No Friend to Flicka: Horse Dies in Remake Filming

CNN, Blogbat ^ | April 27 2005 | Martin aka Blogbat

[blogbat]

Animal neglect true reason for death of horse on movie set

 

 

CNN reports,

 

The horse was killed Monday during filming at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in the San Fernando Valley.

 

According to the City of Los Angeles' Department of Animal Services, which conducted an investigation, the horse was running when it stepped on its own lead rope and broke its neck. Animal Services is ruling the death an accident.

 

 

As someone who has owned and worked with horses his entire life I must tell you this case is most likely not an accident, but rather the result of cruel and tragic negligence.

 

Unless this horse untied his own lead rope and ran off, the handlers of this horse broke one of the cardinal rules of horsemanship and one of the first things you teach anyone working around horses: do not allow the animal to wander freely with the lead rope still attached because if he steps on it while either walking or running there is a good chance he will panic or trip and break his neck.

 

The City of Los Angeles’ Department of Animal Services should be ashamed of their shallow, perfunctory investigation. Any such agency worth its name would have cited the handlers for not taking the very simple steps known to avoid something this avoidable. The ineptitude of both parties is beyond me.

 

20^th Century Fox should likewise be ashamed and should fire the parties involved. The Department of Animal Dis-Services should also fire anyone involved in the decision to label this an accident. If neither of those two will do that then obviously we need to find some political accountability somewhere.

 

 

The movie being made was a remake of the 1943 classic, “My Friend Flicka”. Friend indeed.

 

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Most accidents are the result of some sort of ignorance or neglect, but I doubt this was intentional neglect.

If nothing else, the filmmakers would want to protect their investment. Having the star die in the middle of making a movie is Hell on budgets.

[vetvetdoug]

I guess every cowboy that ground ties his horse and everyone that uses a picket pin for their horse is guilty of animal cruelty. This was an accident.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Blog Pimp Blues

[Conspiracy Guy]

I agree with you.

[blueberry12]

Fire everybody!

LOL

[tuffydoodle]

ping

[tuffydoodle]

This really sounds like an accident to me. Anyone that's been riding for a few years has had a horse get away from them.

[blogbat]

I seriously doubt it intentional as well (as any reasonable person would based on what is available), however it is gross and inexcusable neglect and something for which those in charge of this animal's care should be held accountable. The daycare worker may not have meant to leave the forgotten child in the back of the van all day, but that does not afford him or her legal absolution.

[John O]

It's really a shame the horse died. They are beautiful animals and this one was apparently well trained.

However, it's nothing to get upset about. As long as the owner is properly compensated for the loss of his property another horse can always be found to finish the film.

[SAMS]

I'm going to go see the movie just to see if the put that silly little disclaimer at the end of movies, "no animals were hurt during the filming of this movie"

[tuffydoodle]

"The daycare worker may not have meant to leave the forgotten child in the back of the van all day, but that does not afford him or her legal absolution."

Not the same thing at all. A 1200 pound horse can get away from the strongest, most experienced handler. Could be a car backfired nearby, someone waving a plastic bag, etc. Leaving a child to die in a hot car isn't comparable.

[blogbat]

"This really sounds like an accident to me. Anyone that's been riding for a few years has had a horse get away from them."

Certainly, and I stipulate that if the horse had accidentally gotten loose from where he was tied, such would be an exception to my assertion. However the story sounds more as if the horse was deliberately made to run with his lead rope still attached to the halter, which in any book of common sense is very bad form.

(As for the comment made earlier in this thread about ground-tying, I should say that it would probably be a good idea for the lead rope to not be so long it can get under foot or that there is some sort of easy-breakaway mechanism in the halter.) :)

[tuffydoodle]

ping

[blogbat]

"I'm going to go see the movie just to see if the put that silly little disclaimer at the end of movies, "no animals were hurt during the filming of this movie"

LOL

[Homer1]

An alleged first hand account from another message board FWIW:

link

[blogbat]

"Not the same thing at all. A 1200 pound horse can get away from the strongest, most experienced handler. Could be a car backfired nearby, someone waving a plastic bag, etc. Leaving a child to die in a hot car isn't comparable."

Na, for my point they are the same thing. You assumed the horse "had gotten away", rather than prompted to undertake an outrageous risk by being made to run with lead rope in tow. If however the latter be true then there is just as much carelessness involved as leaving a child to fend for himself in the car all day. By the way, I'm in no way comparing animals to humans here, rather the actions of those into whose charge they're given

[HairOfTheDog]

Unless this horse untied his own lead rope and ran off, the handlers of this horse broke one of the cardinal rules of horsemanship and one of the first things you teach anyone working around horses: do not allow the animal to wander freely with the lead rope still attached because if he steps on it while either walking or running there is a good chance he will panic or trip and break his neck.

Have you go a personal beef with these people? It's true that horses generally should not be turned loose dragging a leadrope, but I think you have let your anger at these film-makers get the best of your perspective on this. Film-making has often been hard on horses, and I am actually more than happy to see oversight by humane advocates... But accidents will always still happen to people and horses in active pursuits.

Link to story

Ping!

[tuffydoodle]

Thanks, Hair, I didn't know how to ping the whole club.

[ExpatGator]

Just damn. I want to be prosecuted for the time a 15-hand, 1250 pound Quarterhorse stud knocked me to the ground and ran off to mount some love-smelly mare. I held on to the lead up until the point the pounding hooves were beating a conga on my body. I admit to being irresponsible enough to let go at that point.
Can somebody please recommend a prosecutor stupid enough to ignore intent, so that I may pursue this ALF/politically-correct prosecution of myself? Any help will be rewarded by my granting you permission to beat me with a blogbat.
Thank you and while you are at it please tell me of a doctor who can remove my tongue from its position firmly in cheek.