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FOUR-LEGGED BUDDY –
THE PIT HORSE
Exhibition from August 8th to October 31st, 2021 (ended)
Since time immemorial, the horse has been humankind's closest partner. It was indispensable in agriculture, connected cities and countries, decided wars, and played a crucial role in the struggle for the precious black diamond, coal. Yet, despite its ubiquitous presence in Europe and America, it is barely mentioned in libraries on 19th- and 20th-century history.
The first exhibition of Wild Mustang – The Horse Gallery will open on August 7, 2021, at the gallery's current location in Thelstorf/Jesteburg near Hamburg, showcasing the immense role of these four-legged companions in coal mines. Ulla Kimmig has been provided with a variety of historical photographs by the LWL Industrial Museum Dortmund, the Fritz Hüser Institute Dortmund, and the Mining History Documentation Center Bochum. These photographs, along with other works from renowned photo agencies, document the remarkable achievements of the pit pony – from the very beginning of horse-drawn coal mining to the last famous pit pony, "Tobias," in 1966. In addition to the captivating photographs, video and audio material will offer visitors a comprehensive glimpse into the lives of these horses underground, whose crucial contribution to the growth of the mining industry since the mid-19th century. Extensive research and individually compiled information texts by Ulla Kimmig provide the story behind the photographs of the workhorses that were displaced from the mine by locomotives and conveyor belts around 50 years ago.
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