Work-mates

Meet Windsor the pit pony, pulling his weight (and more) for the war effort.

Maintaining coal production was crucial to the WWII war effort, and as this film testifies pit ponies like Windsor pulled their weight (and more). This charming documentary charts 4-year-old Windsor's transition from a wild Exmoor pony to a pit-savvy tub hauler in a Northumberland colliery. The odd sugar lump and slice of apple help lighten the load and, like his human workmate Tom the 'putter' (Northumbrian word for driver), he has weekends off. Pit ponies continued to be used in coal mining until 1999.