by “The history of horses” by Dr. Susan A. S. Allen. I was lucky to overhear a few humans discussing this book at the town pub – something about the past being a foreign country… whatever that means. I'm always keen to learn more about the history of us horses, so that’s what I plan to do!
Now, for all of you at home, please write and tell me your thoughts! Have any of you experienced the changing world of horse life? What new things are happening in your part of the world? I love hearing your stories! Remember, "a horse is never alone", even in this vast world!
Until next time!
Love, Emma
I am always excited to hear from my fellow equines, so do get in touch! Send me an email:
