Quotations and Information |
You will find some of this information elsewhere, but for the sake of organization,
I am repeating it here.
Horse Actors | Where Are They Now? | Background Information
Quotations from the Movies | Quotations from the Books | American Humane Society Information
| Shadowfax | Demero (16-year-old Andalusian stallion, used for running), Blanco (12-year-old Andalusian stallion, used for close-ups) see below for information from the owner! |
| Brego | Uraeus (Warmblood stallion, 16.1 hh) |
| Asfaloth | Florian (13-year-old Andalusian stallion, 15.3 hh, used for most close-ups and stunts), Hero (used for faster scenes), Odie (used when Liv Tyler actually rode). Also Tharra (grey thoroughbred mare), ridden by site visitor "trickrider" (see her page here) |
| Bill the Pony | Shane and Rastus (Quarter horse/shetland). A panto-pony was used in the mountain scenes, in which two human actors wear a horse suit to play the horse over dangerous terrain. |
| Arod | Unknown name, part-Percheron |
| Snowmane | Percy (Percheron-cross) |
| Hasufel | Kenny |
Where Are They Now?
| Uraeus and Kenny | Uraeus is a former FEI dressage horse who currently is owned by Viggo and lives with Kenny (Hasufel) in New Zealand. |
| Demero | Died in July 2003 from a melanoma on his stomach. Owner Mark Kineston-Smith of Otaki, NZ, bought Demero aware of the condition. Demero has no foals. |
| Blanco | Purchased by Cynthia Royal of Safari Farms in the US. Gelded since filming. Cynthia says: "Because of Blanco's high level of training as a trick/liberty horse, he was the one used in the close-up standing shots with Gandolf, most of the shots requiring rearing (due to his superb sustained rear) and much of the bridleless riding work requiring close-ups, whereby the other horse (much thinner, but also an Andalusian purebred stallion) was used for the running scenes. You can easily discern Blanco due to the pink in the middle of his lower lip. |
| Florian | Purchased as a surprise gift for rider Jane Abbot. Living in New Zealand. |
| Tharra | Living with owner Sonia in New Zealand |
Background on the Horses
| Shadowfax | Gandalf's horse, a gift to him from King Theoden. Shadowfax is the chief of the Mearas. The name Shadowfax means "shadowy grey coat." It is an anglicized version of the name Sceadu-faex in the language of Rohan. The word fax is an obsolete English word meaning "hair." |
| Brego | In the books, Brego was the 2nd King of Rohan. In the movie, Brego is the name of Aragorn's horse--in the book Aragorn's horse is named Roheryn. Roheryn was given to Aragorn by Arwen. Roheryn menas "horse of the lady" from roch meaning "horse" and híril meaning "lady." |
| Asfaloth | In the books, Asfaloth was Glorfindel's horse, but in the movie, he was ridden by Arwen. |
| Bill the Pony | Bill was bought from and named after Bill Ferny, by Sam. |
| Arod | Unknown name, part-Percheron |
| Snowmane | Snowmane is King Theoden's horse, who he rode at the Battle of the Pelennor, and both were killed there. |
| Hasufel | Hasufel is the horse that is lent to Aragorn by Eomer. In the books,
he does not die but is instead returned to Meduseld. Also, in the books
he is not a chestnut, but a dark grey. Hasufel means "grey coat" from the Old English hasu meaning "grey" and fel or fell meaning "skin." |
| Arod | Legolas's horse, lent to him by Eomer. His name means "swift" in Old English. |
Quotations from the Movie
|
Arwen: Noro lim, Asfaloth, Noro lim! (Meaning "run fast") [Outside the forest, Gandalf whistles piercingly. Soon an answering
neigh is heard and a white horse appears from the plain, answering the
call.] Eomer: [whistles] Hasufel! Arod! May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell. Gandalf: Ride, Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste. Aragorn: Turn this fellow free. He has seen enough of war. |
Quotations from the Books
| "Go with words of guard and guiding on you," he said. "You are
a wise beast, and have learned much in Rivendell. Make your ways to places where
you can find grass, and so come in time to Elrond's house, or wherever you wish
to go." The Fellowship of the Ring: "Journey in the Dark," p. 317 - Gandalf's blessing to send Bill the pony back to Rivendell from the Mines of Moria 'There are three,' said Legolas, gazing out over the plain. 'See how they run? There is Hasufel, and there is my friend Arod beside him! But there is another that strides ahead: a very great horse. I have not seen his like before.' 'Nor will you again,' said Gandalf. 'That is Shadowfax. He is the chief of the Mearas, lords of horses, and not even Theoden, King of Rohan, has ever looked on a better. Does he not shine like silver, and run as smoothly as a swift stream? He has come for me: the horse of the White Rider. We are going to battle together.' - on Shadowfax's first arrival Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! - Theoden's cry to rally the Rohirrim Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in this speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. - Theoden on the Ride of the Rohirrim Faithful servant yet master's bane Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane. The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 120 - Inscription on Snowmane's gravemarker Their horses were of great stature, strong and clean-limbed; their grey coats glistened, their long tails flowed in the wind, their manes were braided on their proud necks. The Men that rode them matched them well: tall and long-limbed; their hair, flaxen-pale, flowed under their light helms, and streamed in long braids behind them; their faces were stern and keen. In their hands were tall spears of ash, painted shields were slung at their backs, long swords were at their belts, their burnished shirts of mail hung down upon their knees. - Description of Rohirrim, The Two Towers, Chapter 2 A great dark-grey horse was brought to Aragorn, and he mounted it. 'Hasufel is his name,' said Éomer. 'May he bear you well and to better fortune than Gárulf, his late master!' A smaller and lighter horse, but restive and fiery, was brought to Legolas. Arod was his name. But Legolas asked them to take off saddle and rein. 'I need them not,' he said, and leaped lightly up, and to their wonder Arod was tame and willing beneath him, moving here and there with but a spoken word: such was the elvish way with all good beasts. Gimli was lifted up behind his friend, and he clung to him, not much more at ease than Sam Gamgee in a boat. - Hasufel and Arod being lent to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, The Two Towers, Chapter 2 |
American Humane Association Information
| The Black Riders - The tack for the Ringwraiths was made of leather and soft foam backing
to prevent any irritation. All of the armor was specially fit for the
horses with 4 or 5 layers of padding under the saddles. Over several months,
horses and riders trained with these special harnesses and the actors’
elaborate costumes so that the animals would be familiar with the tack
by the time shooting began. The hooded riders rehearsed with the horses
both with and without their hoods so that the horses would be accustomed
to the faceless riders.
In one scene it appears as if one of the Wraith horses has a nail in its hoof that is bleeding and covered with mud. The effect was achieved with a prosthetic hoof, fake nail and makeup to give the appearance of a muddy and bloody hoof. Any weapons that the Wraiths carry when on horseback were fabricated by the props department out of rubber or some other soft material. Arwen and the Wraiths - For the chase and heavy riding scenes production reported that the paths were scouted and graded in pre-production to insure that the horses would have secure footing and a choreographed path of travel. Branches were trimmed, debris cleared and rabbit holes filled. The corridor through the trees was color coded for each horse and the intricate pattern of riding was carefully designed. Each horse and rider walked the path in rehearsals with the camera vehicle. The speed at which the horses ran was gradually increased from a walk to a cantor with each take. As the horses became very camera conscious and learned their individual patterns and timing they built confidence to run the pattern at full gallop. The terrain was walked on foot and checked between takes for any uneven footing. Horses appear to rear and spin as the Wraiths pursue Arwen (Liv Tyler) and jump obstacles in the chase sequence. The horses, Bob, Chico and Zee were trained Polo Cross, Cross Country and Dressage horses. All the rearing horses were trained for at least six months in pre-production prior to performing any of the rearing sequences. The jumping horses were purchased for their jumping abilities. According to production, in total there were 5 rearing horses, 20-25 confident jumping horses, 3 falling horses at a gallop and 5 that would lie down and stay down on cue. Arwen was doubled by an experienced New Zealand equestrian named Jane Abbott who was in control of the horse for the galloping and rearing sequences. Arwen’s horse, Asfaloth, was played by three horses. A 13 year old grey Andalusian named Florian was purchased for the film and pre-trained as a performing horse and two other horses named Hero and Odie were doubles. Florian was the main hero horse used for most of the close ups and stunt work. Ms. Abbott adopted Florian when filming ended. Hero was used for much of the faster work and Odie was used when Liv Tyler was seen astride a horse. Since the actress was not as experienced a rider as her double, Tyler was able to concentrate on her acting in the chase scenes by actually riding a horse barrel rig that was mounted on a tracking vehicle. The barrel was covered with horse hide and mane that the production purchased from a tanner, dressed with a saddle and secured on shock mounts to allow for movement. The chase culminates in the Wraiths being swept away by a tidal wave conjured by Arwen. Although it appears as if horses are overwhelmed and knocked off their footing, the entire sequence was computer generated (CGI) wizardry. The real horse waded into a streambed that production reported as being checked prior to filming for any underwater obstacles. A Wraith Chases the Hobbits down the Dock - For this scene the horse, Zee, was trained for the sliding stop also known as a rodeo stop. Production notes that the animal wore suitable shoes for the stunt. The water in the pond was actually knee deep. During filming, Zee slipped while turning and fell off the dock. According to production, a vet treated the horse with supporting therapies such as anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics and noted that the horse did not sustain any injuries. The horse was able to get up and walk into its trailer reportedly without problem and was rested for the rest of the night. Per the production, the horse was in normal spirits by the following day. |