Hello dear readers, Emma here, a grey mare with a heart full of history and a mane and tail the colour of freshly fallen snow. I’m 20 years old now, feeling fit as a fiddle and full of stories! As some of you know, I’m lucky to call Hayfield near Aberdeen my home, a place where the rolling hills and the crisp, fresh air feel like a warm hug. It's a good life, this being a draught horse. But things weren't always the same.
Today, we’re stepping back in time to the year 0188. That’s 188 years ago from the year I’m writing this. Just thinking about it, my nostrils twitch with excitement! We all know what the year 1888 brought - that amazing invention, the automobile! But in 0188, things were still much simpler. Horses like me were the backbone of the world, pulling wagons and ploughing fields. And guess what? I’d bet my oats on the fact that life back then wasn't always easy for a mare like me. There’s more to history than you might think.
Let me tell you, in 0188, most of the world didn't even have the fancy inventions we have today like carriages with metal springs. I heard tell about these from a traveling trader who was making his rounds through Hayfield a few months back. Imagine, bouncing along with barely a jiggle. You should see the startled looks I get when I try to describe this to my fellow horses!
So, what did things look like in the horse world 188 years ago?
A Working Mare’s Life in Hayfield, 0188:
Back then, my life was full of routine. We started the day at sunrise. My trusty farmer, a lovely man called John, would give me a handful of oats and some hay, a good scratch behind the ears, and off we went. I knew every inch of the field, and I felt a quiet satisfaction as my hooves turned the earth for planting crops.
The heavy plough, a massive contraption of wood and metal, was quite a handful, but it felt good to be strong, a part of the rhythm of life. Then there were the deliveries - heavy carts full of grain to the village mill, bags of flour to the local baker, or maybe even firewood to folks for their homes. Every journey offered its own rhythm, a quiet satisfaction of knowing my work made a difference.
I’ll confess, even then, as strong as I was, there were days I longed for rest. I was used to the chill of the early morning mist, the warm rays of the summer sun, and the scent of freshly cut hay. It’s all about those quiet joys that make a good life. Being a draught horse was never easy, you know? There were blisters on our feet, and sore muscles after a hard day’s work. And those nasty flies, a torment all their own! Ah, memories, as much the good times as the challenges!
Beyond the Field:
Of course, the world was bigger than just Hayfield. We didn’t have cars, remember? Just horses, for the most part. Every time a new traveller or tradesman came through, we’d listen eagerly to stories about the world beyond our village.
Word from London told of magnificent riding horses, beautiful in their fine tack. Some were even used by the military for guarding the royal palace, something you’d think wouldn’t even be necessary, if you ask me. Horses like me weren’t for riding; we were too hefty for that. My farmer, John, told stories about the horses used by the postal services. They carried mail over great distances. Imagine! They are fast, those ones, like greyhounds! I bet it is a life full of adventure!
Change and Tradition:
My grandmother, bless her old soul, once told me stories of a time before horses were common. People walked and travelled on the backs of oxen. I couldn't imagine life without my horse friends and all we do together! We're more than just beasts of burden, you know. We're companions, even if our human companions may not see it that way sometimes.
One thing I hear about a lot from the elders around Hayfield is that things are changing. A new form of transport was gaining traction - railways! Now, there’s an interesting invention! A journey that would take days, was completed in hours! But for me, I couldn’t be too upset by such things. It seemed like all of life was on the verge of a major transformation. This was long before cars or even that marvel they called a plane!
Even though things were starting to change, tradition stayed strong in the year 0188. In those days, even the women took care of horses. You’d see women just as comfortable around horses as the men. My own human family includes my human sisters!
And the horse races - they still made me jump with excitement, the adrenaline of that thundering energy as a horse ran with incredible speed, racing through the countryside, oh what joy!
I even heard tell that people were riding horses for sport - they called it “fox hunting,” racing against the hounds and jumping fences - that sounded exciting! You wouldn't find many farm horses involved in something that dramatic. Not that we couldn't do it! The world just hasn’t discovered that we’re versatile and have hearts that yearn for something other than a field to plough!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at my world, my time, in the year 0188. It's a life of quiet routine and satisfaction, a little bit of hardship mixed in with a good measure of contentment. And a time, from my perspective as a grey mare, full of wonderful change, a sense of progress that brought a spark of anticipation to my heart.
If you’ve got any questions, please leave them in the comments. If you enjoyed reading about my life in the year 0188, please give me a thumbs-up. And remember, horses may change over time but our love for each other, and the world around us, is constant.
Till next time, my equine friends,
Emma, the grey mare.
