Film & TV Unit

American Humane Mourns Two Equine Stars

By Petrine Mitchum

The world lost two great movie horses the fall of 2008. Hightower, equine star of The Horse Whisperer, was found dead in his California pasture on Oct. 29. According to his owner and trainer, Rex Peterson, the versatile 26-year-old sorrel gelding died peacefully of natural causes. Less than a month later, on Nov. 16, Beechnut, Billy Crystal’s beautiful horse in City Slickers, was humanely euthanized after an incurable infection invaded his liver. He was 28. Each of these beloved geldings contributed to our culture in unique ways.

Hightower with his trainer Rex Peterson. Photo by Rory Flynn.

Like many movie stars, Hightower had humble beginnings. Born to a thoroughbred broodmare who had an unplanned mating with a quarter horse, Hightower was a gawky 2-year-old when he was given to Rex Peterson. Peterson used him for ranch work until a harrowing incident revealed his remarkable character. The trainer and Hightower were helping a friend gather cattle when Rex roped a large bull. “The bull just came up the rope after us,” recalled Peterson, “and hooked Hightower between his forelegs.” Most young horses would have panicked but Hightower kept his cool and allowed Rex to safely maneuver him so his buddy could extricate the bull. “That’s when I realized how good he was,” said Rex. The gawky colt became a handsome horse and never had to rope another bull. He accomplished almost everything else a horse can be trained to do, including dressage, jumping, team penning and a myriad of tricks that served him well in his long career. “It would be easier to list the things that Hightower could not do;” quipped Rex, remembering his favorite horse, “it would be a very short list.”

Hightower made his film debut in 1988’s Winter People, performing a complicated stunt simulating dragging a man to death. For the next 16 years, he worked steadily in films, television series and commercials. For 1994’s Black Beauty, Hightower’s trademark star marking was extended with make-up into a narrow blaze for his role doubling as a mare in a whimsical scene. Black Beauty director Caroline Thompson has called Hightower, “a perfect horse.”

One of his most unusual roles was in 1996’s Sgt. Bilko, in which he was suspended in a sling and played tug of war with a beefy recruit. In 1998, Hightower landed his most challenging role, portraying the traumatized Pilgrim in The Horse Whisperer. To convince director and star Robert Redford that Hightower was right for the part, Peterson cued the gelding to charge. Acting at liberty, Hightower raced viciously toward Redford and stopped within inches of the startled star, immediately docile again. Not many horses can be trained to turn on and off in that manner.

Julia Roberts rode Hightower in the opening sequence of Runaway Bride (1999), in which her character flees her wedding on horseback. Roberts wanted to ride Hightower again in the film’s closing scenes, but by then he was working on another movie in California. No other horse would do, so Hightower was flown to New York and trucked to Runaway Bride’s Maryland location. “It tickles me that he had that kind of reputation,” said Peterson. “He deserves it.”

Hightower’s final movie role was as Anne Hathaway’s mount in Princess Diaries II (2004). After that, Peterson decided to retire him. “He worked very, very hard for me,” he said. “He was a great, great horse.”

Billy Crystal feels the same way about Beechnut, who was an 11-year-old ranch horse when he was cast as the star’s mount in 1991’s City Slickers. Named for a popular chewing tobacco, Beechnut was readied for movie work by veteran Hollywood trainer Jack Lilley. The gelding turned out to be the perfect choice for Crystal, who learned to ride for the film. With his wide white blaze and ebony coat, Beechnut was flashy but his steady temperament kept the star safe amid the commotion of a busy movie set. They forged such a strong bond that Mr. Crystal purchased Beechnut after the film, continuing to ride him for pleasure. For City Slickers II, Beechnut’s white blaze was temporarily dyed black to make it appear that Crystal was riding a different horse. Although his movie career was short, Beechnut made Hollywood history when Crystal rode him on stage during the 1990 Academy Awards in a parody of that year’s best picture, Dances With Wolves. The stunt brought down the house but Beechnut remained his usual calm self. He lived out his days at a ranch in Malibu, Calif., cared for by Hollywood trainer Lisa Brown Hendrickson (who prepared him for his special appearance at the Academy Awards) and doted on by Crystal’s grandchildren.

Trainer Lisa Brown Hendrickson on Beechnut. Photo courtesy of Lisa Brown Hendrickson.

“The hardest thing about training and owning a great horse is losing them,” stated Rex Peterson, mourning Hightower. Fortunately for us all, Hightower and Beechnut live on in the films they left behind.