transportation of horses

[nachoman]

Back in the day before autos and roads were king, did they transport horses in stock cars? the reason I ask - I've got a solitary HOn3 stock car kit that came as part of a lot, and am trying to justify its use on my railroad. Since it is mostly a mining related short line, I don't think livestock movements of cattle or sheep make a whole lot of sense. But, my town and the mining operations could make use of many horses and mules. Would it be plausible for a railroad to ship horses and mules in a stock car, or would it be more likely for horses and mules to be brought in via their own legs? I figure the length of the short line would be about 20 miles from the standard-gauge connection.