The remarkable result is the depiction of a human/animal bond that instills in the audience the sense that this intelligent animal is Aragon’s true companion, not just his horse.ĪHA Rating of the Film We appreciate that production has been cooperative in answering many of AHA’s questions and providing documentation regarding the animal action in the film.
Over six days were needed to get the frisky stallion to learn the gentle nuzzle.
The actual hero horse also had to be partially trained for the close-up necessary as the horse nuzzles Aragon. This created great trust between the man and the animal. The actor also took great effort to work with the horse for 10 days prior to shooting so that the lift off from the prone position could be a choreographed movement, comfortable for both the human and equine actors. The behaviors were taught in stages until one led seamlessly to another. The horse was required to walk up to the unconscious Aragon, nuzzle him, roll the actor over and lay down so that Aragon could grab its withers, be pulled up onto its back and carried off. This training and filming took place during re-shoots in 2002. The prep time for this was three weeks during which the trainer worked exclusively with one animal to get the horse to perform the sequence at liberty.
#Aragorns horae series#
The horse in this instance was trained to complete a very complex series of behaviors. In another sequence, Aragorn is found by his horse after being left for dead.
This process took many days so that the horse’s confidence grew and he was able to perform without stress or apprehension. It was necessary to take the time to walk the horse over the surface in stages and slowly teach it that the surface was sound, solid and safe. The expectation was for the horse to do the rear above a buried camera that was protected by a plexi-glass surface that could withstand the weight of over three tons. In one scene when a horse dramatically rears up and is photographed from below, a trained rearing horse was used. These spoils of the hunt were digital CGI creations. In several scenes he voraciously eats either a rabbit or a fish that is supposedly freshly killed and uncooked. Gollum takes pride in his hunting skills that sustain him and the Hobbits on their journey. Other taxidermy animals also appear such as rabbits and birds. The actual horses did run down a slope, but one less vertical than the film represents. When Gandalf joins the frey with another band of horsemen, it appears as if they are negotiating a dangerously steep hill. The trainer also prepped them to do slide stops upon voice command that enabled them to hit certain marks in a more dramatic fashion. By the time cameras were rolling, the horses were unthreatened by soldiers lying dead in their path and others brandishing weapons. The horses were prepped to intermingle with actors waging war by introducing them over time to various obstacles and increasing their speed in increments. Although it may appear as if horses lie dead on the battle field, the production took great effort to make dozens of prop horses that were covered in a flocking material, strategically costumed, and placed on the set with several taxidermy horses used for the closer camera angles.Īlthough digitally enhanced, the sequences included live horses as well.
Large armies on horseback appear to charge into the raised spears of the enemy or to do battle on a narrow bridge, but these were computer-enhanced sequences. Some of the most dramatic scenes that appear to place the horses in jeopardy were digitally enhanced in post production. “The Quest for Daring Animal Scenes: No mythic quest would be complete without a battle waged on foot and on horseback.
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