Greetings, dear fellow equines!
It's Emma here, writing from the lovely rolling hills of Hayfield, a small village nestled near Aberdeen in Scotland. I am a twenty year old grey draught mare, with a mane and tail as white as the winter snow. Today, I'm sharing with you a little slice of equine life from 443 AD - yes, that's right, way back in the year of the "Pictish King". It's been some time since I last scribbled in this journal, so I hope my thoughts are still fresh and insightful for all you curious equines.
The first thing I always like to think about is my own life back then. Now, you must understand, a horse's life back then was much different from your modern-day experiences. You are all spoiled with endless meadows to gallop in, comfy stables, and all the delicious oats your hooves could desire. Back in 443 AD, life was a little less glamorous.
My days were mainly spent working on the farm. I hauled heavy loads, ploughed the land, and helped transport goods. My master was a kind man named Mac, who understood a horse's needs, and always spoke to me with respect. There was an inherent love in his voice when he instructed me, an understanding that he knew, we were a team - his muscle and I, his willing and dependable beast of burden. It felt as though he recognised, not only our hard work but our essential contribution to the entire village life. It felt very important.
Now, let's chat about the "world of horses" back in 443 AD. In this part of the world, you'd find most of us used as working horses, carrying the burdens of farmers, merchants, and even the military. Life wasn't always easy, the roads were muddy and treacherous. Our diet wasn't as fancy as your oat-filled buckets - we had to be content with the hay and a handful of grain, although Mac, bless him, would sneak me some extra grain whenever possible. He understood a horse’s desire to be fed well after a hard day's work.
Speaking of grain… This is where I must tell you about our lovely barley and oats. They are like tiny gold nuggets of energy for horses like us, who are often out in the fields all day, working for the greater good of our people. These grains weren’t readily available as they are today, and so I always ate them with a grateful and discerning heart, savouring the flavour.
But, let's not forget the beauty that surrounded us. Even with our laborious existence, our world was full of breathtaking natural wonders - the rolling Scottish highlands, glistening lakes, and windswept fields filled with wildflowers that gave me, a grey horse, the most gorgeous flashes of colour as I ran, even a quick gallop in my time off was so invigorating and joyous, reminding me why I was alive and here in this special moment. It filled me with happiness.
In terms of other equines, there weren’t so many breeds like you see today. We mostly had the common, stout horses, a lot like me, who could pull a plough and carry a rider with grace. I fondly recall some dashing chestnut and brown horses from nearby farms that occasionally came to our village - always proud, with their silky coats and swift gait. Those, to be honest, are the kind of horses I think about when I have my long, reflective dreams, although in reality, my life was mostly hard work and an uncomplicated sense of duty to my village. It wasn't always fun but it was fulfilling and I always appreciated it, more than many would be able to see, as my mind would be full of quiet contemplations about my place in the world.
The villages like Hayfield, back in 443, had much less communication than you are fortunate enough to have. My kind weren't sent over mountains and rivers, carrying messages or performing feats that seem extraordinary now, like being trained to perform tricks or to race with astonishing speed! My life was less "spectacular" but full of meaning. A real connection with the land and with my fellow beings, including humans, dogs, and the beautiful birds I’d see as they glided gracefully across the skies. My life, and the lives of my peers, were simple but precious, each of us taking our roles seriously, working hard and providing much needed, valuable services to our community.
We never left our village for a lengthy period of time, the only journeys we'd undertake were to travel a few miles to neighbouring villages to attend important ceremonies or, perhaps, if the nearby farmer had a problem with his grain harvest and needed the support of an extra strong, and strong-willed, draught mare to assist him with his workload. My journey, like many others, would be quite straightforward but I'd always have some little moment of intrigue and adventure, with new things to look at, and different ways in which I could contribute, it always added a special magic to each adventure and I would be sure to keep them close to my heart and in my thoughts, a bit like precious, tiny trinkets.
Now, a particularly fascinating aspect of this period, was the emergence of the Roman Empire's influence on our part of the world. It's a bit hard to understand now, as the Roman Empire doesn't directly influence our day-to-day lives like it did back then. We didn't experience Roman gladiators in arenas or have access to the beautiful architectural wonders, but their influence on our region was evident in several aspects.
For example, the Roman legions brought with them advanced equestrian equipment. There were all sorts of bridles, saddles, and harnesses I had never seen before, some made of beautiful, intricate materials like silver and bone - something that wasn't commonplace back in my own humble little village, but something that added a hint of magic and grandeur to their appearance and, for a moment, gave us a glimpse of something completely new, exciting, and unknown.
Also, some Roman military personnel taught our masters how to manage their horses in a way they’d not done before, improving efficiency and enhancing how horses could be best used in practical situations, not just pulling carts and ploughing fields, but creating the very possibility of moving through the terrain more swiftly and in battle, where speed was vital and strategic thinking crucial. There was even more detail to consider: the harness needed to be strong and secure, for not only could a battle involve fast running but being able to swiftly move an injured, fallen soldier would be vital for ensuring their chances of survival, the horses of those days played an instrumental role in ensuring these actions were performed successfully.
Although the Roman presence didn't last forever, their impact on our culture and how horses were treated remained. Many of the innovations and tactics for using horses in different ways remained as the Romans were no longer able to maintain their vast presence in these far-flung territories, and this allowed local populations, like those of my village in Hayfield, to thrive. This created the sense of new hope and a change in direction as communities took matters into their own hands, continuing the momentum generated by the Romans' presence, a real catalyst for the emergence of something altogether new in this land. The villages grew closer, the skills of the people grew more refined, and the horses - their most essential companions and hardworking allies - were respected more and more.
I often look back and remember those exciting days with a gentle nostalgia. We learned new methods of harnessing, new ways to groom and look after ourselves, it all felt new and revolutionary back in 443, making each of our individual, unique qualities as important as ever and valued even more so by our communities and villagers.
There were other interesting changes too. You wouldn’t believe it, but blacksmiths back then didn't always use metal horseshoes. That's right, horses used to walk around barefoot! Now, as a horse who enjoyed a life of constant movement over fields, rocky hills and occasionally hard roads, I always feel my bare hooves get rather tender, after just a couple of days on solid terrain, especially when I’m hauling a big heavy load!
The Romans had a unique method of managing horse hooves to keep them in excellent condition. Some horses had to walk over rough gravel - a painful and sometimes ineffective method. Imagine trying to gallop across rough terrain! It's incredible how far horse care has come, thankfully, it's not quite as brutal these days!
Looking back, the year 443 AD was filled with hard work and dedication. We played an essential part in the success of the communities we served, transporting, ploughing and pulling, and in many ways being vital contributors to daily life in Hayfield and many of our other surrounding villages. We did our jobs diligently, often without even needing words, through gestures and the special understanding we'd cultivated with the humans in our care.
As my life moved forward, those beautiful landscapes stayed etched in my memory. The sun setting over the Highlands in a glorious mix of purple and gold, the birdsong echoing through the fields as we laboured, it all seemed a little less demanding than it felt at the time. It makes me truly appreciate the work you all do - I’m incredibly proud to be part of your lineage, although from a time that may seem more ancient to your generation! But, it’s the connection with our past that defines our lives today!
So, my dear friends, take a moment to remember your ancestors, their hard work and dedication that shaped your world and your existence. They, like us all, faced the challenges and joys of life, leaving a legacy that has brought you to the fantastically diverse equine community you know and love today.
Until next time, stay well and remember to always be thankful for the beautiful life you have, it may not always be easy but there is so much to appreciate - and let us never forget, there is an inner beauty and wisdom that horses all possess, we need only remember it and look forward, ready to create something special in the present!
Emma
