As you may know, I watch a lot of westerns and cowboy movies. From cinema movie productions to made-for-television movies and series.
The same question goes for herds of horses. In the movie Broken Trail, a large herd of horses is running quite frequently as they are being driven across the U.S. by the main characters. I saw a scene where a horse appears to trip and fall in the middle of the herd, getting ran over by other horses. I suppose they could have edited that to look that way. But it was so quick, if you blinked, you missed it. I think it just happened by accident when the horses were herded into a run.
I know that animal rights groups patrol movie production sets featuring animals, making sure they are cared for properly and that they aren't injured during filming. The days of tripping horses with wires to get them to fall in scenes in the old westerns are gone. But I can't help but wondering.....Maybe it's movie magic. Maybe the horses aren't running as fast as they look? Maybe the ground is carefully chosen to be of solid footing so that no equines are injured?
And and one last thought. Why oh why, do movie horses whinny every chance they get? Like every time a bullet is fired or something dramatic happens, the horses scream a neigh in protest. They are constantly whinnying! My horse doesn't say a word unless he's calling for his hay.
Ah, I guess that's why they call it Hollywood!
Good questions, PonyGirl... I hope not too many horses get injured any more.
ReplyDeleteThere is a tv show on here in Canada called Heartland - about a family on a ranch in Alberta - it is a decent show with lots of horse stuff. The one thing that bugs me? The horses whinny/nicker ALL the time!! lol. Even my non-horsey husband noticed it!
{Laura}~ That show Heartland sounds interesting....do you think it plays on a station here in the states? I will have to research it a little more. We had a show here called "Wildfire", on ABC family, about a family's horse racing ranch that was a little soap-opera-ish but I liked it.
ReplyDeleteI think the whinnies are often added in post filming. There is one particular whinny that I've heard so many times I actually recognize it. When I watch movies with my husband we joke about it, "There he goes again whinnying. I hope that horse collects royalties on his voice." It's in every movie, I swear.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered that too. But what I really want to know is how can I get a job as an extra for a cavalry charge scene?
ReplyDeleteAre there really that many actors that can ride a horse? Is there a special pool that casting directors choose from? And how do I get me in that pool? That'd be nifty.
I might have had the same questions until I arrived on a ranch where horses are turned out into two section pastures. I've seen them run full out over ridges, down ravines, etc. Flight is, after all, their first instinct. And they're sturdier than most people give them credit for being. Horses that are used to running free, usually have better feet than those that are kept up.
ReplyDeleteThe whinnies in movies amuse me too. The one that gets me the most is the Black Beauty movie... the horses in that movie are never quiet!
ReplyDeleteI think they edit it in to give the horses more "personality."
As for the running horses, maybe it's part of the set? Maybe they have a level road to run on that is just masked by the shrubs and other stuff they have there to make it look authentic.
Then again maybe they are just running in the "wilds" though I am sure it is a thoroughly scouted route to make sure nothing happens to animal or human.
Very good questions. Ones I probably never would have thought to ask myself. I know there is alot of "movie magic" that goes into making films. The whinnies could be just an added sound effect, like the way they made the Dukes of Hazard car sound like it was burning rubber eventhough it was on a dirt or gravel road. But I'm just not sure about the rest.
ReplyDeleteRhonda
OMG! I saw that scene too just the other day and said to my husband that I doubted they threw a dummy horse into the middle of the stampede. That had to be a real horse falling, and I can't imagine that it could have survived after being trampled. On the other hand, why wouldn't the movie makers edit it out of the movie knowing how it would upset so many people?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with SD Cowgirl. Until we moved to the ranch, I could only be nervous when a horse on tv was running full out in a pasture setting. Then, I had to watch my husband and 5 other guys run full out across a pasture chasing a cow and it became fun. Nerve-Wracking, but fun! I am still nervous of gopher holes. But, now that our horses are raised on pasture, they are much better footed.
ReplyDeleteBut watch the riders. They will tell the truth, when they are speeding up the film, and if they are the actors riding or stuntmen.
I used to think the same thing until I started galloping myself out in open fields. When my horse Genny was ridable and we were in a rut about dressage we would just go out to the fields and gallop full speed for as long as he wanted to. I would only slow him down if we needed to turn in the field. There is nothing more fun then just grabbing mane and feeling the wind in your face. After a day like that my horse would be much happier in the dressage ring. And the way I knew that I needed to lease my Appy was that on my 2nd trial ride of him I could go out in the front field and run. That being said I would always walk the area I was going to run in first just to make sure there are no holes. And as for uneven ground...I never had a horse that had an issue with that as long as I gave them their head. I think horses are better at that stuff then we give them credit for. I feel that some times horses trip because they switch to auto pilot and trust us too much instead of thinking for themselves.
ReplyDeleteHollywood baby!!! Well I can remember a time when we were herding some cows for branding and the terrain was pretty rough. I had to go full blast on Roany to chase after a herd that was going the wrong way. I have never gone that fast and on rough ground. I'm talking about cactus, mesquite bushes galore!!! Roany was just really surefooted and knew where to land. We jumped allot of mesquits! lol Soooo much fun doing that but you really need to trust your horses sure footedness! Roany is the best for that. Now Max......he would of tripped all over the place.
ReplyDeleteEven when not running through the field, but just loping down a dirt road, I still worry about tripping. Have the whole scene in my head of the horse going down, summer-salting WITH ME .... yeah, not pretty!
ReplyDeleteKind of off topic, but I wish I had the guts to ride that fast and that free! The fastest I ever rode was leaving the scene of a rattlesnake. They are not native where we live & we were about 5 hours west. My friends I was riding with were quite fascinated when they saw one off the trail but I was quite fearful & wanted to get the heck out of Dodge. The rest of our bunch was up ahead and I could see them in a distance. I was on my husband's fast horse & I opened her up. GPS said 27.7 MPH as the high speed.
I don't know how fast that is. If I had a video of the run, I would probably be disappointed. But I felt like I was flying! I'm smiling now at the memory.....
I wonder the EXACT same thing, Pony Girl! I am always thinking that same thing every single time a horse is running.
ReplyDeleteMy latest one was actually in the movie Narnia (the first one) how Thomas (or his stunt double) manage to ride that stunning white horse and a full on gallop without a bridle or saddle or nothing!
Yup, I hear ya girl. Holes scare me the most. Yikes.
When you're riding cross country you definitely have to stay out of your horse's face. They have amazing balance and can judge the ground probably a lot better than we can! So I agree with OnTheBit that people don't give them enough credit! I've galloped Jack on some rough terrain, but trust him to put his feet in the right places. It's fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I don't think I've ever heard him whinny. Movie people have no idea what horses are really like ;-)
I don't know about anyone else but when I'm feeling unmotivated to go for a ride, I always watch a western and 20 mins in I'm out the door and on my horse.
ReplyDeleteSilverado would have to be my all time favourite.
There's a scene in my favorite western, "Conagher" where a horse takes a bad step coming down a steep ravine and both horse and rider crash and tumble to their deaths. Neither Mike nor I can watch it.
ReplyDeleteIt is rare either of my horses vocalize unless I'm riding one and the other one is wailing for his buddy.
If you remember the old TV shows like National Velvet, Fury, Roy Rogers, etc., every time their owners spoke, the horses "answered". In real life, not so much.
I have found the best terrain or this kind of all out run would be a packed dirt road...sota like an old logging road. That is where I had my first experiences at an all out run. Both of my horses LOVED to go all out at times and Jesse just loves to "bring it home" at play days. Here in the desert the deep sand in not good for that but there are areas that are ok to have a sort run. You would be surprised though, when there is an urgent need for you and your horse to move fast, your natural instinct kicks in. We had to cahse a runnaway horse with a child on it once and I was urging my horse to RUN FASTER!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! the winnying horses in movies are a pet peeve of mine LOL my hubby just roles his eyes at my daughter and I when we make fun of the movie LOL
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure most of the whinnying is edited in. Although some horses do talk a lot - they are all different (like people) and some yak a lot (like people!).
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the galloping - I suspect there is a bit of speeding up going on, and blurring for effect.
You asked the other day about McLeods Daughters (Aussie TV show for your readers who don't know)... it is a lot of fun (a bit silly with some of the storylines and not TOTALLY real, but what show is?). It's definitely worth a look if you like Aussie scenery, good-looking chicks and blokes, and some nice horseflesh. Let me know what you think!
:-)
BB
PS You know what annoys me? WHen there is a scene of riders and cattle, and the riders go THROUGH the cattle!!!! Gah... should. not. happen. Drives me nuts.
ReplyDeleteSorry. *Deep breath*
I have asked myself that a hundred times! I always tend to get real close to the tv to see if they are editing it! LOL My horses only "speak" speak to me when its feeding time too....*Sigh*....well I have to take that back...my young colt - Jack- he tends to call me to when he see's me, but he too probably only wants food! another *sigh*!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Australia with Hugh Jackman and that aussie babe watzwazrname(whocares~HUGH FREAKINGJACKMAN!)They are galloping along, and the scene cuts to one or another of them in close up and its a freaking dummy horse from backlot number 5! Really!! I mean I was too disappointed!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Hugh ( we're on a first name basis in my head) gallops his horse everywhere, hunched over the saddle like a monkey humpin a basketball, with his hands clutching the reins and a fierce and determined look on his way too handsome face.
sigh! I guess they can't all ride like Tommy Lee Jones... but a little better editing would be nice. Oh well- the HUGH JACKMAN scenery almost made up for it!
OK, Here is my chance to speak out... My husband and I ride, and almost every time we go out, we run. Most horse owners we know treat their horses as if they were made of glass -- they can't go out and walk (much less trot) on wet or cold/partially frozen/frozen ground. They can't keep their footing on anything other than solid, perfectly level, well-packed terrain. Well, that has not been the case in my experience. We let our horses run, and I mean RUN in many different situations. Horses are made - by nature - to run.....that is why there are horse races. This is what they do!! That being said, of course you have to be smart about it. If it is obvious that the ground is potted with holes, etc., then of course the horse cannot be permitted to run. There are horseowners that we know who never, and I mean NEVER, let their horses break a trot. To me, that is not good for the horse. It goes against their nature. Give me an open field, and I am going to turn her loose!
ReplyDeletep.s. I neglected to mention -- the rider is not the only one involved in the run -- remember, the HORSE is looking ahead at the ground he/she is about to pass over. They know if there is omething they need to avoid....they are looking where they are going!!
ReplyDeletep.s. I neglected to mention -- the rider is not the only one involved in the run -- remember, the HORSE is looking ahead at the ground he/she is about to pass over. They know if there is omething they need to avoid....they are looking where they are going!!
ReplyDeleteI actually know someone I can ask!!! "Mr Tim" (whom we bought Applejack from) has done stunt work and wrangling for movies and TV. Next time I see him I'll try to remember and ask.
ReplyDeleteIMO the whinny thing is added in (at least most of the time) to give the horses more "character" or to add effect.
When I was a little girl, I used to believe the cowboys really did die in the movies. I thought they sure must pay them a lot of money before they did the movie so they could spend it.
ReplyDelete{CDN Cowgirl}~ Keep us posted on what you find out from Mr. Tim!
ReplyDelete{TB}~ I think in many movies, the stunt men and extras are real cowboys and wranglers. I know that in the "making of the" Broken Trail, many of the men who rode or helped were real wranglers, although Robert Duvall did many of his own scenes! ;)
I have always wanted to ride in the great wide open, full blast, into the sun!! I think it would be so much fun. Those movie horses are so amazing!! Just broke broke broke. And i have never notices the whinning!! I will have to pay better attention. Maybe I am too busy looking at the cowboys!! LOL
ReplyDelete{Andrea} and {John and Regina}~ Paint Girl and I used to run our ponies full-out in a field when we were kids. I haven't ran My Boy like that. I think it would be great fun. I'm not sure if I could get him to go much faster than an arena lope, though! ;) I also wonder how he would be outside at a gallop. I guess my fear is he will think "yeehaw" and toss in a buck or two! It is hard to let go of that control. But it also looks like so much fun.....
ReplyDeleteWe have run our horses through pastures pretty much all over East TExas. Dayworking as much as hubby does and I do at times. You have to sometimes to catch cows. The horses are great at keeping there footing and they are always looking at the ground and most the times can avoid things. As the rider should also be looking.
ReplyDeleteI do love watching the movies. I wanted to rent Australia the other day, but there weren't any :(
I haven't really wondered too much about the horses sure footing while running, but more that I wished I had the guts to ride like them and stay on! hehehe.
ReplyDeleteI too watched Wildfire to be able to watch the horses, otherwise is was a bit corny.
My horses will whinny the minute we open the back door in the morning because they know it is feeding time or they are hoping we will come pay attention to them. I will open my back door and all the horses will stop short of what they are doing and look at me... just 2 cute.
My quarter horse whinnies when the other horses get out and are not where they are suppose to be and that is great, because sometimes it is the middle of the night. (I may have to write about that in a blog).
I have found it is really fun running, it is actually easier to keep on the horse then when it trots.