Working or famous horses, Cortez, anyone else?

[cptrayes]

AA shame on you not recognising your own horse

 

[Cortez]

Game of thrones OMG we were talking about that out hacking today it was a bit foggy and the field was full of crows and it was very game of thrones .
Was the horse at the end with part of its face missing yours ? Made a big impression on my groom that scene did.
How did they do that was it make up or was it added later.

A combination of prosthetic horse head (i.e. a dummy), CGI and make up. Not my horse, all the featured/actor's horses are supplied by the Devil's Horsemen/Gerard Naprous.

 

[criso]

When I was a kid a photographer came to the yard and borrowed 3 of us to take our photo riding through the village. Gave us a pound between the three of us and we thought nothing of it.

It turned up on calendars, birthday cards and a jigsaw which I still have.

 

[windand rain]

My spotty mare was used for some of the photos in Richard Maxwell's book It was great fun and what a lovely man he is along with his very supportive and organised wife Sam. Sadly the mare died of colic last year after having a couple of very nice colt foals by Goddington Hannibal, the event stallion She was a sweetheart but very sensitive and had some interesting reactions to the idea of being ridden

 

[sandi_84]

Cortez, I could listen to you talk all about your job all day and never get bored! I just find what you do absolutely fascinating

 

[cellie]

Don't be (impressed I mean); the film world is a dirty, cutthroat business and very, very hard work. Yes, greys are photogenic, as are blacks and anything prancy with a long mane, meaning that Spanish horses and Friesians have it about sewn up for fantasy/historical work. There are "background" horses, stunt horses and "actor's" horses - which have to look like the most romantic fiery stallion EVER and yet be rideable by someone who's probably never even seen a horse before and thinks that you can "act" riding.

Best thing about watching films with horses is when they put actor on that cant ride lol Hands go up in the air as soon as horse moves of and they always get left behind movement. My non horsey husband always says whats so funny he just cant see it .

 

[Shantara]

Don't be (impressed I mean); the film world is a dirty, cutthroat business and very, very hard work. Yes, greys are photogenic, as are blacks and anything prancy with a long mane, meaning that Spanish horses and Friesians have it about sewn up for fantasy/historical work. There are "background" horses, stunt horses and "actor's" horses - which have to look like the most romantic fiery stallion EVER and yet be rideable by someone who's probably never even seen a horse before and thinks that you can "act" riding.

When I met the Devil's Horseman guy, I was all giddy and excited and said "Oh! It must be soooo cool to do what you do!" and he said "Not really, it's boring and often very cold!"
Better than working in a Chinese buffet though!!
It was awesome to see the horses, although it was dark! Hopefully I'll go back during the day time and see them properly

ETA - just read you get them from Gerard, how cool! You might know my man then, I'll have to PM you

 

[Cortez]

So do you provide all three types? And do you have to find the rider too, or just the horses?

Do you have any trouble training then to carry odd stuff???

And how did you get into it - chance or planning?

This is fascinating, hope you don't mind the questions.

Er, don't quite know how we got into it (we do other film stuff too, not just horses), just sort of happened - we did the live demos before got film work. We have provided all 3 types, but I only have one true actor's horse now. The training is often "interesting" as requirements can be completely off the wall, and film people have no concept of how a horse reacts to anything. We usually provide riders; much preferable to having just anybody on your horse, although we often have to teach an actor how to ride - usually in about 3 days (not making that up!).

 

[undergroundoli]

A combination of prosthetic horse head (i.e. a dummy), CGI and make up. Not my horse, all the featured/actor's horses are supplied by the Devil's Horsemen/Gerard Naprous.

We saw them at the Aberaeron festival of Welsh ponies and cobs. My boyfriend misheard the commentator as the 'Devil's saucepan.' He assumed it was a horsey term.

 

[AdorableAlice]

AA shame on you not recognising your own horse

Never been allowed to forget the moment either ! I still look at him (he is 20 now) and can't quite comprehend how fantastic he was. Ordinary weekend riders just don't have horses like that.

 

[undergroundoli]

When I was a kid a photographer came to the yard and borrowed 3 of us to take our photo riding through the village. Gave us a pound between the three of us and we thought nothing of it.

It turned up on calendars, birthday cards and a jigsaw which I still have.

Seeing yourself must have been such a surprise! Lovely ponies.

 

[sandi_84]

Er, don't quite know how we got into it (we do other film stuff too, not just horses), just sort of happened - we did the live demos before got film work. We have provided all 3 types, but I only have one true actor's horse now. The training is often "interesting" as requirements can be completely off the wall, and film people have no concept of how a horse reacts to anything. We usually provide riders; much preferable to having just anybody on your horse, although we often have to teach an actor how to ride - usually in about 3 days (not making that up!).

What's the oddest requirement you've had?

 

[FinkleyGladiator]

Finn was on the redwings rehoming advert at shows for a while and one year at the Norfolk show their banner was a massive picture of him.
Sadly they stopped using it shortly after he was rehomed, although I still have a good look at their stand at shows just in case they use a picture of him again

 

[Cortez]

What's the oddest requirement you've had?

The REALLY odd things we turn down; I'm fond of my horses and some things I won't put them through, but some of the more difficult have included riding down a spiral staircase (just try it sometime....), having two stallions in a very grand stately home's hall (and GUARANTEEING that they wouldn't poop on the listed marble floor: they did), jumping through a glass (not real) window, pulling a grand piano out of a window with a rope attached to the saddle, etc., etc.......

 

[dollyanna]

Not quite as impressive as some, but my old girl in her driving days before she met me had her photo taken to be sold as a postcard. I've always wanted to find one - if anyone happens to have an old postcard from Barnet with a bay pony in full show harness let me know!

 

[sandi_84]

but some of the more difficult have included riding down a spiral staircase (just try it sometime....)

Umm.... no thank you I'll leave it to the professionals
Giggled a bit at your horses pooping on the marble floor
How do you get a horse to jump through a semi-solid object like a fake glass window?! :O I've seen it done in films but I've always wondered how they managed to train that

 

[undergroundoli]

The REALLY odd things we turn down; I'm fond of my horses and some things I won't put them through, but some of the more difficult have included riding down a spiral staircase (just try it sometime....), having two stallions in a very grand stately home's hall (and GUARANTEEING that they wouldn't poop on the listed marble floor: they did), jumping through a glass (not real) window, pulling a grand piano out of a window with a rope attached to the saddle, etc., etc.......

Tell us something you turned down. Were the repercussions in the poo floor incident? TELL US EVERYTHING

 

[Goldenstar]

Of course! Didn't realise you'd done 4 * GS

Forgot to mention is my horse and me on the cover of Feet First, the barefoot book, so I'm a teeny bit famous too.

Three star Blenheim is three.

 

[Cortez]

Umm.... no thank you I'll leave it to the professionals
Giggled a bit at your horses pooping on the marble floor
How do you get a horse to jump through a semi-solid object like a fake glass window?! :O I've seen it done in films but I've always wondered how they managed to train that

You start out with a divided screen and just ask them to ride between the two halves, then gradually bring them closer and closer together and increase the pace. Could take a couple of months of very patient training, and not all will do it, but once they learn to break the sugar (stunt glass is very thin panes of boiled sugar) with their noses it's pretty easy after that. One of mine would hurl himself at any window if you weren't careful, so subsequent training has included teaching them NOT to go through the real ones!

 

[delaneys]

My pony was in the vets years ago, stabled next to a superstar racehorse (can't remember who ) but C4 racing or whoever did it then went up to do a piece on him and they had to move my pony as he was super jealous and kept kicking the door when the people tried to film!

 

[PolarSkye]

I saw Desert Orchid up at Rossdales when he was recovering from colic. Seriously ugly, looked nothing like a racehorse, although he had then retired.

Oh don't say that . . . Kal's yard nickname is Dessie because he looks like Desert Orchid!

P

 

[sandi_84]

You start out with a divided screen and just ask them to ride between the two halves, then gradually bring them closer and closer together and increase the pace. Could take a couple of months of very patient training, and not all will do it, but once they learn to break the sugar (stunt glass is very thin panes of boiled sugar) with their noses it's pretty easy after that. One of mine would hurl himself at any window if you weren't careful, so subsequent training has included teaching them NOT to go through the real ones!

Very cool how it's done, thank you for explaining Can't imagine having to be on window patrol though for going past the real ones, that's mad

 

[Cortez]

Tell us something you turned down. Were the repercussions in the poo floor incident? TELL US EVERYTHING

Er, it really is mostly very, very dull; lots of hanging around - usually for 12 hours straight - and boring cantering along paths, falling off, standing looking noble with a hat with a feather in it, that kind of thing. We turned down a gallop down a precipice once; someone else did it and injured several horses (and riders, but they don't count . Turned down a horse fall into deep water; didn't like that, but the horse that did it was a specialist diving horse and happily did it all day long. That was his only job though; he didn't do anything else.

The poo in the parlour incident was solved by me and a bottle of bleach, floor is pristine and you'd never know now. Owner was a bit hysterical for a while but they calmed her down with money, as is normal in the film world.

 

[Billabongchick]

A lady at my yard when I was a teenager had a lovely big grey horse called Solomon who was in The Madness of King George ridden by the main character I think. He was a lovely big softy.

 

[Cortez]

After The Incident......

 

[Little Alfie]

A friend of ours, her black cob was in a couple of the Catherine Cookson films

 

[undergroundoli]

Turned down a horse fall into deep water; didn't like that, but the horse that did it was a specialist diving horse and happily did it all day long. That was his only job though; he didn't do anything else.

The poo in the parlour incident was solved by me and a bottle of bleach, floor is pristine and you'd never know now. Owner was a bit hysterical for a while but they calmed her down with money, as is normal in the film world.

A specialist diving horse?

The words that come to mind are 'why,' 'how' and 'what does he charge?'

Thanks for answering everyone's questions.

 

[Goldenstar]

Cortez do you do the research about tack and stuff like that ?
Do you do carriages ?

 

[undergroundoli]

After The Incident......

Aren't they just the hansomist? What on earth was the point of them being inside (in the story)?

 

[Cortez]

Cortez do you do the research about tack and stuff like that ?
Do you do carriages ?

Yes, and yes. Actually that is our greatest "use" as we do a lot of historical consultation (again, not just horses) for TV and film. Drives me mad when they get it wrong.