By Emma, the Grey Mare
Hello fellow equines! Emma here, back with another post for my beloved EquiWorld readers. The weather here in Hayfield has been gloriously bright this past fortnight, giving a lovely sheen to my grey coat and making the wild meadows near our farm just shimmer with colour. It reminds me, I've been meaning to tell you about our beautiful surroundings here! Hayfield, as you may know, is just a short trot from Aberdeen, which, for a working draught horse like myself, is an exciting prospect indeed! Aberdeen, they say, is a bustling port town, home to numerous ships laden with wares and gossip from lands afar. Imagine!
But first, let's talk about 0555. That year feels, well, a bit distant to my dear old hooves! As I said before, Hayfield is close to the north east coast, where the fresh salt air whistles across the plains. My great-grandmother, she used to tell me tales of what happened all those years ago - in 0555, you see, she was a young filly like myself, just starting to explore the world and the exciting prospects of a life full of hooves and hay.
Back in that year, folks around here were all about plowing and harvesting their crops. Barley, oats, rye - you name it, they were all planted and cared for by strong, sturdy horses like myself and my kin. My great-grandmother always used to tell me that a good working horse was worth their weight in gold, for without us, the townsfolk couldn't thrive. How true that is, she said, with a twinkle in her eye.
Speaking of townsfolk, imagine my surprise when I first heard about the Roman Empire - back in 0555, it was this sprawling, mighty kingdom stretching all the way from Britain, which they called Britannia, right through to what is now Syria! You could literally travel from Scotland to Jerusalem just within the Roman borders, can you believe that? Mind boggling, if you ask me!
However, 0555 saw this mighty empire beginning to weaken. In fact, some parts of Britannia had even broken away from the Roman rule, creating a patchwork of kingdoms! Can you imagine? It sounds utterly thrilling, a land where kings rise and fall, with valiant knights and shining armour on steeds, perhaps a dash of romance thrown in? Just my cup of tea! My friend Fiona, she's a little bay mare from the stables next door, dreams of galloping alongside noble knights, defending the land and her beloved king.
I admit, a little piece of me dreams of this, too! Not quite the "charging into battle" part, though - I'd rather spend my days comfortably pulling the plow and munching on the sweetest clover fields in Hayfield! However, I find it all so fascinating, you know? To think that our ancestors were living under Roman rule and a mere 555 years later, our land is in the hands of other rulers! History really does move at an incredible pace.
Back to 0555, though. What else happened that year? Oh, you simply MUST hear about the Great Plague that hit the world around then! It spread throughout Asia and Europe, even making its way to some parts of Britannia, I heard. My grandmother - bless her soul, she used to say it was a terrifying time. A dark sickness took countless people's lives, their families grieving over them for many moons after. This made a lasting impact on everyone, even those in places like Hayfield, making the world a little less cheery and carefree than it would have been.
And did I mention horses were absolutely essential during these times? We'd haul medical supplies from town to town, bring supplies to people struggling, and, of course, always providing vital strength to those who were weakened by sickness. So yes, we might not be warriors charging into battle, but we were the heroes who delivered relief and hope when it was desperately needed. Just another reason to feel proud of our breed!
Speaking of strength, did I mention the amazing Scythian horses? They were a special type of breed, renowned for their strength and speed, and even those in Britannia were hearing whispers of their reputation. These incredible horses could pull heavier loads than any other breed known at the time! I sometimes wonder if those powerful creatures have some ancestors living in our neck of the woods today... I might need to do some research for my next blog post.
But let's move away from plague and the dramatic shifts in the world, and focus on the day-to-day life of a Hayfield horse. The farms were brimming with laughter and camaraderie. You'd see groups of foals playing with one another, all bright-eyed and eager to explore. We'd watch as farmers tended their fields, their faces flushed with satisfaction after a hard day's work. They often had treats for us too! I remember my first piece of sweet bread! The smell of warmth, the sweet crunch in my teeth, oh, it was truly divine! We horses have simple pleasures, but oh, we appreciate them immensely.
So yes, life was tough for a horse in 0555 - backbreaking work and some difficult days were inevitable. But our resilience, our loyalty to our humans, our innate strength, it truly made our existence an honourable and fulfilling one. We may have been working hard, but we had the joy of nature, the warmth of the stables, the fellowship of our kind, and, of course, the delicious clover and hayfields, which, let's be honest, were all we needed for a full and happy life.
That, dear EquiWorld friends, was just a small glimpse of life in Hayfield during 0555. I hope this glimpse into our past was both interesting and uplifting for you all. Remember, even in challenging times, the heart of the horse stays strong. And with a little hoofbeat of hope, a dash of good spirit, and the kindness in our hearts, we carry on!
Till next time!
Your friend, Emma, the Grey Mare.
