Now this is shocking....

[Nick]

I found out today that in the tin and slate mines in Cornwall and Wales they used to have ponies in the pits.

Now thats just plain cruel. How were the supposed to climb the ladders to get out for a feed? And what was the point anyway, surely a man can do more mining than a pony.

I guess if they were small ponies, like a shetland or something, you'd be able to fit them into some smaller holes and stuff, but surely just picking a small bloke would have worked.

And another thing, they had canaries down there too! Imagine that! Not only are you forced to work in a world full of ladders, which are very tricky if you've got hooves, but you have to put up with birds trilling along the whole time! This is either gonna annoy you something rotten or just wind you up to remind you about the outside world far above and a few too many ladders away.

I'm glad they've stopped it now, for the sake of the ponies and the birds. I know people are more expensive to pay, but its not natural to have a horse mining now is it?

[Lead_Head]

I'd imagine the ponies / horses were used to cart coal back and forth.

The reason canaries were used was because there lung capacity is very small, so if the canary died... you had to get out there sharpish as there wasnt enough oxygen in that particular part of the mine.

[Elmo]

a dead canary indicated there was carbon monoxide/methane/other gases in there and they should get out and as lead head said, they used ponies to cart the stuff up and down the mines. i'm surprised you've only just found out about these animals being used in this way.

[Dfhaii]

Not only are you forced to work in a world full of ladders, which are very tricky if you've got hooves.

That bit made me chuckle

Col

[Nick]

I'd imagine the ponies / horses were used to cart coal back and forth.

The reason canaries were used was because there lung capacity is very small, so if the canary died... you had to get out there sharpish as there wasnt enough oxygen in that particular part of the mine.

So not only do these poor horses have to dig the stuff up AND ship it out, they had to look after the canaries???

This gets worse by the minute... how come its all been kept so hush-hush? Probably because of the public outcry that there'd be if someone found out about the equine aviary care scandal!

And if the canary did die, hows the horse supposed to get out... there he is with a dead bird and 500 feet of ladders ahead of him... no wonder they sent ponies in first... its barbaric!

[Flibb]

Commom mistake, the ponies wernt working they were on a package deal to Australia. Why do you think so few came back up.

[Flibb]

They might have taken the canaries with them

[Steve]

I think Vaul's sense of humour has rubbed on off on Deckard.

[Nick]

Eh? There's nothing funny about this.

Been reading some more and you know what? The only light they had down there was candles and you know what they did to the horses? Blinkered them!

So, its pretty dim anyway, let's make it even harder for the poor ponies by fitting them with blinkers to even further inhibit their vision... oh and while you're on, bung a ladder on their route, tuck a budgie in their sadlle and a pack of Trill in the saddle-bag.... and now make em dig out tin ore!!!

No wonder they stopped it.

[stytagm]

Doesn't sound like their union was up to much

[megah0]

yeah, how can you manipulate a pick axe with hooves?

I bet the blokes were having a right laugh "come on donkey, work faster"

I think its good you have drawn attention to this disgusting practice.

Also, the use of horses in horse races is well cruel, make the little wee man jump the fences, see how he likes it.

[Flibb]

Well actully they used strapon hydraulic chiesel and this is the place we get the term strapon double ended.

[TiG]

Deckard, not to make you totally upset for the poor things that horses are, but YOU know in FRANCE they EAT Horses.....

TiG

[steve threlfall]

And also... frogs legs. Leaving the frogs unable to jump

[megah0]

I have eaten horse, in germany. It was in a stew, quite a nice taste, pretty strong though.

Ate a horsemeat sausage too.

[Flibb]

you sure it wasn't just horses sausage?