They were deprived of experiencing the sunlight and fresh air. Instead, they lived in darkness underground, relying on their instincts and the guidance of their human partners, known as conogons. These horses were born, worked, and perished in the dark, enduring strenuous labor.
It was not uncommon for a single horse to pull up to eight heavy coal wagons alone. Despite their challenging circumstances, these animals maintained their dignity and were aware of their rights, such as refusing to move if they felt burdened with excessive wagons. They also possessed a remarkable sense of time, knowing when their working day should end and finding their way back to the stables even in darkness.
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This demanding work of horses in the mines continued until 1972 when technology took over, marking the end of an era. On December 3, 1972, Ruby, the last miner’s horse, emerged from the mines in a grand fashion. Accompanied by an orchestra, Ruby, adorned with a flower wreath, was brought out of the darkness, symbolizing the conclusion of the era of mining horses and their connogon partners. To commemorate their shared labor underground, a sculptural composition named “Conogon” was erected within the Museum-Reserve “Red Hill.”
My late dad ( Ernest Taylor)used to be a coal miner at Cronton colliery and Sutton Manner colliery in St Helens and widnes. He really worked very hard down the mine until he got redundant in the early 80s. I just want to say thank you to all the ex miners and retired miners and the horses that worked really hard bringing up the coal to keep us warm.
What a beautiful beautiful but bitter sweet story. This really touched my ♥️. Thanks so much for sharing this. ❤️
My dad worked in the mines 32 years in North west , Arkansas. His dad, brothers and son in-law all worked the mines and all got black lung. This was 1915 and up until the mines closed.
Where was this?
My Dad worked in the coal mines in Scotland and I don’t remember any mention of horses……
Amazing that they were able to use horses. In the UK and Ireland and probably other countries they used
ponies. They had the same kind of life.
They lived and died in the mines.
The horses must have been on the
smaller size I would think.
Sad life but then the miners working
condition’s were the same.
They did get to go home at night at
least.
Maybe donkeys
The horses had no choice
has an x miner i can tell you the most chilling place i visited while in training was the stables it was in fact fenced off so we were not allowed in there but our instructor took us in i was greatley moved by what i saw the ponys names still easely visable painted on the walls and in each stall their harnesses hanging on there pegs as if they were ready to go about there work the drinking troughs were empty as you would expect but for some reason i thought there would be water in them it really was moving and some what chilly this shight has stayed with me for over 45 years. people have forgoten the lives these poor animals and the miners lived without coal there would not be a modern society no steam trains no industrial revoloution writting this my hands are shaking and their are tears now streaming down my face i will have to stop now and compose myself but there is so much left to say
As a boy (I’m 78 now) I can remember the pit ponies being brought up from the 3 local mines (South Wales) over the miners fortnight (miners holidays always first 2 weeks in August). They were all placed in one large field just on the outskirts of the village. It was a great event for all the locals, but more so for the ponies. The holiers (the miners who were responsible for the ponies underground) would often turn up to feed their own ponies.