That’s how I give a lot of my lessons, actually. We would work Houdini and I’d take the bridle off and work him loose with the Antonio on him. Although he rode very well to begin with, he really enjoyed doing that with Houdini. That’s how we got his riding much better. I’d work Houdini on the whips and Antonio would ride. We did a lot of the things at liberty with Antonio, which he really liked. Antonio Banderas rode Houdini the entire time through that. ![]() Lovgren : I think the biggest was on the second Zorro, The Legend of Zorro. ![]() If it was difficult, I had a double for him.Ĭ&I : Who are some of the actors who rode Houdini in his film career? Obviously, the older Houdini got, I was very protective of what he did. We think he was around 26 when he died, but he always acted like a 15-year-old horse or even younger, because he was always in shape. I was told he was out of Dash for Cash, but I never got his papers. Lovgren : We got him in Lakeview Terrace from my horse shoer. It was just the quality of the horse and his attitude. I can’t even begin to remember all the actors that that he really babysat for, gave lessons to and things like that. Most of the time he was black, so he could double other horses. I think that was one of two films where he was his own color - buckskin. His very first big film was The Mask of Zorro. The buckskin quarter horse gelding who’d made his mark in an elite cadre of Hollywood movie horses, now joined the ranks of those deceased.Ĭowboys & Indians : What stands out about Houdini’s long career as an equine actor?īobby Lovgren: The biggest thing I can say about him, is that he was so much a part of our family. He was driving home to his ranch in Acton, when his wife Wendy called, “Houdini is sick.”Īn hour later, the Lovgrens made a difficult decision together with the two veterinarians called in. ![]() That morning, Lovgren made a quick trip to a studio in Los Angeles and picked up a saddle. It also happened to be Lovgren’s 48th birthday. It will take time until Hollywood horse trainer Bobby Lovgren and family look back on March 27, 2013, as anything but the day Houdini died. I hope you enjoy this talk with a present day horseman and trainer, Bobby Lovgren, Farewell Houdini: Veteran Hollywood Horse Often Played Horse Of A Different Color In Storied Career I am convinced he takes pride in his accomplishments and that he not only recognizes me but loves me… no two humans are alike, nor are two horses.” When Trigger and I are about to ride into an arena, I can feel the surge of excitement run through him before the spotlight hits us. These guys and gals know how to get the best out of their horses and – ON CUE!!!Īs the famous cowboy Roy Rogers once wrote “Just as with human beings, so I believe it is a fact about horses some are born to perform and some are not. The Hollywood horse world is a tough business and anyone that can take the ups and downs, hurry up and waits and last minute changes deserves way more than the little wrangler / handler / trainer line somewhere hidden at the end of the credits. McCall just finished this interview with the fabulous Hollywood horse trainer Bobby Lovgren for the latest Cowboys & Indians magazine.īobby worked a lot with Corky Randall, head trainer on the Black Stallion movies, and Houdini was one of the “stars” in the “Zorro” movies and “Lone Ranger” among others.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |