Hello, darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood grey draught mare from Hayfield, just outside bonnie Aberdeen. It's been a while since I've had a chance to put pen to paper (or rather, hoof to keyboard!), but I thought this year, 1945, deserved a special blog post.
After all, it's been a year of change, wouldn't you say? For us horses, anyway. It's been a real rollercoaster of emotions!
Remember how things were a few years back? The war. It felt like everything changed overnight. Those frightening air raids – I can still hear the rumble of those planes overhead. Then, those brave young men being sent off to fight. And those rations - we felt the strain of that too!
But it’s been a while since the war ended. Now, there's a sense of relief hanging in the air. The boys are back home, the farm is getting back on its feet, and we can feel the energy shifting from one of uncertainty to hope. The war may be over, but the world feels different. We horses, well, we’ve been feeling the change too.
As you know, the men are finding new ways to work the land. Tractors are more common now. That mechanical monster! The old farm lads all laugh at my jitters every time they rumble by, but they just haven’t got the same respect for the earth. I can tell they miss the touch of a hand, the understanding of a well-trained horse. It's not all bad though, these machines give us a break and the men say we'll be needed for a longer life on the farms now, instead of being sold to the butchers, which is always a comfort to hear!
Still, it's not like things haven’t changed for the good! One positive is the horses that are no longer pulling guns and men into battle can come home and be given new work. Just last week, a lovely black thoroughbred stallion arrived at the stables. The men were talking about some "sport" that he's supposed to be very good at – I have a feeling I might need to brush up on my English so I can understand them properly. They told me it's something to do with racing. I wonder if he’s had the time to enjoy this life before it was interrupted by the war, like we had to.
And talking of racing… There’s something stirring in the world of horseracing this year. It's not just the sport, although that’s going through quite the boom – more races than ever, all around the world. You wouldn’t believe it – the King is a huge racing enthusiast, you see!
It’s also got to do with those incredible thoroughbred mares that have come out of the war years. Just look at what they’re doing. They're raising new families and breaking all those records. The world’s been keeping tabs on them! One in particular – she was quite the wartime heroine. Her name's ‘Peggy’ and she's part of a breeding program to give us all a bit of that wartime strength and spirit. We're making history out there on the racetrack, darlings!
And those wonderful ponies! Those are our friends! My neighbours here at Hayfield tell me that pony breeding has had a massive revival after those long war years. More and more people want these little ones in their lives – to give them love, care and, yes, a good gallop across the fields.
And while all this is happening, here at Hayfield, the horses are flourishing. The children of our men are getting up and riding, making sure we don’t forget those days when it felt like every day was a joy ride through a meadow full of flowers. It seems they have the same affection for horses that their fathers had. That makes my heart full.
I still love my life, though. I know it might not be like that fancy thoroughbred life on the racetrack, but pulling the cart, bringing in the hay, and working the fields feels so satisfying! Plus, it allows me to look out for my younger mares. It’s so important to share all I’ve learned over the years, not just about hard work, but also about love and patience and respecting the human touch. That's our true power – our gentle nature.
My favourite thing this year? Our lovely new foal! Just the sweetest thing! She’s got a chestnut coat, and a white star on her forehead – you couldn’t tell me she’s not special! She makes all the work worth it, and reminds me that even amidst all the change, life continues to be a joy, even for a horse like me.
Oh, and one more thing before I go – have you heard of this incredible organisation called “Horse & Hound”? It seems to be all about horses, and it’s just started! We'll have to check out their new magazines - my good friend Beatrice swears they'll be full of fun stories and tips, just what we need for this exciting new chapter.
That's it from Hayfield for now! Until next time, darlings, remember to gallop your way to happiness.
Emma
