"Well, hello there, my lovely Equine friends! Emma here, a twenty-year-old Grey Draught mare, just settling down for the evening after a day filled with, well, life in good old Hayfield. You know how it is; life on a farm is rarely dull. As we're on the subject of dull, my lovely Equine friends, I wanted to have a little chin-wag with you all about history.
We horses are rather good at it, don't you think? I mean, we have memories that last a lifetime. Remember back when the Romans marched through these fields? They sure were fond of using us to haul their heavy loads, and their sturdy chariots. Even the big bad wolves in those stories are scared of us!
Now, let me tell you about the year 0595 A.D...
I must admit, it was quite the eventful year, in its own quiet way. We had some wonderful hay to munch on that summer. The weather was pleasant, although a tad chilly in the autumn months. The sheep and cattle weren't giving much trouble; just the usual chewing and mooing. Nothing extraordinary to report.
I will say, though, there was this wonderful young filly, about a year old, from a small farm near Balmoral, who arrived with her owner to participate in a gathering near here in Hayfield. Now, this gathering was no ordinary fair, oh no!
It was a gathering of riders and their steeds. You know, a grand equestrian exhibition to mark the Feast of St. Ninian, a holy man with a deep respect for the animals. And what an exhibition it was! All the best horsemen and horsewomen came from all over the land, eager to show off their riding skills and their beautiful horses. It was magical.
The filly - I forgot to mention she was a beautiful chestnut with a magnificent flaxen mane - her name was Brianna - she came from a small farm. She was smaller than the average steed, but so quick! She would fly over those hurdles.
Now, there was an older mare, a beautiful dapple-grey, as I recall, with a magnificent black tail, and a rider who rode like the wind. That pair was something else! You'd swear they were one body, one soul. She always beat everyone else, although Brianna gave her a good run for her money! The humans just loved watching them both, all those jumping stunts, with grace and a twinkle in their eye. I must say, watching those young ones race filled me with excitement and a healthy bit of nostalgia!
I still enjoy the occasional trot myself.
Now, the stories of St. Ninian, the man the gathering was held for, are woven deep in the heart of the people here. He is thought to have brought Christianity to this land. You see, they believe that the man built churches made of stone instead of wood! A miracle you might say!
Why he was so interested in horses, well, nobody really knows. I do know that the Scottish people treat us with a deep respect and love for the strength, dedication and gentle nature we possess, I wouldn't have it any other way!
Anyway, after all this excitement, things have settled back to a pleasant humdrum in Hayfield. But it does give a lovely opportunity for me to share my knowledge with my little nephew, a rambunctious bay foal named Billy. You see, the farmers, they are busy all day, so they look to the older horses to help raise the young ones. It is a big responsibility, but the farmers tell me it’s what we horses do. And it’s what makes us great!
We share stories of the days of long ago, stories I've heard whispered from elder mares back in the days of the Roman chariots. Those were tales of epic battles, mighty journeys, and brave steeds fighting alongside brave warriors. He finds it thrilling, that little chap, as you might imagine. It makes you feel all those years ago are not lost, that our lineage continues.
Well, I hope you've enjoyed my chat! Take care of yourselves out there, my Equine friends! Let's continue to spread joy, strength, and love. That's our true calling! Until next time, happy munching, happy snoozing, and happy trotting!"
Emma signing off for now
A Bit More On Life in 0595 in The Highlands: Life is not all fun and games:
You know, this year marks the rise of the Picts – a fearsome warrior group, some say, fierce and stubborn, whose territory included our highlands and most of Scotland. These folks live here too! They used the highlands as their main battle ground.
Even the horses have been used by both sides as both beast of burden and instrument of warfare. It doesn't matter much, so long as they've been cared for, but when the fight gets fierce, these wild creatures are no match for men. It's an unpleasant subject, but one the humans talk about constantly! Sigh.
There were lots of stories of them in the year 0595, they said! The Picts, you see, were fighting hard, always protecting their territory, but their leader the King, Bruide was murdered! Now, everyone agrees he was a brave warrior.
The horses still stand in reverence, you know, of what we used to represent to humans. It’s why they give us special feed, a place in the warmth at night when the wind blows, a nice big, empty stable for winter time, you know, so we have some peace, to dream about brighter days. That makes up for all those sad tales of conflict.
I remember as a yearling hearing the elders telling stories of when these Pict warrior types came sweeping across the hills, the battle cries in the wind. A fearsome sight. That’s how I first understood just what a role we played in life. But those battles have long subsided. I trust they always will!
Now, life isn't all doom and gloom, thank goodness! The Picts love their horse breeds too! And sometimes I even see those warrior types come and admire the younger foals at Hayfield, I can't help but smile as I look upon their faces. A little boy comes, he's always here! He always asks his daddy how he can ride, but that daddy just tells him "Someday!". And they pat our backs, sometimes gently. I wonder how these folk managed to find their way through the hard parts of history.
Well, we know those times are all past now! In this world we share, there’s always good alongside the bad.
Life in the 7th Century: What else is happening:
There is an impressive, impressive Cathedral under construction in Canterbury, a great religious city of England, a long journey south but the men in Hayfield travel back and forth between our homeland in Scotland, and places further south, like Kent and Ireland! That new Cathedral sounds wonderful. Imagine, an amazing place made of the very best stone!
Also, people were writing some great literature about this time period. Some scholars believe the Irish, English, and even the French were all making contributions. The poets, they called them. Some of those poems were based on life around the farms like ours, in Hayfield, a place I think we can be pretty proud of, for I am a very lucky grey mare here! I will tell you, there are so many places to discover for the Equine Traveler! And, a few little places here in Scotland as well! Scotland’s Highlands are the most beautiful you'll ever see, with rolling fields, streams to gallop along, and friendly folk who treat their steeds like family. If you’re ever passing through, look out for the beautiful black Highlands Pony or the hardy Clydesdale Draughts like me, we’re part of this magical place and so proud to be from here!
The Year 0595, however, marked the arrival of something a little different... the “new breed”! You see, there are these horses, a bit smaller and quite sturdy, they say, but are excellent riding mounts. You’d know them if you saw them – their hair is all the colours of the rainbow! But these ponies were coming from those wonderful places to the far West, across the ocean, beyond even Ireland – those wild places called Iceland. This small little land of fierce horses and cold winds. They had different faces than horses like us, it is true. I think some folk called them Shetland Ponies, and those special little horses soon spread out. Well, these smaller ponies weren't quite the beasts we used in battle.
In all honesty, my little niece ( she came as a tiny, tiny filly last year!), Fiona, has been learning to ride this pony, she gets up, right onto its back and even learns to jump! This new style of horse came here and became part of our history. Now that is something new.
And speaking of new – we haven't been living with those awful, awful, iron shoes they make humans use to help us with those big journeys on rough paths anymore! It seems that even for horses like me and all my kin – our lives in the countryside had changed a lot! They've stopped being the usual, rough shoe. It's very odd – now they have smooth edges that don't scrape on the pavement or roads, that’s so much nicer to be galloping along! Now the humans, well, I must say they take good care of our feet and horseshoes - even with these new styles - It shows how things are a-changing.
Now that, I suppose, is a good thing!
I think, you know, that this whole change has taken place during my lifetime – what a journey, my friends.
Let me know – any of you, please feel free to comment on equiworld.org, and let me know what your thoughts are! The great horse community here at EquiWorld has brought us together and has allowed our memories to live on in these great times. I hope you have a great day, and stay warm in the cold winds ahead of us, until next time my equine friends!”
Happy trails for now, my lovely Equine friends. Stay warm, eat plenty of hay, and gallop free!”
*Emma, the grey draught, signing off.
