Subject: So. Studies/Sciences: History

The Americana Series

The Last Pony Mine

CINE Golden Eagle Award
"Recommended. Horses were used as laborers in American coalmines until 1971. With the closure of the New Gladstone Coal Mine, the practice came to an end. This program documents the life of pit ponies and the men who worked beside them. Mainly used for hauling coal to the surface, horses were eventually replaced by modern machinery. In their heyday, they were a special breed; built for the claustrophobic and tight fit of the mines. The pony drivers had to develop strong bonds with these animals to guarantee safe conditions. In the end, success depended on partnership." -New York Times
Coal was the main source of primary energy for industry and transportation from the 18th century to the 1950s in the United States; coal resources and coal mining played important roles in many state's social and economic history. Prior to engines being used by coal miners, little Belgian or Shetland ponies, known as Pit Ponies, were used to pull carts loaded with coal through the low-roofed mines. The last pony mine in America was the New Gladstone Coal Mine in Appanoose County, Iowa, which shut down its operations in 1971, ending an era of pony mining. This classic, award-winning documentary recounts the story of the mine, the miners and their four-legged partners, who worked the same shifts as the men and were an important part of the haulage crew, hauling empty coal cars to the miners for filling or hauling loaded cars out of the mine. Produced by Iowa State University. 2010DR/CL IJSCA 30 min.