National Coal Mining Museum’s pit pony dies
The last remaining pit pony at the National Coal Mining Museum for England has died, aged 19.
The pony, Robbie, had been at the museum for 10 years, after arriving on loan from the RSPCA. He died on 18 April from a sudden illness.
As a working pit pony in South Wales, Robbie spent five years in Pant y Gasseg drift mine in the 1990s.
His job there was to pull coal tubs from the bottom of the drift up to the surface.
Robbie was the last pony to leave the mine back in 1999.
A spokesman for the museum said: “Robbie was good looking, good-natured, and his favourite companion at the museum was Patch.
“We know Robbie will be sorely missed as he was loved by all who met him. His loss will be felt by all the staff at the museum, those who adopted him and the visitors.”
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For more information on the National Coal Mining Museum visit www.ncm.org.uk
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.