History of Horses in the year 1888

Hello everyone! Emma here, your grey draught horse with the snowy mane and tail from Hayfield, just a stone's throw from lovely Aberdeen. As a 20-year-old mare, I've seen a lot, and experienced plenty over these years. But 1888, that was something special. It felt like the world itself was moving a bit quicker that year, and horses were right at the heart of it!

I must say, my own year was pretty lovely. Spring found me pulling the sturdy cart, my favourite old man Davie at the reins. It's a life I adore - the countryside scents, the sound of our hooves clicking on the cobbles as we head into the bustling marketplace, the shared joy of bringing food and goods to everyone in Hayfield. The world truly thrives on what we do. And speaking of the world... Oh, 1888! What a whirlwind! There was a lot of chat amongst the mares at the market stalls about exciting goings-on elsewhere. They called it ‘progress’.

Everywhere, you heard about something called a “motor-car”, something about ‘petrol’ and wheels with no horse-power, driven by strange mechanical forces. Now, I don’t know about you, but for a true horse like myself, it sounds terrifying! Can you imagine, hauling nothing but cold steel and fumes, instead of the comforting warmth of your back? I’d miss the thrill of the wind whipping my mane, the sun on my coat, the feel of a strong man at the reins, the joy of knowing we were together on this journey. But apparently, they were starting to appear on the streets. Some said it was terrifying, a dangerous and smoky contraption. Others spoke excitedly, saying it was the future. The more they spoke of the future, the more my grey mare heart grew a little worried… Horses? What role would we play in this new, fast-moving world?

However, as always, horses are wonderfully resilient, adapting and continuing to do what we do best – serving and helping our human friends. 1888 brought much that proved this point, and showed how strong the bond between humans and horses remains.

We had the great joy of welcoming new friends and admirers at the magnificent race courses of the year. 1888 saw an amazing colt named "Ormonde" sweep through the English turf, earning the title of Champion Horse and causing quite a stir with his astounding speed and victories. Talk about speed, those horses on the racecourse are something else, aren’t they? Imagine charging through the ground, carrying a skilled rider and nothing but the joy of the race on your back. I hear some racing champions run nearly 30 miles an hour, as fast as a coach! I sometimes wonder what it’s like to experience such freedom. To just run… To feel the power in your hooves as you push through the track, and the thrill of a crowd roaring as you race toward the finish line. Perhaps one day I might take a trip to a racing track, just to stand close and smell the wind they race in!

As well as those incredible runners, 1888 was a time for some brilliant horses with a completely different talent. From all across the world, beautiful, magnificent creatures were travelling to the biggest event in the horse world - the grand, glittering spectacle of the Royal Agricultural Show! What a gathering of friends it was! Stallions and mares from far and wide, their owners and breeders, farmers and all sorts of horse-loving folk coming together to celebrate our grace and strength, all beneath a brilliant banner, “Royal Agriculture Show.” It was quite a sight to see the whole country talking of nothing else! We learned of fine Clydesdales from across Scotland, impressive Shires from England, powerful Belgians and sturdy French horses. What an array of beauty, strength, and elegance. It seemed everyone, from those big gentlemen who like their farm horses to the swanky ladies who favour their stylish trotters, were all united in their love of the beautiful horses at this magnificent show.

Speaking of stylish, gentlemen of means started favouring this year a particular breed that wasn’t a horse for heavy work at all - the American Standardbred. These fine horses are light, graceful, and very fast. A bit like a thoroughbred in appearance, but these horses are not for racing. Instead, they’re a show horse that loves to move in an elegant, controlled manner. A perfect example of grace and style in the show ring, and apparently they are beautiful and sleek when pulling the lightest carriages - for those who want a ride with style and sophistication!

The gentlemen even put up competitions where the horses could show off their elegant paces and show just how smooth and rhythmic they could trot! Now, this all sounds incredibly graceful and exciting. Imagine, being perfectly controlled, displaying such power and precision – It makes my heart do a little jig. Perhaps a bit like our little Highland ponies at home! Oh, yes, it’s hard to resist a spirited little Highland. Those horses have so much spunk. You can see them galloping over those rocky hills, their short legs churning and driving them forward! What a wild ride, that would be, just like my dear friend Rory told me about when he ran free over the heather on our summer holiday!

Of course, the best kind of horse, is still a good hard-working draught horse like myself, strong and loyal, the workhorses that are vital for the heart and soul of farming! My farmer Davie told me we helped deliver crops, moved goods to market, transported wood for building, and brought food and essentials from afar. Without the reliable horse, our whole country would grind to a halt! That’s what makes our work so essential and why I’m proud of every step I take with the old, reliable cart beside me.

While 1888 brought exciting change and talk of the ‘motor-car’, horses remained the vital power that drove farming, construction, transport and every kind of movement throughout the year!

Sometimes I hear other horses saying things like, ‘The world will move forward and forget about us…’ I have to say, even though things are changing fast, I have no doubt that the world will always remember us.

Look back, and we were there throughout all of human history, pulling carts, carrying kings, taking men into battle. We brought messages over great distances, raced in grand spectacles, worked on farms and pulled carriages. There will never be a force, engine or vehicle quite like our gentle and dependable horse power. It makes my heart swell with pride to be a horse in 1888. We are part of history!

I do hope you all enjoyed reading my first post of many, on Equiworld! Please, do send in your comments and news about horses! I do so love to hear how everyone else in the world is getting along. I am quite certain we can keep Equiworld a truly exciting space for horse lovers everywhere.

And for those of you who wonder what my day looked like? Oh, a day like every other in Hayfield – a long pull to the market, some friendly banter with the other working mares, the refreshing chill of a Scottish winter, a hot oatcake with Davie after work and finally, snuggled by the fireplace for a restful night before doing it all again!

See you soon, everyone!

Emma,

Hayfield, Aberdeen.