Working or famous horses, Cortez, anyone else?

lastchancer said:
It wouldn't matter if Cortez was merely an errand runner on the shoots (although she clearly isn't anyway), she's sharing her experience and giving us a fascinating insight to the horses part in the film industry. A thoroughly enjoyable thread apart from Caledonia s mind boggling snipes.
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Yeah, well I'm off to bed now, glad most of you enjoyed a look at some out of the ordinary stuff to do with horses (and I loved the jigsaw puzzle).
 
3Beasties said:
Wow Cortez, I had absolutely no idea that this is what you did. Totally fascinating!


A friend of mine is a stable hand in the War horse film and I'm pretty sure he did a bit of riding for it too.


Talking of diving horses, has anyone seen the film wild hearts can't be broken? It's incredible how high the horses dive from (although I'm not sure I agree with it).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Hearts...=8-1&keywords=wild+hearts+can't+be+broken+dvd
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I went to school with the girl who rode the diving horses in this movie. I was fascinated by the idea of diving horses and the fact that it is actually a true story but not sure I agree with horse diving either.
 
I met Desert orchid when he was in his retirement field in Yorkshire. But more excitingly my best friend owns a Canadian ex racer who starred In a few of the heartland episodes as an extra in the racing scenes, before her old owner shipped her over here :)
 
A friend of mine used to work for a private zoo who primarily supplied animals to the entertainment industry for filns/tv ads/photo shoots and she will clarify what Cortez says about long and often boring days. Did used to like going to visit and being allowed 'behind the scenes' when I went to visit tho!
Fascinating thread, thankyou for answering questions and providing photos Cortez :)
 
Well, barring snipey comments, this is a game I can play...

Here's Bambi, who played Moyale in the Flame Trees of Thika. I can attest to all sorts of shenanigans on set. Naming no names, because it's quite obvious who it is, fell off Bambi and hurt herself. Even then, there was a desperate need to apportion blame. My mother was having none of it, and asked what they were doing to cause the pony, all 11.2hh of her, to unseat her rider. Transpired that the big white umbrella they use for lighting had fallen off its perch and blown into her face. My mother took it up to the director and waved it under his nose, fully 'up', and asked if he didn't feel a bit frightened. He admitted he did (probably more of my mother than the umbrella) and the incident was quickly forgotten. A few stand-ins were needed for various 'action' shots. So, that was me when she fell off in front of the elephants.

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Oh, and these wild mustangs galloping through a puddle in Texas were modelled on a bunch of wild mustangs, obviously. The tricky bits were done using a particular 'wild mustang' in our paddock at home in Lang'ata, Kenya. A wild mustang who jumped like a stag, was WHP champion, and did what used to be called advanced elementary dressage..

mustangs-web.jpg
 
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Clearly not in the same league with Cortez and others, but this was my horse in the video clip. He was a wonderful dressage horse who won the national and regional dressage championships at PSG and Inter I level multiple times with my husband. He also could do all of the Grand Prix movements and had a really good passage.
This is a rendition of a famous song by one of my country's folk music stars using a national music instrument called "saz". The girl was from South America and the horse enjoyed the shooting and the sea very much (so much so that he tried to run away with the girl at some point). He was sadly PTS in 2009 due to colic.
In memory of my wonderful, kind-hearted Sonador (he appears at about 1.02"):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrHBSt7uEJI

And as a dressage horse:
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kerenza said:
Is this Dart stables (think that was the name)? Looks like it to me, think I recognise Elvis:-) I rode there when travelling around NZ - a little TB with the lovely name of Knobby!
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Good old Knobby, lovely little chap (shame about his name!). They were a great bunch, hardest working nicest bunch of horses you could ever meet. Did you enjoy it? I'm a lucky girl to have worked there, would love to go back one day.
 
I can't post pics, as not my horses - or pictures, but Rusty's Dad, Icon, is now touring the World with Chipperfields, the pictures of him doing his tricks and generally looking very glamorous, are great. His grandfather was Idolo - who was a well known display horse with Tanya Larrigan.
 
lastchancer said:
It wouldn't matter if Cortez was merely an errand runner on the shoots (although she clearly isn't anyway), she's sharing her experience and giving us a fascinating insight to the horses part in the film industry. A thoroughly enjoyable thread apart from Caledonia s mind boggling snipes.
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Agree. Brilliant thread, really interesting. I've been trick training my horse with half an idea of doing some film work, but it'll probably never happen :D

Shame Caledonia had to sour it with her snide remarks.
 
My friend's horse was in an episode of Taggert (many moons ago) for about 2 seconds!
"there's been a muuuurderrrrr!"
don't think the horse actually said that line, tho.
 
I used to ride a horse who had been in Flambards (showing my age here) and was on the cover of one of the books. I can't post a picture but he's the chestnut 12th down on here. He was a big lad with a pigeon toe and I was very fond of him. I think he's got a snotty nose on the front of the book which was par for the course. I also remember the actor having to wellie him in a scene where they were supposed to canter off from standstill!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...in+summer&sprefix=Flambards+in,stripbooks,307
 
I wish I'd bought it really undergroundoli - somewhere I've got some old snaps of me on him! My legs (which are short anyway) are only just about half way down his barrel.
 
Cortez said:
The main horse was a quite elderly PRE (now gone, poor fella) - and no, I don't remember HIS name either - the TRAINER (not owner) and double for Ian McKellan was a friend of mine, very good guy. And yes, treats do play quite a big part in the more unbelievable, soppy bits of nuzzling, foot waving and whickering that are called for in film.

Please note: I was NOT there, I am NOT claiming I trained or owned Shadowfax. I DO know the man who rode the horse for that air shot and I do know how these things are done. Happy?
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I think the horse was Domero or Blanco? (not sure of the spellings)
 
KatPT said:
Good old Knobby, lovely little chap (shame about his name!). They were a great bunch, hardest working nicest bunch of horses you could ever meet. Did you enjoy it? I'm a lucky girl to have worked there, would love to go back one day.
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It was fantastic - such beautiful scenery, rivers to cross, fantastic gallops. I was feeling a bit nervous about it as I had had a gap from riding at that point, I explained this to Peter (I think it was) on the phone and he suggested Knobby as the horse to take care of me. I'm a short a*se too so I appreciated his smallness (at least compared to most of the other horses that seemed massive!). And he was just lovely!
 
wow what a great thread! Finding it very fascinating!

Shame it had to be turned into abit of a slagging match half way through....

Cortez, Thanks for sharing with us.
 
very interesting to hear all about it - have always wanted to work with the animals in the movie films! I did make it on the front cover of Horsemart in some hugely fetching hi-vis get up :) been on a few BHS leaflets and the website too...not quite as glamorous!
 
Caledonia said:
Like I said, I don't have a problem. The owner of the horses isn't on here, but saw this - partly my fault as I sent them this link wondering if they even knew you because I was quite aghast at your implication that these horses were anything to do with you. I'm posting with the full consent of the owners of these stallions, Royal County Equines, who were unhappy at your initial portrayal at these horses being part of your stable, and then you saying you worked them on the shoot. One of the actual owners was in the shoot, holding the younger stallion.

Feel free to take it up with them directly - I'm simply putting the record straight as was asked.
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FWIW I never read Cortez's post to imply that she owned the horses...

I'm thoroughly enjoying this thread. Sadly have no claims to fame that I can think of :-)
 
Kati*89 said:
very interesting to hear all about it - have always wanted to work with the animals in the movie films! I did make it on the front cover of Horsemart in some hugely fetching hi-vis get up :) been on a few BHS leaflets and the website too...not quite as glamorous!
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Pictures or it didn't happen :)
 
Very tenuous, my next door neighbour but one works in films and TV, I think he handles and rides and used to use his own bay gelding Joe. He worked on the War Horse film, robin hood (TV version). He said he spent mosyt of the time on war horse driving around.

What annoys me is when supposedly poor olden day folks (in films) have these stunning spanish horses. I liked the film Wolfman because when the villagers rode up to the werewolves mansion on fells and hill ponies.
 
3Beasties said:
Wow Cortez, I had absolutely no idea that this is what you did. Totally fascinating!


A friend of mine is a stable hand in the War horse film and I'm pretty sure he did a bit of riding for it too.


Talking of diving horses, has anyone seen the film wild hearts can't be broken? It's incredible how high the horses dive from (although I'm not sure I agree with it).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Hearts...=8-1&keywords=wild+hearts+can't+be+broken+dvd
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love that film..its a true story
 
Spring Feather said:
Super photos Cortez. I always enjoy hearing about what you do but didn't know your portfolio was so large. Well done!

One of my mares is the dam of the mare who played Silver in the Johnny Depp Lone Ranger movie. I have just sold her full sister and there's no plans for her being a movie star like her sister.
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not querying what happened...but isn't silver supposed to be a stallion?...film makes crack me up sometimes
 
Great thread. I've no claims to fame, but I did see Red Rum parade twice. The first time was at Bicton arena, when he was in his prime, and he showed off to the crowd with total self confidence, and looked absolutely magnificent.

Many years later, when he must have been well into his 20's, I saw him again at a Team Chase in Cheshire. I saw what looked like a skinny old pony being walked around, then lo and behold he was led into the ring and announced to the crowd. The old soldier puffed up with visible pride and strutted his stuff in front of his adoring crowd having grown a couple of hands and shed 15 years, he still knew exactly who he was and what he had done. It certainly brought a tear to my eye.
 
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