Hollywood Horse Stories

A recent Hollywood rumor was that Tobey Maguire injured his back during the making of Seabiscuit (2003) doing horseback riding scenes, making him unable to star in the sequel to Spider-Man. Although it turned out to be false, he rode a mechanical horse in the film, many actors have had close calls working with horses.

One example was Michael Caine, whose first movie Zulu (1964) required him to ride a horse after a hunting expedition, which after several embarrassing takes almost bought his career to a premature end. "I thought you said you had riding lessons!" said the angry director. "I did!" said the beleaguered star. "And the first thing I learned was I never wanted to ride one of these bloody things again!"

He wasn't the only one. Jack Nicholson took a hard fall off of his horse in The Missouri Breaks (1976) which he shrugged off saying,"It would have hurt if I was a real person instead of a movie star."

Some performers get along famously with their horses, the relationship can go on for years. Gene Autry always made a grand entrance at rodeos by riding his beloved Champion through a ring of fire at rodeos, the stunt always worked perfectly until Champion aged and Gene had to replace him. The famous singing cowboy exhibited no concern when he was advised by trainers that the new Champion was not ready for prime time his first night on the job. "It'll be all right boys!" he reassured the wranglers through swigs of tequila. The big moment came, the new steed rode out with it's rider toward the burning ring and came to a dead stop, sending Autry flying to complete the stunt on his own. The crowd gasped but luckily Gene was more drunk than hurt, he simply got up and took a bow like it was all planned.

One can grow close to a horse then regret it later. After the twelve year old Elizabeth Taylor fell in love with the beautiful black creature she rode in National Velvet (1944), she begged producer Pan Berman to let her keep it. It was a valuable animal, and some of the MGM brass were unwilling to part with it. But Elizabeth was such a sweet girl they gave in. Sixteen years later Pan met a much more cynical Taylor now working on her fourth marriage, on the set of another MGM movie Butterfield 8. "Say aren't you the one who gave me that horse after National Velvet? I'm still feeding that son of a *$% #!"

Most stars minimize their risks before riding. David Niven bribed a trainer fifty dollars so he would get to ride a gentle nag while filming The Prisoner Of Zenda (1937). He brought his animal next to Raymond Massey's stallion, and both reluctant riders prepared for the director to call action. Suddenly Niven noticed a shadow above him, Massey's horse had risen on it's hind legs. Niven realized his nag was in heat and dived out the way as Massey's stallion came down on Niven's mare. He watched stunned as the helpless Massey bounced on top of what now looked like a giant rocking horse!

Want to hear more stories? Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says," these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining." Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at http://www.hollywoodstories.com.