Author	Message / Information
bennerley	Pit Ponies replied on: 11/15/2006 11:43:05 AM Poinies were working in Moorgreen Pit when I was there in the 1960s. There stables were very well lit, warm and stacked with hay and straw gurded by a large Ginger cat. Robin used to stop and refuse to move on ,with tubs, unless he was given a piece of chewing tobacco. I do not know how often they were taken out of the pit. At Manners Colliery, near to the Squints, was a large field bounded by old shaft ropes held in posts of railway line. It had a circular pond in one corner fed by a spring. A path crossed the field in front of stables for three black pit ponies. As children you climbed on the fence near a stile to check if the ponies were in the field. If not you chanced the short cut across the field BUT as you passed the open doors of the stables out raced the ponies and chased us across to the next stile. I can only guess that ponies were worked in a rota system with breaks up on top in the field.
philfred	Pit Ponies replied on: 7/31/2006 2:19:51 PM Some general information on pit ponies is at, http://www.therhondda.co.uk/ponies/background.html It is a site dealing with the Rhonnda Valley collieries and passes a few hours on. regards Phil
stanley	Pit Ponies replied on: 6/30/2006 11:32:50 PM `When i was at school i lived on the breach eastwood ponies from moorgreen colliery were realeased on to what was known as the meadows between begarlee andthe colleries cricket ground we had great fun trying to catch and ride them
Jennypeg Researcher	Pit Ponies replied on: 2/4/2006 2:28:12 PM Ripley & Heanor 21st May 1926 Pit Pony Races At Langley Mill The Butterley Co’s miners in the Langley Mill and Langley district are entering whole-heartedly into various forms of recreation, which are being promoted for their benefit during the regrettable period of the strike. Well over a thousand people were present on the field adjoining the Notts and Derby Tramway Co’s sheds, to witness a series of pony races organised for the Butterley Co’s employees residing on the Langley Mill and Langley side of Heanor Church. The animals were in fine condition, and reflected great credit upon those responsible for their care at the New Langley Colliery, where in normal times the whole of them are engaged. The official’s in charge of the races were Mr. G. Holmes (manager of the colliery), who officiated as starter, Mr. J. Wood (under manager), Mr. G. Wood (Clerk of the course), and several stewards, including Mr. P. M. Smith, Mr. C. Wesson, Mr J. R. Masterman, and others. Vouchers enabling the recipients to make purchases at local shops were given as prizes for the respective races, and these were won as follows: - Riders 14 to 16 years of age. – 1 T. Wood, 2 J. Phillis, 3 C. Shaw. Riders 16 to 18 years. –1 P. Phillis, 2 L. Dale, 3 C. McHenry. Riders over 18 years. - 1 C. Bardill, 2 L. Marsh, 3 E. Rose. A further interesting day was devoted to sports, which included flat racing, tug-of-war, walking races, wheelbarrow race, sack race, and three-leg races. The walking race confined to employees over 45 years of age, and this was won by Mr. I. Bullock, of Langley Mill, who, at the age of 75 years, proved a popular winner. Mr. C. Wood’s team carried the tug-of-war, and Mr. P. Bullock the wheelbarrow race.
db639	Pit Ponies replied on: 10/27/2005 8:50:24 PM I used to live on Old Coppice Side Marlpool and worked at Mapperley ,Woodside and Coppice collieries .I have fond recollections of the ponies being brought out for the 2 weeks holidays at Coppice and going absolutely crazy when they got in the fields .Mr. Musson up the road was an ostler at at the pit .I also worked at Ormonde colliery in the 60's and they had the most sophisticated mining machinery (rolf)in the world but at the pit bottom the first thing you saw were these beautiful pit ponies pulling the transport tubs .
philfred	Pit Ponies replied on: 10/2/2005 12:57:26 PM In the 50s/60s there used to be two fields between Newcastle Plantation (Shaft Wood) and Huftons Coppice (the Wood). There was a farm (The Kennels) with access from Buxton Avenue, this is where some pit ponies used to spend their "holidays". They used to be at Coppice Colliery when at work. When doing my time at Moorgreen Training Centre we spent some time training in the 2nd Piper Seam. One day we spent some time pony ganging with a delightful little pony called Tip. He was collected from the stables ith the warning from the ostler not to work him too hard. Tip had not done any work for a fortnight so was a pony of leisure, we soon changed that. regards Phil
suzard Researcher	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/23/2005 11:41:36 AM I know a couple of the farms in Mapperley village supplied the hay for the ponies at Mapperley Colliery, and the ponies would be in their fields when they came above ground - that is probably why the Coal Board owned farms and farm cottages!
frano	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/21/2005 9:45:43 PM Going back to the late 1930s. If you walked from Shipley pond, under the railway bridge towards Marlpool, the pit pony stables were about 100 yards on the right after the bridge. Thats where they were broken in and trained. They very often kicked hell out of the tubs at first.
RMMee Moderator	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/21/2005 2:06:46 PM Suz The additional information would be great, and hopefully our original enquirer will be keeping tabs on this discussion too.
suzard Researcher	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/21/2005 12:30:25 PM They did bring Pit ponies to the surface if they were ill. to enter shows, during holidays and during strikes.Animal Welfare campaigners fought for the ponies to be brought to the surface for holidays, but many of the miners did not support this as they believed the disruption to the ponies was damaging and unkind.Above ground the ponies greww fatter with their idleness, wilder because of lack of handling-some even refused to answer to their names and ignored visitors.It would take them 3 to 4 weeks to return to their pre holiday state. My cousin has a picture on his wall of the last pit pony to come up from a local colliery-and has quite an interest in them, so I will try to find out where they holidayed. I have info on how the ponies had to be brought up from underground and of the types of work they did -is this of interest???
RMMee Moderator	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/20/2005 3:18:21 PM Does anyone know any specific places where pit ponies were kept when not down the pit? I understand that they used to come up for a holiday when the pits were closed?
suzard Researcher	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/20/2005 4:25:34 AM Daily Telegraph Feb 1969 "When Margaret Bell tries to get on with housework, it's Fred who gets in the way. He just marches into the house and monopolises the kitchen,which is surely his right as the retired member of the family. Fred is one of 1500 remaining pit ponies whose twilight world down the mines is coming to an end. Within the next 18 months the Coal Board plan to have found them all homes, or if they are too old and ill they will be destroyed.For 26 year old Fred, with 22 working years behind him, it's time to rest. He is not being "put out to grass", as left alive under those circumstances he would probably fret or fight.NCB officials and the RSPCA have thoroughly inspected his new home, sleeping quarters and family's ability to feed him through the year.The Bells wanted Fred for a pet 15 months ago, like thousands of others in England they had to wait four months, they could not choose him,the question was whether the Bells were fit enough to give him a good home.Pit ponies probably get a better life than their relatives above ground, their stables are spotless, handlers dote on them taking sweets and sandwiches for tid bits. Quote from RSPCA chief "They have to be kept at a reasonable temperature, the same as wine kept in a cellar,the NCB go to great lengths to help us find new homes, inspect accomodation and landowners. So often we receive requests from children who just don't have facilities or knowledge for looking after them. At one time they were turned out to grass because people thought it was a good thing to do, but they charged about, broke fences and kicked. Vandals tease and frighten them. They are just not used to life above ground and need careful handling.50 years ago 7300 ponies were working in Britains mines. "The best miners in the world" was the tribute of one who had looked after them for thirty years. Pony and handler have always been very close. In Yorks pits they play "snap" with their handlers-sneaking pieces of sugar from pockets, trotting forward to sample sandwiches and fruit which should have been the miner's lunch. Tale goes that the late Sir Harry Lauder, when a miner, called his pony Catherine. Catherine refused to budge and minutes later there was a pit fall just in front of Catherine-they say she saved Harry's life.The table has also been turned-6 years ago a 19 year old miner died trying to save his pony when it galloped into mine workings in thick gas in a Derbyshire mine. Such is the bond between man and beast..... Now the end is near, Mr Gordon Bagier, MP for Sunderland, has sought-and got-from NCB chief Lord Robens an assurance that these stalwarts of the black industry will not be exported for slaughter. Next month on May 9th,is the 3rd reading of Sir Robert Cary's bill calling for greater assurance of the ponies wlefare. The fear is they will be exported for slaughter.So stringent are the NCB and RSPCA about new homes for ponies even Lord Pobens himself was turned down when he asked if he could keep one. The RSPCA decided his home at Walton on the Hill did not have suitable stabling. The NCB gets 20 letters a day with offers of new homes.The RSPCA deal with 4 or 5 requests a day. Always the two bodies point out it costs £5 per week to feed and stable a pony. The ponies have led a sheltered life down the mines. NCB "They are probably more spoilt than other animals" They must be hand fed as they lose the ability to crop grass like other ponies.Certainly many are "put down"-that depends on a vet's advice and it will be by humane methods. Both bodies insist the ponies must not be ridden. They are not cheap pets as many parents think. Fred, the Bells' pet, breaks the rules now and then. He is led around their 3 acre field with their 5 year old son at the reins. Technically it is not allowed, but Mr Bell said "Only for 5 minutes and they both loved it." To a nation whose conscience suffers more than most over the fate of its four legged friends, the hope is that the Freds of the twilight world will retire gracefully"
RMMee Moderator	Pit Ponies replied on: 9/19/2005 3:59:06 PM Sam Hardy from Edinburgh writes: "I have very strong memories of seeing pit ponies resting or retired in fields in Heanor and I would very much like to find out more about their lives and work." So, can anyone help? We have one posting about pit ponies already, but that was quite specific - this is more general. Thanks in anticipation

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