What do you think?

**sammy101** · 05-03-2005, 09:41 PM

I was watching Celebrity Justice and i heard this story,what do you think?Its sad

Did 'Inhumane' Treatment Lead to Movie Set Horse Death?
April 26, 2005

"My Friend Flicka" was the heartwarming 1943 family film classic that starred a young Roddy McDowall in the tale of a wild colt and the boy who won her heart. The original was filled with scenes of horses in distress, but on the set of the remake currently filming north of Los Angeles, a horse has really died.

"I witnessed one of the most brutal things I've ever seen in my life, which is a horse being killed in the ring," said animal rights activist Roland Vincent. Vincent told "CJ" he signed up to be an extra on the film specifically to keep an eye on the horse stunts. "It was really awful," he said.

Vincent claims the incident occurred during filming a scene involving a rodeo event called a "wild horse chase." According to Vincent, four horses were in a rodeo ring, being chased by cowboys who were attempting to ride them. According to Vincent, two of the horses got away from the cowboys.

"[The horses] were absolutely terrified and were running for their lives," Vincent recounted for us. "In the process, the horse tripped on its own rope, and fell down and another horse kicked him in the head, and that horse was in a spasm and died a horrible death."

However, that's not the way Los Angeles officials see it. Officer Bastian from the Department of Animal Services told us, "the horse felt no pain, [and] was probably was dead before it hit the ground. It was a sheer accident."

Authorities tell "CJ" that 20th Century Fox, the studio making "My Friend Flicka," had all the proper permits, and that a Humane Society Officer was on hand when the accident occurred. Officer Bastian told "CJ" that there was no intent to hurt the animal and that nobody on the set was more upset than the horse wrangler who was in charge of the animals. "I could tell that he was visibly shaken about the event," Bastian said, "because this was one of his horses."

Country singer Tim McGraw, who will star in the "Flicka" remake, was on the set at the time of incident.

20th Century Fox said in a statement, "the production has taken every possible precaution and safety measure in shooting scenes where horses are involved." The studio also said that the horses involved were "rodeo horses conditioned for a rodeo show."

However, animal activist Roland Vincent says just filming a wild horse chase ought to be illegal. "It was an incredibly inhumane thing to do even if the horse didn't die," Vincent insisted. "I mean, those horses suffered, even the ones that aren't dead."

http://celebrityjustice.warnerbros.c.../0504/26a.html