Weekly Workshop-Horses and Riding in the LOTR film

[Brannwen]

Weekly Workshop-Horses and Riding in Lord of the Rings

This workshop will cover the horses and riding in the Lord of the Rings film. Here are the plans for the workshop:


Day 1: Introduction
Day2: Horse breeds in LOTR
Day 3: Using weapons on horseback
Day 4: Riding techniques and training in LOTR
Day 5: Equipment and Tack

Introduction.

In the Lord of the Rings films, there are beautiful horses and expert riding that is sure to capture even non-horse loving people. From the small yet sturdy Bill the Pony to the regal and kingly Shadowfax, each horse is sure to enchant and delight the viewer in some way. Hopefully this workshop will give you some insight into the wonderful world of horses and riding and the magic behind the film’s expertise.
Some helpful notes:

Bridle: The piece of tack that goes on the horses head and holds the bit in the mouth.
Bit: The metal part of the bridle that goes in the horse’s mouth used for control
Saddle: The piece of equipment made from wood and leather that is fastened to the horse’s back for the rider to sit on.

[Evenstar]

This should be good, Bran! 

[Brannwen]

  Thank you Even. I will try my best to make it so.

[Brannwen]

Horse Breeds.

Different horse breeds have different characteristics. For example, Thoroughbreds are bred for speed and used often in racing. Arabians were trained to be able to endure extreme temperatures and are light and fast horses to make galloping across burning Arabian sand easy. The horses used in LOTR are, for the most part, Andalusions, Arabians, and the other horses are probably different kinds.

Shadowfax~ There was more than one horse used for Shadowfax. It varies between an Andalusion and an Arabian. Arabians can be distinguished by their distinct, dished heads. Andalusians, bred in the South of Spain, are very muscular and are considered by many to be the most beautiful breed of all. When Shadowfax is first seen, he is an Andalusion; when Gandalf arrives in Helm’s Deep, the horse is an Arab.

Here is Shadowfax as an Arabian: click here

Here he is as an Andalusion: click here

Asfaloth~ Asfaloth and all the elf horses are Andalusians. Because of the elegance and the breath-taking way that they hold their heads, they are ideal for the ethereal and graceful elves.

Picture of Asfaloth: click here

Bill the Pony~ Bill is most likely a Shetland pony. Shetland ponies come from Wales and are a hearty, lively breed. They are one of the smallest breeds of equines and, when ridden, are mostly used as a child’s pony. Their size and sturdiness makes an ideal pack horse for people going on a quest.

Picture of Bill: click here

Horses of Rohan~ These horses are probably an assortment of different breeds. Probably thoroughbreds are the most common. Aragorn’s horse Brego is a thoroughbred as well as Snowmane.

Brego: click here

[Evenstar]

Ahhhh, so *part* of Shadowfax is an Arabian! I thought he looked like one.

[Brannwen]

Using Weapons on Horseback.

When fighting on horseback, some weapons tend to not be very practical. Axes, for example: when fighting with an axe, you need room to swing the axe. With a horse, this would not very practical as you would not have as much room to swing. Nevertheless, in the films, axes are used by mounted riders. Bows and swords are very commonly used on horseback. With a bow, it takes more skill to use and often the rider does not use the reins, but instead guides the horse with his legs. When using a sword on horseback, shields are often used as well. Since you can only use your sword on one side of the horse, the shield can protect you on the other side. Spears are commonly used by Rohirrim because it is easy to reach the enemy before the enemy’s weapon can reach you. When the Rohirrim charge in The Return of the King, each rider has a spear as well as a sword. In The Two Towers when Eomer’s men attack the band of Uruk-hai, there are men with bows as well. Since this was a surprise attack at night, it would be easier to use bows here than in open battle since you have littler need to defend yourself; as the enemy is not ready for you.

Sorry I missed yesterday. 

[Brannwen]

Riding Techniques and Training.

One of the thing that the actors on the set of LOTR had to learn was a moderate amount of riding. Though they all had stunt doubles for the more difficult things, such as riding their horses down a flight of stairs at Helm’s Deep. Probably the best rider on the set was Gandalf’s riding double. In the books, Gandalf rides with no saddle and bridle: in real life this would be extremely difficult to do at a gallop. The rider used an English saddle and the horse was trained to be controlled by a wire around his neck. (Picture of English saddle) Gandalf’s long and flowing robes covered this saddle. An actor who did most of his own riding was Viggo Mortenson. When he arrived in New Zealand, he had already had experience and with a little more practice became very skilled. After filming, he bought the horse that was used for Brego. In his upcoming movie Hidalgo, he did his own riding.
A very important thing to remember when riding is to be light with your hands. Horses do not like having their mouths pulled on (though sometimes it is necessary). Controlling and guiding a horse with your legs is much easier on the horse and the horse is more relaxed and controllable and responds better. This is very important in combat situations since you will be holding and using weapons and unable to use the reins. Of course, riding this way is difficult at first and takes lots of practice; but in the end, this practice definitely pays off!

[*~*Háthawyn*~*]

This workshop is great, Brannwen!!!

[Brannwen]

Thanks, Hathy. 

Equipment and Tack.

The Lord of the Rings set crew involved some of the most talented individuals in their fields. From the weapon making to the costume design, everything was flawless and beautiful. The equine equipment was no different. There was an expert saddle maker on the set who designed and crafted the (approximately) sixty saddles used. (Note: these were used for the front most riders while there were some less-elegant looking saddles for the other riders.) The saddles were crafted very much in the style of the medieval saddles. The cantle (the back part of the saddle) is raised as to keep the rider from being driven backwards off the horse when he takes a hit from the front. The pommel (the raised front part of the saddle) is also high so as to prevent the rider from slipping forward. The saddles were made with aged leather to make them look more used and authentic. Golden designs were then added to give the saddles the Rohan look.
With bridles it is more important that it fits right as the bridle holds the bit and the bit is the most important part of the tack. The bridles in the movie are probably English bridles. They are aged slightly and have added decorations. Watching ROTK, it seems a lot of the bits are snaffle bits. (Picture of snaffle bits) Snaffle bits are one of the milder forms of bit (curb or kimberwick being one of the hardest) and it would be a good bit to use when doing serious riding. In battle, it would not pull hard on the horse’s mouth, allowing the horse to move easily off the leg and not have his mouth pulled hard unexpectedly. This form of bit is used by most hunter jumpers and dressage riders.

[Marieke]

You really know a lot about it, Brannwen!

[Lothiel]

Mae carnen, Bran; I can tell you know your stuff!

[Brannwen]

Thank you Marieke and Lothiel. 

[Evenstar]

Wow, Bran, this was wonderful! I used to take lessons, but then we had money problems, so... But anyway, this was great!