Boycott Flicka?

[CathyBogart]

After closer observation thanks to comments from other PTers, this looks like another round of PETA's bullpoop. It might still be interesting food for thought, so I left the link up.

www.addictedtolife.net/mydeadflicka

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Oh man! I too wanted to see this movie. Now after reading this, no way!

[BC_MoM]

Tim McGraw is a rodeo supporter who has performed at many rodeos and is clearly a fan of this kind of animal abuse

That's pretty rude. I can't get over people who make these statements up. This just sounds like another PETA organization to me. Accidents happen - and yes, these accidents shouldn't have happened - but they're not unusual accidents.

I've heard of lots of times where a horse "missteps" and injures itself so badly, it needs to be put down. If a horse steps on it's on rope/bridle/whatever, it can break it's jaw.

They should have disallowed an event so inherently dangerous and uncontrollable from taking place to begin with

Many movies have wild horse races - tons of older westen movies have many in their movies.

Maybe AHA should have stepped in sooner - they could have prevented these deaths.

(PS - everything I have said it my freely spoken opinion, please do not attack me or ask me to justify my statements because I don't need to)

[junescrater716]

Bc mom you're right. It does sound like something PETA would say.

[buttercup132]

That's pretty rude. I can't get over people who make these statements up. This just sounds like another PETA organization to me. Accidents happen - and yes, these accidents shouldn't have happened - but they're not unusual accidents.

I agree. And they cant honestly think that people will belive that video is of the same rodeo. Thats why they have it in 5 different sections... One of them is even a totally different colour. Not to mention they are ALL different horses...

I bet they are some how connected to PETA.

extras and bystanders who witnessed what happened on the set have gone public about the animal abuse that occurred, including animals being struck and punched to make them "perform." Now two horses are dead, and there is concern that more may follow.

The two horses arent dead from this.
And I doubt they actually punched the horses. Although its not nice to think about, the horse would have felt it only a little due to all the muscle surrounding there bodies.
Thats why we can use crops on them (and they arent cruel I know most PTer's who ride use one).
I'm sure when I had Trigger it looked like Ive punched him , but I havnt Ive smacked him under his belly to make him smarten up thats it. Maybe these people saw it from the wrong angle.

Four employees of the American Humane Association (AHA) were reportedly on the movie set prior and during the filming of the rodeo scene.

Right there shows me that if there were FOUR members of the AHA there then nothing intendly cruel was done to them. They wouldnt have let it happen.

[RICHARD]

I am surprised that this story is just being circulated now

This happened at an equestrian park a few miles from my house during the filiming.

I do not blame Mc Graw......

I blame the film crew and company that produced the film.

It's just another sucky Hollywood thing that happens with movies about animals.


Like the run on pets after a Hollywood movie...

[BC_MoM]

And I doubt they actually punched the horses. Although its not nice to think about, the horse would have felt it only a little due to all the muscle surrounding there bodies.

EXCELLENT point, Alicia!!! It's NOT animal cruelty to "punch" (as they call it) a horse. Do you guys know how hard you have to kick some horses to get them to walk forward? These are tough, tough animals we're talking about. It sounds cruel, but it's not whatsoever.

[wolfsoul]

I agree that this sounds like an activist ploy. If you look on the bottom left hand corner, there is PETA -- they seem to be in on this one together.

My riding instructor used to "punch" our horses. Some of the horses were very stubborn so she'd give them a good smack or a kick to smarten them up or get them going. It's a huge animal, it's not like it's getting hurt. Accidents happen -- Get a that many horses together and something is bound to go wrong eventually.

[junescrater716]

Ever since Disney made a movie pushing hundreds of rodents of a cliff (forgot what they're called) a law was enforced that made the Humane Society be at every single movie shooting with animals. The website about abusing the horses in the making of Flicka was probably a hoax.

[critter crazy]

I think it is all Crap!! For one they are going by the words of a disgruntled employee! and second the website is hosted by Sharkonline, hmmm....How believeable do they sound to you? A mis-step can happen at any moment and cause a horse to be put down, it is unfortunately a sad part of owning a horse! And a horse tripping over its own rope happens alot as well, that could have been prevented depending on the circumstances, but another horse trampling it, kind of hard to stop a 1500lb animal from doing what it wants! things happen and yes it is sad, but i think this website is just looking to cause problems! I think that there is absolutely no truth to it whatsoever! I will go and see the movie. and I will enjoy it!!!

[moosmom]

Well, after reading all your posts, I deleted mine. I was infuriated by what I read but didn't realize PETA was involved. After knowing THAT, I see it all more clearly.

"Punching" a horse sounds so cruel though. But since I don't know much about horses other than I think they are such beautiful, gentle animals, I'd appreciate it if anyone can enlighten me.

[Zippy]

I thought it was bad too intil like everone esle I saw that PETA was involved

[cali]

agreed this website sounds extremist. Horses are HUGE animals and they can be stubborn. many things on ranches actually seem cruel till you are actually out there doing it, I have heard the same stuff about stockdog training, to an outsider it seems cruel as the trainers yell at, hit the dogs and smack poles in front of the dogs, even I thought that way..till I was actually out there in the feild training my dogs on sheep, suddenly I understood that these things were needed, its not cruel its the only way to get their attention.

I mean has anyone seen what happens to animals in the orginal "My Friend Flicka"(1943)? I mean its a good movie but imagine actually being on the set working with these animals.

[Twisterdog]

I always try to find several reputable sources of information that all agree on the same story before I believe things on the internet ... or anywhere for that matter.

You can pretty much always find a website that backs up any point of view in the world ... and then you can easily find the polar opposite.

[BC_MoM]

"Punching" a horse sounds so cruel though. But since I don't know much about horses other than I think they are such beautiful, gentle animals, I'd appreciate it if anyone can enlighten me.

Some pleasure horses can be 5000 pounds. Take a 125 pound girl and get her to tap a horse with her finger. The horse won't even feel it. Get her to nudge it in the side to walk on, it won't work on all horses. Get her to kick it harder, the horse calmly walks on. Smacking and punching a horse would be like a tap to us.

It's hard to explain unless you actually ride.