Viggo Mortensen has a deep and longstanding connection with horses that began during his childhood in South America. This lifelong affection has also had a significant influence on his acting career, particularly in films where horses play an important role. His approach has involved developing genuine relationships with the animals he works with rather than limiting his contact to the requirements of filming.
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Building Trust With Equine Co-Stars
While working on The Lord of the Rings and Hidalgo, Mortensen spent considerable time with his equine co-stars outside the hours required for filming. He would visit, groom and bond with the horses, allowing him to build trust and familiarity with the animals. His dedication to these relationships became an important part of his work on screen.
Mortensen’s natural horsemanship also contributed to his riding performances. His time spent with the horses helped him carry out complex riding scenes, sometimes without a standard saddle or bridle. As a result, his characters could appear like experienced and authentic horsemen during their scenes.
Buying Horses From His Films
Mortensen’s connection with his equine co-stars continued after filming had ended. Following The Lord of the Rings, he purchased Uraeus, the horse who played Brego, the main horse he rode as Aragorn. He also bought other horses from his films so that they could have comfortable retirements, including another horse from The Lord of the Rings and T.J., the paint horse from Hidalgo.
His care for the horses also extended to members of the film crew. He famously purchased the white horse ridden by Jane Abbott, Arwen’s stunt double, and gave the animal to her as a gift. Abbott had become attached to the horse but could not afford the price it reached at the production auction.
A Lasting Commitment To Horses
Mortensen’s treatment of his equine co-stars reflects the depth of his connection with horses. His time spent visiting, grooming and bonding with the animals was not limited to the demands of his roles, and his decision to purchase several horses after filming allowed those relationships to continue beyond production. His actions have also stood out to many Reddit users as an unusually genuine level of care for animals within the film industry.
Viggo Mortensen’s love for horses has therefore been closely connected with both his acting work and his relationships with the animals he has worked alongside. From building trust on the sets of The Lord of the Rings and Hidalgo to purchasing horses after filming, his dedication has remained an important part of his connection with equine co-stars.
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