According to a report in The Daily Mail, a horse died on the set of Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" earlier this month.
According to the Daily Mail, the animal was one of 100 being used as part of a battle scene, and was charging toward camera "wearing full regalia" with a rider on its back when it suffered cardiac arrest.
- An on-set veterinarian representing the American Humane Association said the production followed all proper protocols concerning the use of animals.
- In a statement, Amazon Studios contradicted the Daily Mail version of the story, claiming the animal was standing around with 20 other horses when it suddenly collapsed.
- The horse was provided to the production by a supplier called The Devil's Horseman that's frequently used by the industry; the company claims this is their first on-set horse fatality in 50 years.
- Horses have also died in much-publicized incidents on the sets of HBO's "The Gilded Age" and "Luck."
- In a statement, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called on Hollywood studios to stop using real horses in TV and film productions entirely.
