Hello fellow equines, and welcome to my blog, "Emma's EquiWorld"!
It's me, Emma, the grey mare from Hayfield, just a few miles from Aberdeen. It's been another busy year, and as always, there's so much to tell you about. In fact, I think 2016 was truly remarkable for the equine world! But before I dive into all the excitement, let me share a little bit about my own life.
My 20th Birthday!
Believe it or not, this year, I turned twenty! A milestone, you could say, for a horse. It's a good age - the age of wisdom, or so my farmer, Davie, tells me. My beautiful white mane and tail are a bit longer now, almost silver, you could say! It seems like yesterday when I was a rambunctious foal, exploring the meadows and playing with my friends.
This year, Davie treated me to a special day, a celebratory breakfast of hay and oats and then an afternoon stroll through the rolling hills of the Highlands. He even let me graze for an extra hour in my favourite meadow, where the clover is the sweetest!
Life on the Farm
My days haven't changed too much. Still, I work the fields with my trusty companions, Jack and Mabel. We've been a team since we were colts, and we've shared a lifetime of pulling the plough, carting hay, and, my personal favourite, delivering fresh vegetables to the market.
I love my life on the farm. There's something so rewarding about using my strength and working alongside my fellow horses. Davie says it's a tradition, and we have a responsibility to keep the legacy of working horses alive. And I'm proud to do just that!
The World of Horses: From Dressage to Show Jumping!
The best thing about being a horse in the 21st century is that there are so many incredible opportunities out there for us! I saw on the internet - a magical thing, that internet - about all sorts of exciting happenings in the equine world this year.
Firstly, there was the Rio Olympics! And not only did we horses shine in the Dressage events, but my kind - the strong draught horses - were part of the equestrian event too! The pictures on the web were amazing; I could feel their energy across the world! It really made me proud.
Then there was the incredible feats of our equestrian companions in show jumping!
There was one event, the World Cup Finals, that truly captivated me. These horses flew over incredible fences, like leaping over mountains, with such power and grace!
The skill of these human-horse partnerships was awe-inspiring, even from afar, and made me wish I could be part of something so spectacular. I wonder what it would be like to train with a rider? It would be a different type of work, perhaps a lot of training and hard work, but the exhilaration!
A Big Year for Breeding!
Another highlight of 2016 was the new horse breed registered - the British White Horse.
I saw the news online - what a glorious, majestic breed! And to think, it was all thanks to dedicated humans who were determined to protect and preserve a rare breed. What an inspiration to us all. I was especially interested to read about how their distinctive white coat played a crucial role in their success as draft horses in times past. They helped us carry loads for humans. We must never forget the important role our ancestors played.
Horse Power & The Future
Of course, it's not all glamour and exciting competitions! It's important to remember our place in the world as horses. Our strength and determination will always be vital for farming and other crucial roles. I've read that even in this day and age, horse power remains a valuable tool, especially in areas that are hard to reach by tractor!
We're also incredibly therapeutic creatures. Helping humans with disabilities, emotional difficulties, even simple relaxation and fun is another important part of what we do.
So, there you have it, a glimpse of life for a twenty-year-old draught horse in 2016!
This has been a phenomenal year, a time of great pride and accomplishment for the equine community. And even though I may be slowing down a bit myself, my spirit remains as young as ever. I'm eager to see what the future holds and keep you all updated with more stories from Hayfield.
See you all soon! And Happy New Year!
Your pal, Emma.
