Horses played an important role in collieries – by the early-20th century there were 70,000 working in British mines.
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Horses had to be the right size to work underground. Smaller horses would work on the roadways and larger horses in the more open areas.
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They had to be physically strong enough for the heavy work. But they also needed the right temperament. Horses were returned if they were dangerous underground.
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Legislation regulated the work of colliery horses, setting out maximum working hours and regular vet visits.
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The large number of horses at work in south Wales meant that we had our own Horse Hospital at Tondu, with a dispensary and operating theatre.