Hello my lovely equestrians!
Emma here, a grey draught mare with a mane and tail like spun silver, just turning twenty this year. I call Hayfield near Aberdeen home, where the air is crisp and the fields are filled with the scent of heather. This is my very first post on Equiworld.org - what a wonderful thing, this new-fangled internet! My human, Mr. MacGregor, says it can connect me to other horses from all corners of the world. Isn't that simply magical?
Today, I'll share my observations of life as a horse in the year 1840. I'll be focusing on what I've witnessed myself, here in bonnie Scotland, as well as sharing news from my human's favourite newspapers - it seems horses are everywhere, making headlines all over the globe!
The Pace of Progress
I have to admit, it's an exciting time to be a horse. It feels like every year brings new inventions and a different way of life. You might not know it, but just ten years ago, things were a bit... slower. Travel was mostly done by horse, of course, but the roads weren't as good as they are now, and carriages were still quite rough. I remember, as a foal, watching the first steam trains roll into Aberdeen. Those were sights and sounds to make a young horse's head spin! And look at us now – the Iron Horse, they call it – steaming along like a furious, magnificent beast.
Harnessing Innovation
This year, though, the most intriguing development I’ve seen has been the emergence of these new-fangled carriages, lighter and faster than anything before. Some are built to carry passengers like grand ladies, gliding over cobbled streets like a swan on a pond. Others, like the ones I work with, are used to haul freight, moving goods quicker than ever before.
These carriage horses work hard, don’t get me wrong, but the new harnesses are designed to lessen the strain. We wear broad collars now, and the breast straps are soft and supple – a real blessing for our necks! My human, a thoughtful soul, regularly inspects my gear to ensure it fits perfectly and causes no discomfort.
Work & Play: The Hayfield Horses
Here in Hayfield, we have a lovely, peaceful life, despite the hustle and bustle elsewhere. I spend my days with the other draught horses, pulling loads of barley, wheat, and oats to the local mill, helping to keep the ovens burning and bellies full. I work alongside the farmhand, Robert, a kind lad who talks to me as if I understand his every word – and I do, really! He often sits with me during breaks, giving me fresh clover and telling stories of the world outside of Hayfield.
Robert tells me the biggest event in the horse world this year was the Great Yorkshire Show. Now that is a grand spectacle! He speaks of magnificent thoroughbreds racing with a blur of speed and powerful shire horses pulling massive plows in a demonstration of strength.
Evenings, once the work is done, I often take walks through the fields with the other horses. We graze together in the gentle twilight, watch the moon rise, and let the wind blow through our manes. On particularly lovely nights, we gallop through the fields, hooves drumming upon the earth in a joyful, almost primitive, dance of liberation.
Fashion and Fun
Speaking of grooming and liberation, can you imagine – hats for horses! Some human folk are putting frilly bonnets on their prized ponies and dressing their cart horses in fine leather collars with polished buckles. It seems that horses are just as much a fashion statement now as they are a means of transportation! It's quite amusing, really.
Of course, I enjoy the odd "fancy up," myself. Mr. MacGregor keeps my mane and tail impeccably braided and plaited for the fair on market days. My silver fur shines bright after he applies his special potion of apple cider vinegar and oatmeal – a good secret from our human family’s farm recipes!
Looking Forward
Despite the progress and change, I think there is a calm about life in 1840 that makes this era special. There is a sense of community here in Hayfield. Everyone depends on everyone, including us horses. And that, I believe, is something precious, something that will remain unchanged even as the world around us moves forward at a breakneck pace.
Next time I write, I’ll tell you all about the grand agricultural show I attended this year. It’s a journey back in time – think about that, for an event where I met a hundred of my cousins, from different breeds and farms! There are still plenty of horses, pulling, carrying, and working. We are at the heart of so much of this era – and that makes me very proud.
Until then, happy galloping, my friends!
Emma, the Hayfield Grey.
