Search for Secretariat

[monicabee]

I wrote a blog post about the search for horses to play Secretariat:

blog.seattlepi.com/horsebytes/archives/175857.asp

It seems likely there is a big red gelding with a mellow disposition somewhere at Emerald Downs looking for a new job - so I am trying to help spread the word.

I doubt there is a huge payoff - for Seabiscuit they bought horses for $5K or less, and these are different times, but this might help a retiring race horse, and ensure them a little more value after the film is shot - or possibly a publicity career helping other retired race horses.

[cyann100]

I read your blog and I do hope that which ever horses they use are indeed taken care of after the production. The white horse in Dances With Wolves that the medicine man rides is- last I heard- in the care of a horse rescue because from what I understand, someone wanted it since it was in the movie, and then it was neglected. I forget which rescue it was, but I could just see someone wanting a live piece of movie memorobilia and and then not taking care of it. Or just disposing of the horses at auction after the movie wraps.

[monicabee]

Celebrity cuts both ways, I guess. That's why contracts are better than good intentions.... though you have to be around to do the followup.

I have worked a little bit in the past in the film industry and like others, it is a highly nomadic profession with a lot of career anxiety even for the human participants. Fortunes rise and fall - not just for the actors, but for the crew. Production companies fold frequently, and there is often no legal entity to enforce a contract anyway, let alone anyone with the time to watch over the horses who worked on a film. Hollywood is no mightier than any other player in the equine industry in this regard. However, when a film romanticizes horses by casting them in leading roles, it seems fair to hold them to a higher standard.

One person who has not relied on others to ensure a good after-life for a movie horse is
Viggo Mortensen. He has gone out of his way to help several of his equine co-stars.

It's unlikely that he is under consideration for the role of Lucien Laurin, Secretariat's trainer, but you never know!

[cat67]

I know a lot of the Seabiscuit horses got good homes because of their celebrity. I used to board with a gray gelding that one of the wranglers from the movie adopted and he had an awesome home. He was a failed racehorse so that was a good outcome for him!

No matter what, a certain percentage of homes will always go bad...celebrity helps a horse have greater value and a better chance of finding a home throughout their life. It's a good thing, as long as humane standards are upheld while filming and the wranglers are competent (aka NOT "My Friend Flicka")