Horses working in European mines and a fortnight of annual leave in France in 1936
The peculiar, suffering fate of horses rarely comes into focus in historical narratives. For thousands of years horses were humanity's constant companion in everything, from farming and manufacture to war. Of course, we never stop to think that often, where man suffered, horses endured still greater suffering, unnoticed by anyone and relieved by no one.
In Europe, as late as the first half of the twentieth century, horses laboured in deep mines. Not only in Europe, of course, but wherever it was possible. Often for a horse this lasted a whole lifetime. And death overtook the wretched animals at an enormous depth underground. Without light, without fresh air.
In France in 1936, horses were granted an annual two-week holiday, with the chance to graze out in the open, at liberty, on real grass. A few days of running about on the earth, and back into the underground workings. And so year after year. An incredibly tragic and bitter price was paid for progress and prosperity, but never will our sinful earth dry of the tears of suffering with which it has been soaked through during thousands of years of history.
