Greetings, fellow equines and lovers of the horse! It's Emma here, your trusty grey draught mare from Hayfield near Aberdeen, and I'm delighted to welcome you to my little corner of Equiworld for a peek into my 1841!
It’s been a year filled with the scent of heather, the warmth of the sun on my coat, and the satisfaction of a good day’s work. Let me tell you, being a horse in 1841 isn't just about grazing and napping, although I certainly enjoy both. We're the lifeblood of these bustling towns and villages, playing a vital role in everything from transporting goods to farming and even the pleasure of a good ride.
Now, I know some of you might find yourselves a little surprised to find a grey mare like myself posting to this wondrous online forum, "Equiworld" as you call it. Let me explain: My master, Mr. McGreggor, a fine man indeed, has been quite smitten with a young inventor fellow named Robert. Turns out, Robert has a knack for these new-fangled contraptions called “telegraph” that he tells me allow messages to travel across miles in mere seconds! You could say Mr. McGreggor is a tad intrigued and fancies himself a forward thinker. He spends his nights pouring over Mr. Robert’s scribbles, fascinated by how these electric "wires" can carry messages faster than the speed of the fastest racehorse.
It all feels a tad bewildering to me, but I confess, it is exciting to imagine a world where horses like me may soon be communicating through the airwaves! We may yet have our own equine news portal on this “Equiworld”. Just imagine the gossip!
Now, without further ado, let's dive into the highlights of my year in 1841!
March
The crocuses are out! Such a cheerful splash of colour after the long, grey winter. March is when we truly feel the beginnings of spring on our backs. It’s time for the plough, which, although a bit of a chore, is necessary to prepare the fields for planting. Thankfully, my strong legs and powerful frame are perfectly suited for hauling the heavy implement, helping to turn over the soil and sow the seeds of new life.
This is a year of exciting new crops. We've heard rumours that an extraordinary “potato blight” is plaguing other parts of the British Isles, even reaching over to Ireland. My master assures me that we’re lucky here in Scotland, as the blight hasn’t quite made its way north. But there are murmurs of shortages and the dire need for grain and other food supplies. It saddens me to hear these stories and reminds me of how interconnected we are, not just in Scotland, but all across the world.
May
The heather is starting to bloom, painting the hillsides in hues of purple and pink. I find myself gazing out from my stable, breathing in the scent of the flowers. My master calls it “The Perfume of Spring,” and I agree; the air itself feels sweet and invigorating.
One of my favorite activities, apart from the glorious grazing on the fresh green meadows, is pulling the cart loaded with harvested peat. We gather peat for fuel, cutting it from the boggy grounds around Hayfield. It's a heavy task, but there is a rhythmic satisfaction in pulling the cart across the rough terrain. It makes me feel truly strong and connected to the land.
July
The day was hot, the air shimmering with the heat of the sun. The kindhearted stable lads even offered me a sponge dipped in cool water, which I gratefully lapped up, enjoying the refreshing chill. Even with the warmth of the summer, there’s work to be done! My job, as always, is to ensure that all the essentials get to the marketplace on time. The weekly journeys to the busy streets of Aberdeen are an adventure in themselves.
This year, something extraordinary has captured the attention of everyone, and I find myself amidst the chatter! It’s a “railway,” they call it. The news reached our stables on the wind. A metal track for carriages pulled by a locomotive that carries people and goods over vast distances. We horses are, of course, curious creatures, and we've heard rumours of “iron horses” pulling the carriages along these tracks. We’ll need to wait and see how the railway shapes the future of our work. I confess, though I’ve seen those majestic steam locomotives pulling massive loads of goods across the country, I feel more than a bit curious about what the future holds.
September
September marks the end of summer, and with it comes the feeling of preparation for the cold winds of winter. The harvests are in, the fields are clear, and a sense of calm washes over the countryside. As always, September brings with it a flurry of activity. We must store hay and barley, ready for the lean months ahead. And though I admit the colder days may hold less of the allure of spring, the gentle rain that falls is a beautiful sight, a source of calm even as it sends a chill through my bones.
There are, however, a few extra whispers swirling in the air, like the falling leaves swirling in the wind. We’ve heard word that “Queen Victoria” has taken an interest in the affairs of her subjects across the British Isles, making her way through Scotland for a grand tour. Some folks seem excited by this news, and indeed, her Majesty does ride horses! Though the grand tour doesn't quite make its way to our neck of the woods, it’s fascinating to see the effect the news of her arrival has had on folks in distant cities.
November
Autumn gives way to winter. The wind howls and bites at my flanks, urging me to seek warmth. The days are shorter, with less daylight, and I feel the chill creeping into my bones.
Even so, the nights are bright, thanks to those “lamps” I’ve heard whispered about. These lamps illuminate our stables and yards with an almost magical light, even at night! It seems even we horses are not immune to these changes in the world around us, for as you know, a draught horse cannot afford to shirk her duty even in the heart of winter.
December
Ah, December! The crispness of winter sets in, the scent of smoke hangs in the air from warming fires, and a peaceful calm envelops Hayfield. We are surrounded by snow-dusted fields and frozen ponds. My master even built a cozy, sheltered stable for the winter, with fresh straw for my bed and an extra measure of barley to ensure we have enough energy to carry on with our day-to-day chores. I enjoy these slow days of the year. I think about my filly foals, just a couple of years younger than me, frolicking in the meadows, with the promise of a new life as beautiful as the falling snow around us. We huddle together for warmth, a group of sturdy draft horses, ensuring that winter's harshest winds don't reach my dear stable mates. We are truly a family here at Hayfield.
As the year comes to a close, I feel a surge of pride knowing that we, the horses of 1841, have helped to make it a year filled with progress and prosperity for everyone. As always, I stand ready to embrace the future, knowing that whether it is in a world where railway tracks spread across the land, or if the warmth of my own stall keeps me happy and content, I am where I belong, in the heart of our countryside, pulling my weight with the strength of my heart and the determination that runs in my blood.
This is my story, my year, and I look forward to sharing it with all of you on Equiworld!
Your friend in hooves and hearts, Emma.
P.S. Have any of you encountered these "telegraph" things? Please do share your tales and tell me what you think! It's hard for a horse to keep up with all these exciting new inventions!
