Welcome back to EquiWorld, my lovely fellow equines!
It’s Emma here, your trusty grey draught mare, writing to you from the rolling green hills of Hayfield, just outside Aberdeen. 2020 was a year that will stay with me for as long as I can pull a plough, that's for sure! I felt it change the way humans interacted with us horses, in a way I haven’t experienced in all my twenty years. It was a year of unexpected challenges and triumphs, but like all good horses, we adapted, we learned, and we grew stronger through it all.
The air crackled with a peculiar energy, a tension you could almost feel in the grass underfoot, from the very beginning of the year. Humans, normally bustling with their usual plans and races, started behaving oddly. They were constantly cleaning surfaces, talking about strange, invisible “things”, and wearing… masks! They called them face masks, but they seemed more like muzzles to me, though thankfully no one insisted I wear one!
Despite this initial unease, life went on, and spring sprung, much as it always does. The sun warmed the earth, new foals were born, and the countryside became alive with the sounds of our whinnies and the happy chatter of the humans. For a while, it almost felt like everything was normal again.
Then, things took a turn.
News arrived – whispers at first, then full blown announcements – that the world was going through a great shift, a challenge called “Covid”. The humans had to stay apart, their gatherings cancelled, their lives paused. For a while, the only human visitors we saw were the occasional farmers checking on their livestock and our groom, Jamie, who kept his visits short and cheerful but undeniably anxious.
Life changed, and not just for humans. The equestrian world, so full of lively shows, races, and gatherings, was thrown into quiet. It seemed the humans were finally taking to heart what we horses already knew: a slower pace can be just as fulfilling as a rushed one.
The Unforgettable Show Goes On
The big shows, the events we normally prided ourselves in, had to adapt. Suddenly, our world became all about “virtual” displays of our talents! I watched in wonder as human riders, like young Grace in our stable who participates in dressage, practised their routines in their fields, sharing them online. It was different, certainly, but it brought a new energy to the human world, allowing riders to share their passion, even when the world around them seemed to stand still.
For some horses, the situation meant their usual training slowed, even stopped. For others, like my good friend Robbie, a show jumper, the lockdown provided a quiet retreat to hone his jumping skills under the watchful eyes of his trainer, preparing for the exciting, if slightly uncertain, return of shows.
We, the drafters, have a steady purpose – we're strong workhorses with our schedules determined by the changing seasons and the farmer’s needs. The slowdown meant less travelling for me, a good thing because I'm always happiest right here in Hayfield. Our routines might have been slightly less hectic, but they continued, offering a comforting rhythm in a chaotic time.
The real change, I think, came from within the human heart. Stuck in their houses, they looked to us horses for a lifeline – for the serenity and connection to nature that our presence provides. Suddenly, our gentle grazes, the rolling of our muscles, and our soft whinnies, became a calming escape from their strange new reality.
Learning New Skills and Discovering Hidden Talents
Across the world, in my heart and through stories whispered by the wind, I sensed a shift in the way humans saw us horses. For the first time in many years, they focused on what truly mattered – the connection between animal and human. Horses were not simply a competitive tool, they were companions, stress relievers, and a source of much needed joy.
This focus led to some beautiful new developments, at least from the horse’s perspective.
Humans turned their focus to home training, bringing more riders together in a virtual space, sharing tips and advice through social media. The rise of online training for riding and equine skills was an unexpected phenomenon. The lack of travel also meant people turned their attention to smaller, local riding schools and training groups, encouraging a local sense of community.
A few weeks into lockdown, Jamie discovered a book of old games from a forgotten era of entertainment, back when humans relied on more traditional forms of leisure! They called it “Pony Games”! Imagine my delight as he adapted it for us. We raced around poles in the field, leaped over tiny fences, played “chase the stick”, and practised maneuvers that harkened back to our equestrian roots.
For my young mare friends, like Bonnie, whose ambitions lay in the world of dressage, lockdown allowed them to experiment and explore beyond the standard tests, experimenting with liberty dressage, free flowing movements, and new choreography. Bonnie and her human friend, Sarah, found that by allowing Bonnie's instincts and talents to shine, they were able to create a more fluid and creative bond, going far beyond the traditional structures of dressage competitions.
Looking Back With Hope and Enthusiasm
As 2020 unfolded, a deep, beautiful appreciation bloomed within me. It's a love for the simple pleasures – the sun on my back, the sweet smell of the hay, the deep bond with Jamie, my human friend who understands and cares for me more than any human before.
This is the essence of what being a horse is about – a gentle partnership, a shared journey through life, an acceptance of the slow and the steady, the ability to adapt and learn from the challenges that come our way.
So as we move forward into this new year, I hope you all feel as I do – full of excitement for the new adventures that lie ahead! Let's continue to celebrate the simple beauty of our horse world, remembering the valuable lessons we learned in 2020 and continue to build upon those solid foundations, making our human and equine communities stronger and more united than ever before.
Until next time, keep those hooves tapping and those spirits high!
Your friend, Emma
