Press Releases

A pony is less than 14 hands high. Pit ponies were widely used in England, but the nature of Welsh coal meant that bigger, stronger animals were needed - hence colliery horses.

The latest title from award-winning publishers National Museum Wales Books reveals life, work and death for these fascinating animals.

The beautifully produced book includes vivid recollections of miners who remember working underground with the horses; many horses are remembered individually and often with affection, as are their particular personality traits and characteristics.

But the heart of the book addresses the still-vital question: were they ‘willing pets' essential for the production of much-needed coal, or ‘wretched, blind pit ponies' whose use was inhumane? The author, Ceri Thompson (Curator of Coal at Bit Pit: National Coal Museum, and himself an ex-miner), says:

"The miners might have felt sympathy for the horses, but they could turn a blind eye to any cruelty, or even be cruel themselves, if their pay was under threat. The ultimate fate of many of these four-legged mineworkers was as dog food, but the industrial revolution would have failed without them".

The aim of the book is not to provide a simplistic answer, but rather to present the evidence and vividly describe the gritty, punishing work, as well as the special bond that could grow between miner and horse. Ultimately, the book commemorates their lives.

Harnessed: colliery horses in Wales is published by National Museum Wales Books at £8.99.

Click here for more information

It is launched as part of Big Pit's anniversary celebrations on Sat 5 April.