L’exposition « Vies de cheval. Du fond de la mine aux Jeux équestres » (25 août-25 octobre 2014) aux Archives nationales du monde du travail : à la découverte d’un animal « nécessaire [...], utile [...] et agréable [...] »

The exhibition « Vies de cheval. Du fond de la mine aux Jeux équestres » (25 August-25 October 2014) at the Archives nationales du monde du travail, Roubaix. In conjunction with the World Equestrian Games, which took place in France from August 23rd to September 7th 2014, the Archives nationales du Monde du Travail (ANMT) decided to showcase the contribution of horses with an exhibition entitled Lives of horses. From the depths of mines to the World Equestrian Games (August 25th-October 25th 2014). Based upon archives held at the ANMT and loans from other institutions, the exhibition described the varied lives of this animal from the 18th century to the current day: war horses; work horses, working in agricultural, mining sectors, and transportation; blood-horses thoroughbreds for racing; and leisure horses. The exhibition’s immersive scenography encouraged interaction with visitors, while creating various atmospheres to underscore the different sections of the exhibition. In addition, the tour of the exhibit included several audiovisual documents, among which, interviews of professionals in the horse world, made by the ANMT, especially for the exhibition. This exhibition attracted a large audience, both novices and experts (1250 visitors in two months), and encouraged the formation or renewal of links with other cultural institutions whether locally or nationally