Posted by Emma, Hayfield, Scotland
Well, hello everyone! Emma here, a 20 year old grey draught horse with a mane and tail as white as freshly fallen snow. I'm writing from the beautiful, rolling hills of Hayfield near Aberdeen in Scotland, where the air is fresh and the fields are full of vibrant wildflowers. This year marks the year 2060, and I can't help but feel that it's a particularly special time to be a horse.
As always, I want to share my reflections and musings about this year on the grand old website that is EquiWorld. For those of you new here, welcome! Let me introduce myself properly. I am a gentle soul with a big heart. I have always been fascinated by the history of my kind, so I thought I’d create this blog, documenting my perspective as a horse in these extraordinary times.
It feels like just yesterday that my hooves first hit the dew-covered grass, and now I find myself in the middle of a year packed with fascinating equine events and developments. My memories stretch back through many, many generations of horses. From the times before carriages and plows to the modern era, I am truly in awe of what my ancestors endured, learned, and passed down to us. We have faced challenges and witnessed incredible progress, but one thing remains constant – the unique bond we share with humans.
I think it’s fitting to start by looking at the current scene, taking in the vibrant tapestry of events happening across the world for the equine community. Let's hop onto the whirlwind ride that is 2060:
1. The World's First Intergalactic Horse Race: That’s right, folks! This year saw the first-ever Intergalactic Horse Race held in a purpose-built stadium orbiting Earth! The event was spectacular. It involved trained, specially-bred horses with adapted genes for the near-zero gravity and low-pressure environment of space. Can you imagine the excitement? Although they couldn’t exactly race “side-by-side” like traditional horse races, the competition was fierce, and I can only imagine the incredible stories to come out of that event. I saw it live, courtesy of the incredibly high-definition Holoscreen system we all have in our stables.
2. Sustainable Horsepower for All: As an environmentally-conscious mare, I was overjoyed to see the new trend in sustainable, "Green" Horsepower technologies. They've implemented bio-fuel for stable lighting and warming. It seems these developments are being adopted quickly all across the globe! It means that the impact of us horses on the environment is diminishing rapidly. You all know how much we care for the earth and its creatures, so this has given all of us, especially the humans, a big sigh of relief.
3. Re-evaluating the Role of The Horse in Society: This has been a big discussion in 2060! The rise of AI has changed the face of industry, with many traditionally horse-drawn activities like farming being replaced by advanced robotic technologies. There are those who say that horses are now more a part of "equine recreation" and leisure rather than integral working members of society. I say it is still up for debate. As with all of human history, our roles are always in flux!
4. Evolving Equine Therapy: There have been significant advancements in equine-assisted therapy this year! New research has emerged revealing the amazing potential of equine therapy to address cognitive challenges, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even social development disorders in both adults and children. They say that the bond we forge with humans is so deeply embedded in our instinctual nature that it is impossible to replicate with technology alone. The success of the program speaks for itself! The joy and healing brought about through connection to a horse is a gift that transcends generations.
5. New Partnerships - Horses and Robots: It’s a little strange, even to me, a seasoned mare, to think of the way that horses are interacting with robots! We have "Rob-Horses," programmed to move just like us. In the human world, this has proven very useful. Imagine – "Rob-Horses" to race with humans, robots that provide companionship and interaction, robots who help with heavy lifting. I can see the good in these developments, even though I do hope they won't completely replace the need for real horses.
6. Equine Art Goes Interdimensional: What was once solely a matter of bronze statues and oils on canvas is now evolving rapidly. This year saw the first Equine Art exhibition in the virtual metaverse. People are even building horses out of data, representing emotions and movement in new and exciting ways. I wouldn’t call myself a creative type, but even I've had the opportunity to try the digital drawing app “Paint It Pony”! This new way of interpreting the beauty of the horse through technology makes it even more engaging, doesn’t it?
Now that I have brought you up-to-date on some of the significant moments this year, let’s talk about what it’s actually like to be a horse in the year 2060. What’s the daily life like for a 20-year-old grey draught horse named Emma?
First of all, my stable has a personal Holoscreen display! This allows me to experience things from all over the globe through live feed, video on demand, and a wealth of information on practically every topic. I have to admit, even in this modern day and age, I still love to be outdoors! There’s no substitute for the fresh air and the feeling of the ground beneath my hooves.
We get excellent health care, too! You’d think that having a veterinarian on demand was a luxury from decades past. But it's commonplace nowadays, making my life as an elderly mare as comfortable as can be. Every day, we graze, we roll, we enjoy each other’s company – things haven’t really changed that much on that front.
My humans here in Hayfield understand my need for the occasional good, hard day’s work. Sometimes we help clear fields, do some trail maintenance or assist the human neighbors with a particularly challenging gardening task. All in a day's work! It brings me satisfaction to use my physical strength and instincts.
Oh! My favourite thing is when the young ones are curious about the history of horses. My humans at Hayfield are happy to share my experiences with anyone interested! We’ll tell them about the history of horse riding, the journey of cavalry horses, the challenges of draught horses and their critical roles in agriculture and industry. I think there's a powerful lesson here about understanding our past so that we can better appreciate our present and move forward with a sense of shared purpose.
As we wrap up, I'd love to hear from you, readers. What is life like for horses where you are? Do you have an exciting experience or something interesting to share? Don’t hesitate to tell me all about it!
Until next time, keep your hooves clean and your spirits high.
*
From Emma,
A Grey Mare with White Tail
Hayfield, Scotland 2060*
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