90 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Rex Peterson and RJ, featured in Hidalgo, American
General and Taking Woodstock in a demonstration
of training techniques after a clinic at The Fine
Equine Stables, in Amissville, Virginia en route to
California from Windrock Farm in New York
Photo by Lauren R Giannini
By Lauren R. Giannini
E
ver wonder about the horses in your favorite movies?
What training equine actors need in order to perform
on cue in front of cameras? What happens if a “storied”
steed decides to humble a Hollywood director whose daily
expense budget runs $160,000 or more? Do horse actors have
doubles? Which actors like to perform their own stunts?
Movie - Horse Wrangler
Rex Peterson’s impressive credits (more than 50 flms) include
Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, The Black Stallion Returns, City
Slickers, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Hot Shots, Hidalgo, Flicka,
Runaway Bride, Secretariat, Sylvester, Temple Grandin and The
Horse Whisperer.
Hightower, the horse who established Rex’s reputation as a
trainer, was an ordinary looking, 16 hand sorrel Thoroughbred
gelding. What he lacked in looks, he made up for in willingness
and intelligence. By the time he worked in The Horse Whisperer
(1998), directed by and starring Robert Redford, correct training
had changed Hightower’s ewe-neck to a beautiful, well muscled
arch. His outstanding self carriage served as proof of the benefts
of progressive and proper training.
“Hightower was a workaholic – he showed up to work and did his
job,” recalls Rex. “He was serious about the task at hand and gave
his all every time. He had tremendous faith in my voice and always
came when called. Anyone could ride him; but I could call him out
from under any rider. We had tremendous respect and faith in one
another. Hightower was honest and serious with a heart as big as
the great outdoors. I could show him something once, and he rarely
was confused or did not understand what I needed him to do.”
In one scene Hightower had to drag a 200 pound dummy from
¾ mile away. The shot was called a ‘can’t see’ to a ‘can’t see’
because the horse had to come from out of sight and continue
out of sight on the other end. Rex set two radios equidistant apart
– one tuned to channel 1, the other to channel 2. A spotter gave
the trainer a heads up when Hightower was getting close to radio
one and that’s when Rex switched to radio two and called the
horse who found his human down in a gulley. Hightower was still
dragging that 200 pound dummy – a stunt that the other movie
horses couldn’t manage.
A Lifetime With Horses
Rex’s unique background spans more than 50 years, embracing
the full spectrum of riding styles: Western, English, Dressage,
Trick Riding, Rodeo, Driving and Harness. His feld of expertise
as a trainer encompasses starting horses and fxing problems,
as well as being skilled in improving horses from any discipline or
sport. He believes in the benefts of classical dressage training.
“When I was around Glenn Randall, Sr. [1908-1992], trainer
of Cavalry horses to Roy Rogers’ Trigger, I learned what you
can do with any horse,” states Rex. “Glenn specialized in fxing
problem horses and he opened your eyes to methods of training
to solve any problems. He was my mentor. I remember watching
top trainers of all disciplines come work with Glenn for months at
a time. The head of the Spanish Riding School, Alois Podhajsky,
sat with Glenn for six weeks discussing methods of training the
high school movements. I had exposure to some of the greatest
trainers of our time.”
Rex’s equine education helped to pave the way for partnership
on multiple levels with Cari Swanson, who brings equally
impressive horsemanship skills to their endeavors. They met over
RJ Masterbug, the paint stallion Rex found as a wild three year
old in Texas and trained for a starring role in Hidalgo (2004) with
Viggo Mortensen. A USDF silver medalist and FEI competitor and
preliminary level eventer, she trains and sells dressage, jumper
and event prospects as well as pleasure horses.
“Every horse should have a foundation of dressage basics,”