By Emma of Hayfield
Greetings, fellow equines!
This month, my dear readers, I'm reaching back into the annals of equine history. I'm proud to share my story and insights as a humble draught mare born in the year 650 AD in the bonnie land of Scotland. While our species has been walking this earth for centuries, 650 marked a pivotal year in our relationship with humankind. And in case you didn't know, we horses are all about history!
So gather round, my friends, and allow this old grey mare to share some tales of times past. Today, we'll journey through a typical year in the life of a young mare named Emma. But before we begin, allow me to introduce myself properly.
You can find me pulling the plough alongside the other hefty beasts at the farm in Hayfield near Aberdeen. That’s right, we have a beautiful landscape with green hills that roll gently down towards the North Sea. In fact, it's the stunning coastline that is a vital part of our world. I can often feel the sea spray on my coat as we work the fields.
Here in Hayfield, we grey draught horses are like sturdy pillars, keeping everything running smoothly. It's not all hard work though, oh no! We are much appreciated. It's a fine life, even though it means hard work. I can’t deny that being a strong and capable grey mare in this day and age is rewarding.
I'm no filly anymore, but a 20-year-old mare. Just coming into my prime you might say, strong and well-muscled, but not a youngster. In fact, in our world, I'm beginning to be seen as a 'wise old mare' with much to share. Just ask my friends – all of the mares I grew up with! And by the way, it's not as scary as people think getting old in this life - if we do it with a bit of grace and a big hearty neigh, we become even more loved and appreciated than ever before!
A Year in the Life: A Spring in Hayfield
You know, we grey draught horses have it easy in the springtime! Well, easy in comparison to the winter that is. When spring arrives, the landscape is lush, green, and full of promise. We graze long, stretch out our necks under the warm Scottish sun, and feel the soft grass under our feet. The nights are growing longer, the temperature rises, and I feel my spirits soar. There’s always so much to do around this time of year as nature wakes up again. It is definitely one of our favourite times!
Our task now is preparing the fields. That's where we really shine! You see, the spring sunshine brings a new warmth, making the soil softer. And our strong bodies are perfect for tilling the ground ready for the farmers to sow seeds and grow those glorious crops.
Important Reminder: The Life Cycle of the Barley
You might be wondering, dear readers, why this is important, especially since barley and grain don't grow on trees. Well, this brings me to a vital aspect of equine history – that of horses and grain, an inseparable bond.
You see, the grains, barley especially, are the basis of human life, providing sustenance for mankind. And our efforts as a draught horse team ensure that mankind gets its essential grain – by creating those fields that nourish the world. Now, don't you see why our work matters? It's our strong, powerful grey bodies that enable humanity to thrive, to exist. The link between the horse, the fields, and mankind is an incredible thing. And yes, I believe in an inherent sense of dignity for all animals!
Springtime Events
Around May, our Hayfield village is filled with celebration! We're part of many exciting traditions, which is lovely and comforting. One big highlight is our local spring festival that features races for young colts, foals, and the horses that don't need to work that day! The festive cheer is infectious and truly delightful, with lots of colourful flags and garlands strung up. The local farmers get out their finest costumes. They make us a special feast with lots of carrots and barley, which we simply love. Even the human kids love to decorate us, the mares, with flowers. We’re all decked out, it's such a sight to see!
The spring festival also showcases all our local talents. Young foals gallop in exciting races, testing their agility and strength. You'd be surprised to know just how powerful and fast our colts are! I mean, what an exhilarating experience – the energy, the sheer joy of it all. That day, we’re all equal – young and old, strong and nimble, and everyone is just so full of life. I’m actually happy to get back to our regular duties at the farm as we prepare for the long summer season ahead!
The Summer Solstice:
Oh, the summertime in Hayfield! Everything feels at its peak in June. We can spend hours out on those big lush fields as we work hard in the fields to help grow the grain that the humans need. The sun is long and warm – and it makes all the difference in terms of helping the plants grow!
Summer in Hayfield brings its own particular joy to my heart – long, cool mornings in the fields and the soft breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers, sweet, sweet nectar! We have beautiful and delicate purple and pink wildflowers in abundance, not to mention some stunning bluebells. You'd never find them in the fields because they all get gobbled up by the livestock! The cows and sheep think it's a banquet every day – and that’s okay, but you can be sure those gorgeous flowers bring so much beauty to our world!
In fact, the wild flowers, combined with the amazing smell of freshly cut grass in the fields – it's all so fresh, clean and full of that gorgeous smell!
But my dear readers, in 650, something remarkable happens. That's right, something extraordinary in the world of horses. We do not yet know about it as we plod in the fields of Hayfield. Yet it marks the start of something truly new in our history – something powerful.
As I recall the events of this year in the year of 650, it brings me joy! You see, 650 is the start of the Golden Age of 'The Grey Draught Horses' which continues until about the year 1400. But this information, my friends, only comes to us centuries later through oral storytelling.
Harvest
Come August, we see the reaping of the fruits of our labour! The hard work over those months pays off in a wondrous bounty. The air is filled with the sweet scent of ripening grain – barley in particular. It truly is one of the most satisfying feelings. And the feeling of camaraderie, of team work – it’s truly fulfilling! We grey draughts have been known as 'the perfect team'. Well, if you are as strong as a sturdy oak and have the biggest, most kind-hearted hearts – that's what will happen.
One of our team was known for a particularly unique ability – he was known as 'the Grey Star' – and the most gifted with foresight. He could understand human behaviour and anticipate the demands of each day, knowing instinctively exactly what would be needed on any given day, and where his role fitted in to the grander scheme of things. He was almost as intelligent as the human that walked among us! That’s how great we can be as grey draughs - our level of empathy with the humans is incredible. We also have a way of understanding each other without saying a word. This level of 'inner knowing' was common back in those times - I remember 'The Grey Star’ explaining that a special 'sixth sense' allowed horses to predict and navigate, in perfect harmony, with nature. The humans also respected this ability of ours – it was understood as essential for maintaining a sustainable life.
A Brief Mention of Our History – For Readers Who are New to Horses
Our history stretches back hundreds and thousands of years. I want to emphasize here that long before the year 650, we had already helped establish settlements, cities, and played an integral part in humanity's success – the invention of the wheel, for example, has helped all of mankind for thousands of years.
Our world, even in this time period – is all about humans, horses, the world, and food. Food for mankind and also food for us – as we graze in the fields. This 'circle' continues today!
And of course, for our work in farming, we are often rewarded with barley and other tasty treats, in return for the tireless hours we spend tilling and helping reap those vital harvests.
Our Important Roles
The people in this age are reliant upon the natural world for life. For survival. It's not complicated, and not so far from today’s life, where, sadly, nature has been abused! I don't understand, it just seems so obvious to me, to simply be at one with the earth, to take from nature what we need, and use all of our energies – like in 650 – to be part of this cycle of sustainable life.
This means we have an incredibly important job - making sure food is harvested properly.
I want to remind our readers that all over the world, in 650, our species is a fundamental component in humanity's advancement. In many different civilizations and regions, horses, as beasts of burden, contribute enormously. But sadly, only time will tell if our value, in a few centuries, will continue. And sadly, with each year, I watch our role slowly dwindling... But you see, that is the future, and now, dear readers, I shall return you back to Hayfield.
Hayfield in Autumn
Autumn in 650 arrives slowly. With the warmth of summer comes the first tinges of red and orange on the foliage – and I can see those hues mirrored on the horses in our herd. The nights are drawing in, and there is a quiet stillness in the air. I think about the human children around us – in 650, this is how they learn the beauty of life – through nature and their experiences with the earth and her gifts! I think about that so much in Hayfield.
It's fascinating, in our era, the human adults – often they are disconnected. That is something I can feel from those people in the villages nearby! Their relationship to nature is very different – perhaps as we move further into time, this link between human, animal, and the land will be lost? Or even be reversed? We must pray for that to not be the case!
And that's one reason I started writing my history blog. It's very important that our story continues to be told - for hundreds and thousands of years, through every generation! I’m determined to keep our history alive! We horses are amazing animals – in the year 650 AD, we do more than any human could do for ourselves and our villages, and for our communities – for our species! We play a big part!
Moving On...
The changing weather here is wonderful. It’s one of the few things in life we can predict with 100% accuracy, year on year. We know what to expect, and it makes the long days feel so satisfying. And with winter just around the corner, our lives settle down to a different pace again. For us, grey draughs, we are more aware of what’s going on in Hayfield because we are closer to the farmers. We help transport and store the barley for the winter, getting everything ready for the humans, which is so satisfying.
The nights are chilly, but the barn is cosy and full of warmth and soft straw to rest upon.
And you know, all year, those stars above us keep watching us, grey draughs like me! That’s how we know we are not just 'workers’ we’re something else too! The starlight shines upon us and gives us strength. In a way, our hard work and resilience is an amazing gift to ourselves, and to our human companions. I think that's something that our humans are starting to realise too!
Time to Sign Off
This year – 650, a big year, the year the Golden Age of The Grey Draught Horses began, and it’s just the beginning for our special bond with humanity! It's time for me to finish for today – we’ll revisit next month, and cover a new chapter in our world. I wish you well, and take good care. Remember to treat every horse you encounter, no matter how big or small, with the greatest of love and respect – we’ve all earned that, haven't we!
Until next time, my friends!
Emma of Hayfield, Grey Draught Mare, Scotland, 0650 AD
* www.equiworld.org *
- Emma’s blog will be continued monthly on Equiworld.org as she shares a historical perspective of our equine lives!
