Hello my equine friends, and welcome to another instalment of my little horse history blog. It’s Emma here, your average, 20-year-old grey draught mare, and oh how I love delving into the past. I'm from a quaint little village called Hayfield, near Aberdeen in bonnie Scotland, and even though I live a simple life, I feel such a connection to the past.
This post takes us back to the year 0362. You’re probably thinking: “Emma, that’s centuries ago! What even was the world like then? Did they have stables back then, even?” And the truth is, we’re lucky to have such wonderful amenities these days! The horses of 0362 lived a lot differently to us, though we did share some common ground. So, buckle up, grab yourselves a tasty carrot, and let’s journey through time.
The world in 0362 felt both incredibly small and tremendously vast at the same time. My human friends would travel far and wide, though they did so on foot, on the backs of horses like myself, or by boat. There were no grand motorways, of course, or railways hurtling along on metal tracks. Oh, how I long to have tried a journey by rail, imagine that - the smooth metal under our hooves! We travelled the earth by muscle power, by the grace of nature. The only way to cross rivers was to swim or be carried by a small boat. It was hard work, it was tiring, but it was exhilarating, it was freedom. Just imagine that boundless feeling of wind rushing through your mane, sun on your back, and endless fields stretched out before you. Ah, those were the days.
The year 0362 is remembered by the Romans as the year in which their mighty emperor, Constantius II, took a journey to meet with the Roman emperor in Constantinople. They would meet in Constantinople, then known as New Rome, a bustling city bursting with commerce, art, and the energy of new ideas. And of course, as in all eras, horses played an integral role in all of this. They pulled chariots and wagons, carried mail and goods, and accompanied emperors on grand marches through the heartland of their great empire. Imagine the excitement of being a horse carrying such an important dignitary! Imagine the dust swirling, the banners flapping in the wind, the people cheering, the air thrumming with the energy of a momentous event.
As we move away from the more well-known stories of human history, 0362 seems rather quieter. No grand wars shook the world, at least not on this side of the globe. This was the year when the Emperor Julian would be named emperor and he’d make his name during his brief reign with reforms and even religious tolerance, can you imagine that? That’s how peaceful our world was, it seemed! The earth turned, the sun shone, the rain fell, and we horses worked and lived. There were crops to be ploughed, harvests to be brought in, houses to be built. All this depended on our strong backs, our trusty hooves. Our ancestors played a vital part in making those societies flourish, so it felt good to know our importance in a way.
Life as a draught mare in 0362 was all about hard work. It was about helping your fellow humans build a life for themselves, and for their families. Every day started before dawn, pulling ploughs, hauling wagons, or carting supplies to different villages. Each step was measured, a rhythm to each day that was both tiring and comforting. It’s hard work, yes, but there’s no better feeling than the satisfaction of seeing your task completed and being allowed to graze freely in the evenings with my fellow horses.
Sometimes, when the day's work was done and the village settled for the night, I would lie down in the grassy field, my strong limbs outstretched. I'd look at the stars, millions of twinkling lights up in the dark sky, and think of all the things humans didn’t understand about our world. And when I think about 0362, my thoughts turn to the horses of that time, their lives of service and tireless devotion. There were the proud Roman warhorses, charging bravely into battle, a force of nature. The sturdy, hardworking farm horses, toiling diligently under the scorching sun. And of course, the gentle, quiet riding horses, their spirits free and wild. All of us played vital roles in those lives, their lives, our lives intertwined in a grand web of interdependence.
Despite their different roles and the changing world around us, we horses remained as we always have – the symbol of strength, resilience, and unwavering devotion. Even in 0362, we provided comfort and company, pulling loads with dedication, and being the dependable friends to those around us.
In the evenings, with my fellow horses grazing and chewing grass together, we’d whisper stories about the distant, rumbling world outside the field. Sometimes we’d hear about the Romans, the legendary soldiers whose powerful legions crossed the land like a whirlwind. There were whispers about those Roman war horses too, majestic animals that ran faster and could withstand battles that could tear an average horse apart. Imagine the strength it takes to ride those! My heart always gave a little flutter of awe and excitement as I listened to their tales, their bodies scarred with the courage of a soldier's past. My heart, however, stayed anchored in my own work. The comfort of routine, the bond of shared duty with my human friends, made my life an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
One memory of the horses of 0362 always stays with me – it was a story I heard from my dear old grandfather, a wise horse with many wrinkles and a twinkle in his eye. He said, "Even when the Romans had gone, the world continued to be shaped by the power of horses. Every load hauled, every battle won, every farm cultivated, it was all carried by horses and our power of love.” It wasn’t only the battles and grandeur he spoke of, but the way the world was shaped and nurtured by horses, a sentiment I’ve grown to deeply respect. It’s something that resonates deeply with my own life and all I’ve learned about the beauty of being a horse.
Of course, we haven't had it all rosy. Life for horses has not always been easy in this vast historical landscape. Many challenges faced the horses of 0362, just like in every time period: the threat of disease, the perils of a long and harsh winter, the sheer burden of continuous labor.
One thing I will say with a sense of sadness, was the treatment of horses in that time. They had their worth and importance but sometimes that wasn't always realised, unfortunately, not to the extent it should have been. It’s important to be honest with ourselves, and acknowledge the downsides, and strive to learn from our history, to become kinder to one another in this way.
There’s no escaping the harsh realities of the past, but those were just our hardships and struggles. Yet even through the hardest trials, there were also triumphs. We've also helped forge the bonds of kinship with the human race - that much we can proudly say.
0362 is a testament to that unbreakable bond between humans and horses. It is a reminder that even in a world full of change and upheaval, the spirit of the horse has remained a beacon of hope and courage. It is our job now to remember those early horses who did so much, and use the lessons of their stories to live our lives, just like the horses before us, with dedication, with kindness and always remembering our unique position in the world and the respect we owe to one another.
Well, friends, it seems like I'm running a bit late. The hay is looking extra scrumptious today. I can practically smell the fields beckoning me back home. Next week we’ll revisit the stories of our great equine ancestors. I’m certain you’ll find those stories just as fascinating as the one we discussed today. And as always, remember to give a grateful nicker to the horses before you for everything they did for us, even in a time when they didn't have access to carrots the way we do now.
Until next week! Ciao, amici!
- Emma
Please Note: This story was created for creative and entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to represent absolute historical fact. This is a story crafted through the lens of a horse with anthropomorphised elements for fun. Any references to specific events or people from this period are based on historical records. There was no evidence of horses having blogs or social media in this time, but hopefully you found this journey through history interesting and enjoyable!
