History of Horses in the year 1968

#1968: A Year of Changes for Horses

Good morning, dear readers! Emma here, from the lovely hills of Hayfield near Aberdeen. It's a crisp morning, the mist still hanging over the fields, and the air filled with the scent of fresh grass.

As I stretch my long legs, enjoying the gentle morning light, I find myself pondering... What an incredible year 1968 was! Not only for the horses of Hayfield, but for horses all around the world. I remember it so vividly, a time of great change, a wave of innovation that washed over the equestrian world.

My own story in 1968 was one of quiet growth, a time when I learnt the true meaning of hard work and resilience. It's a tale of teamwork, of strong, supportive friendships forged with fellow horses, and the deep connection with my human companion, John. John's a kind and steady man, a farmer, and he needs strong horses to help him on the farm, so I'm doing my part to help out. He often lets me pull his small tractor, carrying him around the fields on his rounds. It's not as demanding as pulling a heavy cart, which I do for special occasions, like taking our produce to market or bringing the neighbours’ hay down from the hillside, but it's still a fine feeling of strength and usefulness.

However, John has some exciting ideas, which has led to the biggest change for me in all of 1968. We were a bit on the verge of becoming obsolete, with the coming of all those tractors and combine harvesters, a far cry from the working horses of the old days. However, John's got this plan - he wants me to compete! Yes, compete. Can you believe it? It’s not your traditional, heavy-work horses, like myself, who've been competing. Usually, it's the beautiful, sleek thoroughbreds, the graceful steeds, those with that impressive mane and flowing tail, not my own, humble draught horse with its practical, rugged looks.

But John believes in me, sees a sparkle in my eye, a fire that lies dormant, he says. I just know this year will be extraordinary!

He’s started me on a new training program: light jogging on the hills, working on my agility, my turns, even learning how to do some basic jumps. John's gone a step further, investing in a lovely black leather bridle with sparkling brass buckles, just for me. I haven’t seen a piece of equipment like it. Even though the competition seems light years away, I feel something stirring inside, an eagerness to show what I’m capable of. I can't help but feel a little excited at the possibilities!

While we've got a little more to do in terms of getting competition-ready, 1968 has certainly been a big year in our household. Let's delve into what the world of horses experienced back then... and some of the fascinating developments we saw.

Looking back on the year gone by, 1968 marked a real turning point in how people looked at horses. This is where the “equestrian revolution” truly took off, so to speak.

Gone were the days when horses were only seen as mere working beasts. Yes, they've always been magnificent, strong, reliable animals, the backbone of the nation, for hundreds of years. But now they're being recognised for their power, their grace, their intelligence, and above all, their ability to connect with humans in ways no other animal can.

What happened that ushered in this change? We’ll get to that in a moment. But first, let’s step back a little. 1968 didn’t just see the world of horses blossom – there were exciting happenings around the world that were impacting our lives in subtle ways, as much as the major global events themselves.

To truly understand the shift that 1968 witnessed for horses, we have to travel beyond the rolling hills of my home in Scotland and take a peek at what was happening globally. You know, this wasn't just another year, it was a watershed. Think of it as the year the world shook itself up and said, “Things have got to change.”

In this world, so much had been happening - from the booming economy to the Cold War.

1968 was the year when the Vietnam War, the fight between North Vietnam and South Vietnam, was at its peak. This brought home, very vividly, the fact that we are all part of a bigger world, a world connected by these tumultuous happenings that could make us feel afraid, sometimes helpless, at other times incredibly hopeful, depending on what you were reading in the papers or listening to on the radio.

We heard stories about the moon landings. In 1968, the United States took mankind a big step forward when the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon, the Apollo 8 mission, launched from Cape Canaveral.

Even with the drama unfolding elsewhere, it seemed that 1968 marked the year that ordinary people across the globe started thinking about social change and how we could work towards making things better - it was about challenging what seemed “normal” and seeing what was really possible in the world. For some people this meant fighting for their right to have a voice. This led to many political marches in places such as America and Czechoslovakia, and sparked a sense of unrest and even revolution, the kind of world-changing events that reverberated through the very air.

For horses, however, all this upheaval resulted in something very special - a new way for humans and animals to come together, not just as work partners or companions, but as friends who shared an amazing bond. This is what really marked the horse revolution, one driven not by warfare, but by kindness, by passion and by shared joy.

1968 felt like the beginning of something special – an incredible transformation, a blossoming relationship between humans and horses. For a long time, the main role horses played in most people’s lives was more about practical utility – they were used for pulling carts, farmwork, military services and the like. Now, there was a growing passion about how people were using horses in the different aspects of life.

For the horses of 1968, the change was a gradual shift, like the way the seasons change. It wasn’t about suddenly finding yourself being paraded around town in a competition, although there was an undeniable increase in all types of events: show jumping, dressage, even some of the less familiar ones like the gymkhanas.

For me, in Hayfield, this year marked a moment in time where we witnessed how important a role horses played in people’s lives. There was a whole host of other reasons people were choosing to spend their days working alongside horses – from working with young horses, like John and myself, or taking them out for leisurely rides, or joining local horse riding groups and clubs that sprung up, to becoming passionate about a sport that required the kind of love and commitment that I know so well.

For many of us who weren’t so fortunate to be the chosen horses, 1968 also represented a more emotional awakening. There was a lot of conversation around caring for horses and improving their welfare. You’d often see news of shelters popping up, a great network of dedicated individuals and groups who felt compelled to help all of us, horses, donkeys, ponies, all kinds of animals really, who were in desperate need of a second chance at life.

It was quite heartening to hear the many stories about how these amazing people who volunteered their time made sure their fellow equine brothers and sisters got proper food, shelter, healthcare and of course the love they desperately needed to find their footing. They had a clear, unwavering passion to help. For a lot of us horses who found a new life in these safe spaces, this represented more than just physical sustenance. It represented an unyielding faith in us, an ability to trust that despite any setbacks we could still flourish and thrive.

We all had different experiences in 1968 - some of us might have enjoyed the freedom of long treks through the vast countryside, some of us were called upon to compete, some of us just wanted to enjoy the love of the gentle care we received. But one thing remained constant for all of us – 1968 marked the year when people started to understand our unique connection to them – a sense of wonder and appreciation, of understanding that there's something really special about how humans and horses came to coexist.

There is more to the horse revolution, and of course more about my life in Hayfield that I have yet to share. It's a beautiful story – a story of connection, determination and an unfolding love affair between people and horses – one I will keep telling until the day I’m finally back in the stables, tucked in for good.

Till then, keep checking back to Equiworld.org for the rest of the equine stories I'll share in the months to come.

With a gentle whinny,

Emma