What Was It LIke for Horses in the Mines

From 1871 to 1875, 7868 horses were exported from Iceland--many intended for the mines in Scotland and England. Life for horses in the mines was tough, some became blind because they remained underground until they retired. The following tonal video helps us imagine what it took for a horse to enter an environment so unnatural to it--in this case the Allenheads mine entrance in Northumberland, England. The horse sounds are provided by a "happy Icelandic" living in open pastures.

Horse track in Allenheads from sabine vogel on Vimeo.