HBO has temporarily suspended the use of horses during the filming of Luck after a third horse had to be euthanized following an on-set injury, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The accident happened on Tuesday after a horse was injured while returning to its stable. The site is reporting that Dr. Gary Beck, a veterinarian from the California Horse Racing Board, stated that the horse, "reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground."
"We will not be filming horses until AHA completes its inquiry. Production will continue with other scenes," HBO said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Everyone associated with Luck cares deeply about the well-being of the horses who are so much a part of the heart and soul of the production."
This is the third time that a horse had to be put down because of an accident while on set. HBO is currently working with the American Humane Association and California Horse Racing Board to investigate the accident. But despite its efforts, HBO is coming under criticism by PETA for using what the group claims are unfit or injured horses during filming.
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, PETA said, "We contacted HBO and producer/star Dustin Hoffman last week regarding reports we'd received stating that oversight on the set was lax, and we urged them to help make things safer for the horses. But we received no response. Yesterday, we went to law enforcement about the deaths of the first two horses, Outlaw Yodeler and Marc's Shadow, because one was drugged and the other was arthritic. We will want answers on HBO's latest casualty. Filming must stop now."
We'll have more on this story as it becomes available.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
