Greetings, dear Equine Friends!
Emma here, your resident history enthusiast from Hayfield, just outside of Aberdeen. As a draught horse, my days are spent pulling plows, transporting goods, and generally making myself useful. But what I truly adore is learning about our horse ancestors! So today, we're stepping back in time to the year 651 A.D., a pivotal period in human and equine history.
A Time of Transition
651 A.D. – that's the year the great King Oswald of Northumbria reigned in England, the same year that saw the founding of the ancient monastery at Lindisfarne, and a time of turbulent political and social shifts throughout the world. You see, our role as horses is deeply intertwined with these human dramas. As the years unfolded, horses have been at the center of empires rising and falling, wars and conquests, trade and innovation. We've been the wheels that drive progress, the steadfast companions that carry men across the vast landscape, and the quiet providers that feed communities.
Life in Hayfield
Here in Hayfield, the pace is slower. My days start before dawn, as the rooster crows and the village begins to stir. A gentle, misty light creeps across the heather and fields, painting a silver sheen on the grass. I can smell the rich earth as I am led out of the stable to the fields, where I will help turn the soil, ready for planting oats and barley. A rhythmic clack-clack-clack from the plow as I pull, with my strong, sure steps.
The other horses, mostly of similar size and build, like me, are friendly enough, and we gossip about the village gossip, share stories of the best oat cakes, and share in the hard work that binds us together.
Today, however, I am working solo, pulling a cart laden with freshly milled flour for the village baker, Fiona. She has a warm heart, a soft hand, and a sweet smile that can only be compared to a ripe field of sunflowers, a sight that warms even the darkest winter.
Fiona takes the flour to the bakery where I can smell the sweetness of baking bread from a good distance away. My senses are always tuned for smells. I love the fresh-cut hay in the barn, the musty smell of old leather in the blacksmith’s, and the calming aroma of the hay and earth, mixed with the sea air on breezy days. The bakery fills the air with a heady, sugary perfume of yeast and warm, crispy crust. The sweet scent of success mingles with the salty tang of the nearby coast, which makes our horses feel at home in Hayfield.
Beyond Our Hills
However, my world extends beyond the farm and fields of Hayfield. News travels fast – rumors, tales of hardship, stories of glory, carried by those who move through our countryside on horseback, their mounts a whirlwind of hooves and dust.
Today, one such traveler arrives – a young lad from the south, his horse coated in the dust of the road. He speaks of the bustling city of York, with its tall houses of stone and crowded streets where horse-drawn carts jostle for space. He speaks of King Oswald, a powerful and just ruler whose court is awash with grand ceremonies and dazzling displays of horses adorned in ornate trappings.
My heart races, the words sparking a sense of wanderlust in me, a longing to see those bustling streets, to catch a glimpse of the magnificent king. For in 651 A.D., we horses were not just beasts of burden, we were symbols of power, instruments of war, and, in the hands of skilled riders, expressions of art and beauty.
Across the Waters
Our world, in this year 651 A.D., is vast and intricate. From the rolling hills of Scotland, where we pull carts, to the lands across the Irish Sea where horses are used in battles and parades, we are part of a shared tapestry.
Tales drift across the waters – the majestic stallions of the Middle East, bred for their speed and endurance, who roam in great herds, wild and untamed, yet revered by men for their raw power and beauty. And then there are the horses of the Byzantine Empire, some even adorned in fine silk saddles, with their elaborate trappings signifying the might of the eastern world. We are a connected species, woven into the fabric of this diverse planet.
The Enduring Power of Horses
As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, I think of the things I have learned today. I have realized that 651 A.D. was a year of change, of wars fought and battles won, of communities built and alliances formed, a time of transformation for humankind and, in consequence, for our equine kind. But through all the turmoil, one thing remains constant – our inherent strength, our loyalty, and the irreplaceable role we play in the lives of human beings.
And that's what I hope we all remember as we work, rest, and celebrate. For in the heart of our every step, every neigh, and every gentle snort, beats the pulse of our shared history – the story of the horse, the unwavering partner, the companion in both times of war and times of peace.
Until next time, stay safe, keep your hoofs strong, and enjoy the world we share!
Emma, Hayfield, Scotland
EquiWorld.org
