Rainbow the tiny pony killed in agonising death on set of The Hobbit
Animal wranglers working on The Hobbit trilogy alleged up to 27 animals died on a New Zealand farm where livestock were kept during production, with the production company confirming some deaths and saying they improved conditions
As many as 27 animals, including a charming miniature pony named Rainbow, tragically died on a "death trap" farm used for livestock during the production of The Hobbit.
Wranglers involved in the film trilogy claimed that the production company was to blame for the deaths leading up to the film's premiere in 2012.
The production firm behind the films insists they responded swiftly following the deaths of two horses and added that director Peter Jackson even adopted three of the pigs used once filming concluded.
The animal handlers attributed the high death toll to the hazardous conditions at the New Zealand property where the animals were housed. These dangers included steep drops, sinkholes and defective fencing, according to the Mirror.
Animal wrangler Chris Langridge, who joined as a horse trainer in November 2010 overseeing around 50 horses, was immediately concerned that the site was littered with "death traps.", reports the Mirror.
The first death was little Rainbow. "When I arrived at work in the morning, the pony was still alive but his back was broken. He'd come off a bank at speed and crash-landed," Langridge recounted.
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"He was in a bad state."
Rainbow, who was meant to be a hobbit horse, had to be put down.
Langridge described efforts to fill certain sinkholes, created by underground waterways, and even provided his own fencing to keep the horses away from the most dangerous areas. Ultimately, he said, it was an overwhelming challenge.
The production company acknowledged at the time they were aware of the animal deaths, but emphasised that some were due to natural causes.
A spokesperson also assured that upon discovering the issues, they implemented measures to prevent future incidents. He recounted witnessing horses sprinting at speeds close to 30mph and needing flat terrain for housing: "It's just a no-brainer."
A week later, a horse named Doofus became entangled in fencing and severely injured its leg. Although the horse survived, Langridge decided he'd had enough and resigned from his role.
After he left the production, wrangler Johnny Smythe reported a horse called Claire was discovered dead, its head submerged in a stream after it had tumbled over a cliff. Following this incident, he said, the horses were relocated to stables, where another horse also died.
Smythe revealed no autopsy was performed on the horse, named Zeppelin. Veterinary records indicate the horse died of natural causes, due to a burst blood vessel, but Smythe stated the horse was bloated and its intestines were filled with a yellow liquid; he suspects it died from digestive issues caused by a change in diet.
Smythe explained the six goats and six sheep under his care died after falling into sinkholes, contracting worms or being given new feed once the grass was eaten.
He mentioned the chickens were frequently left outside their enclosure and a dozen were killed by dogs on two separate occasions.
Smythe revealed he was sacked in October 2011 following disagreements with his superior regarding the animals' welfare. The American Humane Association, responsible for monitoring animal safety during filming, maintains no creatures came to harm during the actual shoot in New Zealand.
However, it also acknowledged the wranglers' testimonies and shortcomings in its monitoring system, which examines filming sites but not the facilities where animals were housed and trained.
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A spokesman for trilogy director Peter Jackson confirmed horses, goats, chickens and one sheep died at the farm near Wellington where approximately 150 animals were housed for the films, although he pointed out some fatalities resulted from natural causes.
The spokesman, Matt Dravitzki, stated the deaths of two horses could have been prevented, and noted the production company acted swiftly to enhance conditions following their demise.
Langridge and his wife, Lynn, who was also working as a wrangler, resigned in February 2011. The following month, they sent an email to Brigitte Yorke, the Hobbit trilogy's unit production manager, detailing their concerns.
Chris Langridge disclosed he answered Yorke's request for additional information but heard nothing back afterwards. Dravitzki, speaking on behalf of Peter Jackson, said the production company acted swiftly after the first two horse deaths, investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in improving accommodation and stable facilities in early 2011.
"We do know those deaths were avoidable and we took steps to make sure it didn't happen again," he said.
He confirmed the company no longer rents the farm and has removed all animals from the site. He added that Jackson personally took in three of the pigs that appeared in the films.
