Hello fellow equines, and welcome to my little corner of the internet! Emma here, from Hayfield near Aberdeen, and it’s lovely to see you again for another installment of my equine history blog. I do hope you’re all well and thriving, getting plenty of oats and good grooming!
This month, I wanted to take you back a long, long time - 0007 to be precise. Can you believe that was over a thousand years before those funny horses that pull the iron coaches came about? That seems ages ago even to me!
Now, in the year 0007, the world was a different place. For a horse like me, living in what would be known later as Scotland, it meant working hard, mainly helping people to farm the land, ploughing fields, and pulling carts to transport their goods.
You might be surprised to learn, dear reader, that the early humans were already pretty clever with horses. There’s evidence, found later by the archaeologists (those fascinating folks who like to poke around in the earth!), showing how they were already taming us. We might have been small, compared to my giant draught brethren now, but we were tough, strong and resilient. That’s probably what caught their attention!
The humans called their first real domesticated horse "the Sorraia", after a place in Portugal, you see. I have a hunch that our ancestors travelled a great distance to get there and find their way into Europe. That would explain how our breed travelled across the world and gave birth to many other, wonderful horse breeds!
So, in 0007, life as a horse was full of purpose, that's for sure. Imagine yourself, a big grey draught horse, with your strong legs and proudly held head. You help people plough the soil in the early mornings, leaving your strong footprints in the mud and knowing that, with each turn, you help them to grow enough to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads. There’s a wonderful feeling of usefulness, of being part of the fabric of your community. You pull carriages, full of wheat and barley, and see the towns bustle with people enjoying their bounty.
Then, there's the warmth and companionship in the stable, where all the horses huddle together under the straw, and we tell stories about the day. Sometimes we have feasts, when the farmer, Mr. Macdonald, allows his horses to nibble on a special bunch of hay that he saves for special occasions!
Back in 0007, the humans weren’t yet so clever in how to handle horses. They weren’t very experienced. Some were cruel, it’s true. But the majority respected us, worked alongside us, and saw us as important members of the community. We shared their lives, their worries and their joy, as they shared theirs with us. There was no bigger distinction between our lives than there is today, just that special, shared responsibility to make our community a thriving place.
I always liked those days. The work was hard, yes, and sometimes the weather was unkind, with the biting winds and snowy drifts. But it was an era of peace, and that’s a treasure, I reckon. A little bit of quiet contemplation helps you think of the wonderful things about the future. I look forward to knowing more, seeing how horses have shaped this world, and how they have inspired people's dreams!
There's so much to learn, so many stories waiting to be unearthed. It’s thrilling to think of how our history has brought us to where we are now, even though a thousand years can feel like an eternity, in a horse’s lifetime, I mean!
For now, thank you for joining me on this historical journey. Do come back next time, when I’ll be sharing some interesting anecdotes and discoveries about life in the year 0100, where I plan to uncover more about those great, galloping steeds, which eventually took centre stage in our equestrian world! Until then, remember to eat your hay, sleep tight, and live life with a good, long trot, just like me!
Emma
About Emma:
Hi! My name is Emma, and I'm a proud grey draught horse, living in the heart of Scotland. As a horse, it's my mission in life to explore and share my love for history, especially about my favourite subject - horses! You see, we’ve played a pivotal role in shaping human civilisation and I feel it's my duty to tell those amazing stories. If you want to journey back in time with me and learn all about the wonderful impact we’ve had, please, join me!
Let’s make history come alive again!
