A horse on the set of Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” spin-off died last week, sparking an outcry from animal welfare groups for running “vulnerable horses to death on set.”
The horse used in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” suffered cardiac failure during its morning exercises, reps for the series said Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a production horse died on 21st March,” an Amazon Studios spokesperson said. “The incident took place in the morning whilst the horse was being exercised prior to rehearsals. The trainer was not in costume and filming had yet to commence.”
“Both a veterinarian and a representative of the American Humane Association were present at the time,” the statement continued. “The independent autopsy has confirmed that the horse died of cardiac failure.”
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) slammed producers for the use of live horses rather than using CGI options.
“It seems that living underground with the orcs is par for the course for the producers of ‘The Rings of Power’ because they have the option to use CGI, mechanical rigs and other humane methods that wouldn’t run vulnerable horses to death on set,” a PETA told Deadline in a statement.
“PETA is calling on the show’s creators — and all other producers — to take on a new quest without using any real horses. If they can’t avoid exploiting animals for their art, they should find a new medium, because no one wants to see a spinoff for TV with torment as the theme.”
The horses were provided by The Devil’s Horsemen which boasts several film credits such as “Wonder Woman,” “Justice League,” “Transformers: The Last Knight,” “Game Of Thrones” and “The Crown.”
One source close to the production told Deadline that the set was cleared and everyone was asked to leave for 30 to 45 minutes while a team removed the body.
According to The Devil’s Horsemen, this is the first time one of their horses has died on a job.
The Post reached out to Amazon and The Devil’s horseman for comment.
“Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is set to return to Amazon for a second season in 2024.
