Training Horses for Extreme Stunts
Nothing is impossible when it comes to training horses. However, it takes hours of patience and persistence to gain the confidence and trust your horse needs to perform extreme stunts such as riding this slide. The film “Hidalgo” had a scene where Viggo is galloping across the desert when they fall into a lion pit set up by one of the enemies. Rex trained a horse to walk out on the bridge and then for it to fall out from under them to create the illusion of falling into the pit. The stunt took engineers weeks to prepare a bridge that was safe and reliable. the horse had to practice daily. However when they were on location in Morrocco, another crew built the bridge. It was not built to specifications and did not operate correctly so Rex refused to let his horse ride out onto the bridge. In the end the horse did not have to risk sliding into the pit and the scene was green screened.
This photo is from the rehearsal in California which was so scary for everyone that only Rex would attempt the stunt.
Temple Grandin Airs HBO Sun Feb 6, 8pm
I highly recommend a new film called Temple Grandin on HBO this Saturday at 8pm. The film is about the remarkable work Temple Grandin has done in the field of livestock behavior and humane slaughter. Rex worked on the film with Harbor Mist, also known as Mr. T has a pivotal scene in the film. Friends who have previewed the film say that it is very powerful on many levels and is worth watching. The film is well cast with Julia Ormond and David Strathairn joining Claire to tell the story of an amazing scientist who happens to be autistic.
One day of filming required Mr. T to play dead and lay perfectly still under a tarp. This would not have been easy on a quiet set and was especially difficult because the scene required Mr. T to lie absolutely still while Claire, as Temple, has a fit standing over him. As you know horses are highly sensitive to energy and it is remarkable how Rex was able to convince Mr. T to lay perfectly still during the sequence. This is the result of many hours of training and a tremendous trust between horse and trainer. Mr. T also has several other scenes where he has to fight and rear as well as being gentle with his co- star.
I also recommend you read the review about the film in the New York Times today.
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Teaching Horses to Drive Safely From the Horses Perspective
Pard is an American Quarter Horse who has never driven before. Last year he moved to the Peterson ranch and quickly learned that all horses who live at the ranch have to learn to drive in a team and often are hitched in a team of 6 or more horses. Learning to pull into the collar and turn with the others is not easy. Pard talks about his experience on his first day in the harness.
Ryan Peterson Training Doc
Rex Training a Horse to Walk a Plank
Rex was recently asked, is there anything you cannot teach a horse? His answer was that he has not found it yet….this 2 year old colt was started on the plank as a yearling and is having a difficult time with his new body as a teenager. He is confident and willing. Training horses takes millions of hours of patience and persistence. Never lose your temper and never give up. To train with Rex, check the Clinic page for dates near you or email us to set up a clinic in your area.
RJ/Hidalgo Interview With Fox/TV Michigan
Rex and Cari travelled to Novi Michigan with Harbor Mist/Dreamer/Secretariat and RJ/Hidalgo to the North American Horse Festival. Fans drove from miles around to meet RJ and Harbor Mist and to learn how Rex trains horses for any discipline. RJ and Rex were featured on the morning news program on ABC and Fox affiliates, here is a behind the scenes look, the real interview will be posted when we receive a copy. RJ terrified the camerman with his “Charge”, and he admitted he was not a horse person. But he was very impressed with how charismatic and attentive RJ was the entire time.
“Secretariat” Meets “Hidalgo” at Windrock Farm, NY
Rex Working with RJ, his Star Horse from “Hidalgo”
Rex discovered RJ as an unbroke 3 year old in Texas when he was casting horses for the John Fusco’s film “Hidalgo”. Rex had to have RJ camera ready for the main actor, Viggo Mortensen, to ride in only 8 weeks. True to his character, RJ did not fail to deliver. Rex continued to train him throughout the picture which took nearly a year to complete. Now RJ enjoys working in films when horses are required for complex scenes such as laying dead under Benedict Arnold for “American General” or taking Michael Lang, the main organizer of the Woodstock Music Festival through the aftermath of mud fields to survey the scene in Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock”. RJ also performs around the country at Horse Festivals to the delight of his fan club. Here you see Rex tuning RJ up for another performance….