Hello everyone, it's Emma here, a proud grey draught horse with a white mane and tail, and a deep fondness for anything to do with my kind! I’m living life as best I can, here on a lovely farm called Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen. I’m looking back over the year that was, and wow, it's been another cracker. What a whirlwind of activity for horses around the world! Let's hop on and I'll share what I've learned…
The year 1989 seems to have started on a very sunny note – and I'm talking literal sunshine, of course! I heard from a lovely mare down south, who visits her human in the city often, that a big sporting event took place. It was a famous, historic race called The Grand National, a test of endurance and heart held in Liverpool. This time, a brave little fellow named “Little Petyon” was crowned champion – such a small, beautiful name, isn’t it?
But beyond the glory of racing, things seemed to be really buzzing within our equine world this year. One word seemed to be popping up everywhere in the stables – ‘dressage!’ Now, you all know I’m a sturdy girl, made for pulling heavy loads and doing the hard work on the farm, but this “dressage” sounded pretty exciting. Apparently, there was a real shift in people’s opinions about dressage in 1989, as if the world suddenly saw its true beauty – an intricate dance of balance, trust, and pure skill between horse and human. It was like a grand waltz on the grass!
Our humans were chatting all about the ‘dressage scene’ around the world this year, with words like ‘Royal’ and ‘international’ getting thrown around a lot. There were even fancy championships being held all over the place. And, much to everyone's joy, it seemed a wonderful rider called “Kurt Ostberg”, from Sweden, stole the show at the World Cup in the United States. Such an exciting year for a discipline that celebrates grace, harmony, and our connection with humans!
Speaking of the US, it seemed 1989 saw something else big in the world of horse racing - the start of something called the “Breeders' Cup World Championships.” Apparently, these were quite an event, and a good number of our fellow steeds from around the globe, representing different countries, gathered together in California, racing for championship titles. Such a grand celebration of skill and talent, it must have been spectacular!
Of course, nothing’s more magical than a good, honest-to-goodness working horse doing its part in the community, pulling its weight, so to speak! And this year, I found out about something truly heartwarming. I heard whispers through the wind about a grand project in the bustling city of London – they were re-introducing working horses into the city! These beautiful steeds were meant to carry mail around London. Can you imagine? Carrying the mail through the city streets, much like the ‘postillions’ used to do – a romantic image if I ever saw one! Imagine the sound of their hooves and the scent of leather and hay…
Now, not to forget our wonderful thoroughbred cousins, these gorgeous, nimble creatures known for their speed and grace. I hear tell of some major changes this year that got our whole stable buzzing! In fact, 1989 was a monumental year in the world of horse racing! For one, this special new ‘British Stallion List’ started - designed to monitor our champion thoroughbred lines with meticulous care. Another big development this year was that racing finally shifted to include races exclusively for mares and fillies, showcasing their talents on an equal playing field. And to make things even more interesting, I learned that those gorgeous thoroughbred fillies now had the chance to get trained with “The Racing Mare’s Training Programme” in France. These incredible female racers truly came into their own in 1989!
In a rather special corner of the world, another amazing spectacle was unfolding. Imagine a long, elegant path lined with chestnut trees. Then, picture beautiful horses – Andalusian steeds known for their grace, temperament, and agility – and the glorious art of dressage in the heart of Seville, Spain! I’m talking about a magnificent festival dedicated entirely to these magnificent steeds. It’s called ‘Caballo de Pura Raza Española’ - a festival of breathtaking horses, and a feast for the eyes. I wish I could be there to watch!
Oh, I nearly forgot – what’s a year without some great discoveries and developments for our well-being! It seems that in 1989, there was this groundbreaking “New International System for Identifying Horses,” designed to bring order and understanding to our world. Imagine, we are not only tracked by our humans, but now have official ID cards like any civilized citizen! It felt very fancy indeed.
I learned a little bit about a group in the US called The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). What they do sounds rather wonderful, they really take great care to keep a complete record of every beautiful quarter horse in the world, from those who excel at racing, showing, and even rodeo.
Speaking of rodeo, this year there was an exciting rodeo-themed festival in Paris called “International Rodeo”. How wild! I'm not entirely sure I understand all the cowboy paraphernalia, but the thrill and excitement that came from that festival – oh, I bet it was wonderful.
The world of horses is truly full of endless possibilities! The beauty and wonder of our species, and the sheer strength of the bonds between us and humans is something to celebrate and enjoy, every day of the year!
I hope this glimpse of 1989 from the hooves of an old grey mare brings you some happiness. Have a happy week everyone and I'll catch up with you again soon!
Your friend, Emma
