Memory of Horse Deaths Mars Opening of Flicka

Fox 2000 Pictures will release "Flicka," the long-awaited remake of Mary O'Hara's treasured novel, nationwide October 20. The movie stars Tim McGraw and Alison Lohman, and is a feel-good movie about a wild horse and the teenager who tries to tame her. However, the making of the movie was anything but feel good when two of the horses used in the filming were killed on the set.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) October 19, 2006 -- Fox 2000 Pictures will release "Flicka," the long-awaited remake of Mary O'Hara's treasured novel, nationwide October 20.

The movie stars Tim McGraw and Alison Lohman, and is a feel-good movie about a wild horse and the teenager who tries to tame her. However, the making of the movie was anything but feel good when two of the horses used in the filming were killed on the set.

The American Humane Association, who oversees the safety of animals on movie sets, had four representatives on the set of "Flicka" from the first day of production, and pre-approved all activities planned for the horses. It was under the AHA’s oversight that two horses were killed within the span of two weeks.

On April 11, 2005, the AHA reported that a horse broke its leg and had to be euthanized. In a studio briefing dated April 25, 2005, the AHA disclosed that a second horse broke his neck and died during the filming of "Flicka" two days earlier.

Observers of the second event were quoted as saying that the horse was one of four that were galloping around an arena trailing 30-foot ropes and fell when its back legs became entangled in the ropes. Other reports stated that two horses stumbled, presumably over the ropes, and collided.

An eyewitness account sent by email to Int'l Fund for Horses at the time alleged that in recreating a wild horse race (a rodeo event) for the movie, a group of horses were "released into an arena with wranglers jumping on the terrified horses, biting them, dragging them down and otherwise assaulting them." The horses naturally panicked and two collided heavily into each other. One of the horses did not get back up, sustaining a broken neck, and died. There were conflicting reports on whether the horses were wild or trained rodeo horses.

"It doesn’t matter if the horses were trained or not. Trailing long ropes behind frightened horses is a recipe for disaster. When you have people yelling and jumping on the horses it can cause fear in even the best-trained animal. A terrified horse will fight or flee, and injuries are bound to happen," stated IF4H President, Vivian Farrell.

The Screen Actors Guild pay the AHA to monitor animal use in films and award the "No Animals Were Harmed"® End Credit Disclaimer according to standards set by the organization. After the deaths of the horses, the AHA did an internal investigation and concluded the deaths were "unavoidable" and that there was proper oversight on the part of the group. However, they agreed that the movie would not be given the usual "No Animals Were Harmed"® credit at the end of the film.

"By all accounts the horses used by the movie "Flicka" were sturdy types, not delicate horses like Arabians or Thoroughbreds. Yet these horses met brutal deaths," commented Farrell. "I question whether or not it is a major conflict of interest when the organization responsible for monitoring an industry is supported by it."

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