Hello fellow equine enthusiasts! Emma here, a grey draught mare from Hayfield, just outside of bonnie Aberdeen. It's been a while since my last post - you know how it is, the farm life keeps us busy! But I felt compelled to share some thoughts about the year 0121, a year filled with changes that continue to ripple through our world even today.
I was just a young filly, barely 20 summers old, when the year began. You see, we horses don't measure time quite the way humans do. We live by the rhythm of the seasons, the rise and fall of the sun, the blooming and the dying of the fields. Yet, even with this timeless existence, I can feel a distinct shift in the world around me, a feeling that something profound is happening, especially in the ways humans interact with us.
The Dawn of a New Age?
0121 marks what humans call the "first century," but for me, it's just another year in my long equine lineage. They say it's a year of hope and innovation, filled with ideas that might reshape the future. It's the start of a period they call the Pax Romana - the "Roman Peace." And yes, we horses do feel a difference in the air, a new level of stability that allows our human companions to thrive, to build things and to travel in a way they never have before.
My human family, the MacDougalls, are involved in trade, and we find ourselves travelling a lot. Not with fancy carts and carriages yet, mind you, but sturdy ox carts, pulled by oxen and myself, of course! We make frequent trips to the bustling market towns near Aberdeen, loaded with our goods - farm produce, barley, and even a few sacks of salt, a rare and precious commodity back then. The MacDougalls, as they tell it, sell these items to the "Romans," a new presence in our land. These Romans, with their smooth metal coins and their imposing leather boots, have their camps and cities, and they seem determined to make their mark on this part of the world.
A Touch of Rome
Now, the Romans are renowned for their roads, those long, straight stretches paved with smooth stone that extend for miles, much further than we’ve ever journeyed before. These roads, they say, bring people closer, make the journey of goods easier and quicker, and, from what I hear from other horses in different parts of Britain, seem to be appearing everywhere. I can't deny they do have a certain imposing grandeur, even I, a humble grey mare, can't help but feel a sense of awe when we tread on their hard surfaces. I hear tales from the horses in the south, of a great Roman City - Londinium, a thriving hub of commerce and trade. Perhaps one day, if we’re lucky, we'll make our way down to that part of the world.
Of course, we horses have a special relationship with roads. Not just the new Roman ones, mind you. Our hooves have always been the beating heart of travel, our tireless strength a boon to all who need to move goods and people. And as you can imagine, we horses, being observant creatures, see changes in the landscape reflected in the changes we make in our own lives.
The Change in the Wind
Speaking of changes, there's something else happening in the world of horses - the harness. These new bits and bridles are starting to replace the old ways of harnessing horses. I can see why they’ve been catching on. With the Romans' innovations, new materials are being used - sturdy leather, metal, even intricate metal pieces crafted into elaborate harnesses! It makes my heart thump just a bit faster when I feel the power of a sturdy harness digging in, connecting us horses to our duty, giving us a sense of purpose. It’s exciting, you know? We horses feel like we’re becoming more a part of human life, sharing in their hopes and ambitions.
I'm told, too, there's something new in the world of horses called "breeding." These Romans have been talking about the best traits, and about producing more horses like that. I heard a rumor that they have "stud farms", dedicated spaces for horses to produce the strongest and most reliable offspring. I must confess, that prospect makes my tail swish! I'd love to be part of such a legacy, to help produce horses that can continue the work we do. It is what gives us horses meaning, you know, to be part of a world that relies on our strength and endurance.
A Year of Possibilities
So there you have it, my dear fellow equines, 0121 from the perspective of a humble grey mare. It is a year of excitement, of new paths opening up. We may not understand the full implications of these changes, but one thing is for sure: as horses, we have always been at the forefront of change, and we will continue to be so, for we are the horses, the strong, resilient creatures that power a world of opportunity.
Till next time, keep your heads held high, your hooves strong, and your spirit shining.
With love, * *Emma
P.S Don't forget to visit www.equiworld.org to discover more stories about the wonderful world of horses through the ages!
Author's Note: This blog post is based on the general historical context of the year 121 AD. Please remember that the account is told from a horse's perspective and utilizes artistic license to illustrate its imagined experience and observations.
