History of Horses in the year 1705

Hayfield, near Aberdeen, Scotland

Good morning, dear readers! Welcome to another entry in Emma's Chronicles. This week, the heather's in full bloom on the hills, a glorious purple haze stretching as far as the eye can see. The air's crisp, but the sun is warm on my coat as I graze with my fellow draught horses, a comforting whickering and pawing sound in the stillness. Life is good here in Hayfield.

Now, I know many of you might be wondering, what's going on in the horse world in this year of 1705? Let's have a look.

Right here in Scotland, things are buzzing. There's a great deal of activity in the farms and fields as we horses toil hard. Oats are being sown, and I, for one, will be hauling many a cartload of barley for the distillery up the hill. It's not exactly thrilling, mind you, but it's steady work, and I'm rather good at it. We’ve always had a strong, stoic work ethic up here in Scotland - it’s all part of being a good draught horse.

Then there's London, a world away, full of noise, smoke and jostling crowds. My grandfather tells stories of how horses once took up residence there in a great stable right in the city's heart! London’s quite the horse hub, the beating heart of a nation where we play a crucial role. Imagine! Streets teeming with carriages, carts, and riders; and the very ground beneath their hooves paved with stone. My grandfather, being from the Edinburgh stables, was always telling me tales about how carriages used to block the main thoroughfare to the port, all waiting their turn to load and unload goods.

I’m yet to see London myself, but one day, perhaps I shall… in fact, one of my cousins from the Hayfield stables, she’s got her eyes set on the big city! But for now, I'm content with our little corner of the world.

Things are shifting in the world outside the field and stables. Have you heard? A new King has ascended the throne - King Anne, God bless her.

You’d be forgiven for thinking these are exciting times. King Anne's a very capable woman and some people say that these are very important days for the Crown and England, though nobody quite knows why. However, we here in Scotland are quietly getting on with our duties - I must admit we’re rather glad that it’s all going on far away in London!

Talking of England, it's their horsemen, known for their horsemanship and elegance, who really are the masters of their craft. Did you know that English gentlemen still favour the light-horse saddle, also known as the "Saddle" with high cantles (I don’t know what those are, exactly), with stirrups, a very grand affair, in contrast to us heavier horses, more utilitarian in nature!

My cousin Fiona has travelled a great deal and she has told us all that there's this famous riding tradition in England, you see, where they’re particularly partial to the 'hunters', the big Thoroughbreds with great endurance and the very best bloodlines - I always wonder what they’re hunting for. But it's not the hunters that truly enchant me…

I must tell you, the stories she has about the English ladies of society and their dashing horsemen taking part in hunts on their Thoroughbreds are a sight to behold! There’s just something about it that makes me want to trot down to England, just for a quick glance! The English, they know a good horse, let me tell you.

Did you know that King Louis XIV, he’s been very interested in improving the breeds in his country - they want to be on a par with England’s Thoroughbreds and so he sends gentlemen over to English stables to learn the secrets of good horsemanship. These noble horsemen travel, observe, study, and return with stories and wisdom from across the seas - what an honour to be involved in this global exchange of equine excellence.

1705 has been a busy year for horses, not just in Britain but across the world, from the battlefields of Europe to the bustling trading routes of the Orient. From farmlands to battlefields to city streets, we are an integral part of every nation, and for that, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride!

So, there you have it, my fellow equines! A glimpse into the life of a workhorse in the year of 1705. Join me again next week for another entry in my equine chronicles!

Stay well and may your oats always be plentiful.

Yours, Emma