Kristy's diorama entry

Here's another great BreyerFest Diorama Contest entry. This one is from Kristy Thiessen of Kay's Creations.

She writes: Inspired by stories from my Grandfather Emilio, who was a coal miner, I decided to depict the Pit pony in my diorama. When I was a child I watched an old movie about a blind pit pony that tore my heart out, but I kept watching it anyway. Horses were integral workers in coal mines in England, Canada and the United States. Due to their small stature, Shetland ponies were preferred, but all sizes were used, from small ponies to Drafts. One mine might have up to eighty ponies that were capable of pulling five fully-loaded coal cars. Miners developed a fond relationship with their animals, often bragging about how smart they were, or how strong, or how heroic. They often shared meals with their animals and cared for them as best the could (considering the conditions). 

In 1876, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) campaigned for the protection of pit ponies and urged the government to consider the suffering of the animals hidden from view, deep underground in coal mines. Further acts of 1949 and 1956 built on these mandatory conditions ensuring further protective care. There are no horses or ponies working in British, US or Canadian mines today. The last pit Ponies were retired in the late 1990's.

A lot of black tape, cardboard and glue gun went into this diorama.  

It's one of those projects that's "good from far, but far from good". Lol.

The miner's outfit was made from a piece one of my old shirts, cut and glue gunned.

Here's are some outtakes from the official photo session.

Congratulations, Kristy. This is a wonderful diorama and a wonderful tribute to your grandfather. Good luck at BreyerFest!