International velvet -followingon from movie thread

blitznbobs

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WHY did they shoot that horse on the plane... International eventer - fab horse - wouldn't you DOPE it not shoot it? Yes it might not be able to compete that week due to drug restrictions but you'd still have your very valuable horse -- love the film but that bit makes me mad not sad...

Blitz
 
Sadly that is what happens when a horse goes mad on a plane. If it gets out of control it coulod cause damage which means the plane crashes. The design margin for planes is around 50% whereas it is 1000% for civil engineering (approx) so in circumstances like that they can't rely on chance. Fortunately the film was a story!
 
Do they still really shoot them on planes? You never hear about it and highly valuable racehorses fly all the time!
 
Not just race horses - think about all the horses going out to WEG in a week or so.

If they had to - probably yes they would shoot. Better than having a hoof through the side of the plane. But air travel is relatively common palce to many top horses now. We have far better and safer sedation and far more alterntives.

I have no personal first hand information about any horse being put down on an aircraft - I suspect something like that would probably make H&H. But perhaps someone on here has.
 
Not just race horses - think about all the horses going out to WEG in a week or so.

If they had to - probably yes they would shoot. Better than having a hoof through the side of the plane. But air travel is relatively common palce to many top horses now. We have far better and safer sedation and far more alterntives.

I have no personal first hand information about any horse being put down on an aircraft - I suspect something like that would probably make H&H. But perhaps someone on here has.

My uncle is a vet and he travels with polo ponies from Argentina to Europe and the US from April to August every year. They travel 70 or so horses on a plane in pallets. There is no way a hoof could go through the side of a plane. No chance. And he's never lost a horse.
 
Don't forget the film was made over 30 years ago (makes me feel old!) - the drugs available for sedation would have been much different then, may not have been anything available to quickly and reliably sedate the horse in that situation.

Also - don't forget, it was a plot device: it's a while time since I saw the movie but I think the horse was on the British team and its sad demise meant that Sarah would definitely ride on the team... Please correct me if I've got that bit wrong.
 
Don't forget the film was made over 30 years ago (makes me feel old!) - the drugs available for sedation would have been much different then, may not have been anything available to quickly and reliably sedate the horse in that situation.

Also - don't forget, it was a plot device: it's a while time since I saw the movie but I think the horse was on the British team and its sad demise meant that Sarah would definitely ride on the team... Please correct me if I've got that bit wrong.

Actually I think that it mean't Roger rode Sarah's horse as in those days apparently the horses were team horses and could be ridden by any team member?!

Anyone remember?!
 
Actually I think that it mean't Roger rode Sarah's horse as in those days apparently the horses were team horses and could be ridden by any team member?!

Anyone remember?!

Yes, think that's right. With Gold Dust being shot, his rider took over Arizona. That was when the trainer promised Sarah she would ride for the team sometime.

I seem to remember that Gold Dust had already been sedated on the plane, and 'they couldn't give him any more.' Very long time since I have read the book though!
 
Gold Dust had been sedated, and as roo said, couldn't be given any more, he started going completely berserk and was endangering himself and everyone else, can you imagine what would happen if he'd gotten loose in the confined space of a plane?! :eek:

I like to think they'd just OD a horse on sedatives rather than shoot it tho'
 
Yes, think that's right. With Gold Dust being shot, his rider took over Arizona. That was when the trainer promised Sarah she would ride for the team sometime.

I seem to remember that Gold Dust had already been sedated on the plane, and 'they couldn't give him any more.' Very long time since I have read the book though!

Yes, that's all absolutely right. I think this part of the story was designed to provide a set up whereby Sarah's team spirit was tested!
 
It's not real life, it's only a film!!

I don't suppose people chase girls on horses through woods and fields in a mini either, then crash and die in a big ball of flames ;)

Lol some idiots did with us on their quad and pit bike out hacking when I was younger. Didnt crash though sadly!
 
It's not real life, it's only a film!!

I don't suppose people chase girls on horses through woods and fields in a mini either, then crash and die in a big ball of flames ;)

ditto brill film loved all the horsey films as a lid even named my daughter after sarah:D weepie ones too have to remind yourself films though
 
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