| A recent Hollywood rumor was that Tobey | | | | replace him. Gene exhibited no concern when he |
| Maguire injured his back during the making of Sea | | | | was advised by trainers that the new Champion |
| Biscuit doing horseback riding scenes, making him | | | | was not ready for prime time his first night on |
| unable to star in the sequel to Spider-Man. | | | | the job. "It'll be all right boys!" reassured the |
| Although it turned out to be false, he rode a | | | | cowboy through swigs of tequila. The big moment |
| mechanical horse in the film, many actors have | | | | came, the new horse rode out with Gene toward |
| had close calls working with horses. | | | | the burning ring and came to a dead stop, sending |
| One example was Michael Caine, whose first | | | | the famous cowboy star flying to complete the |
| movie Zulu (1964) required him to ride a horse | | | | stunt on his own. The crowd gasped but luckily |
| after a hunting expedition, which after several | | | | Gene was more drunk than hurt, he simply got up |
| embarrassing takes almost bought his career to a | | | | and took a bow like it was all planned. |
| premature end. "I thought you said you had riding | | | | Most stars won't take chances. David Niven bribed |
| lessons!" said the angry director. "I did!" said the | | | | a trainer fifty dollars so he would get to ride a |
| beleaguered star. "And the first thing I learned | | | | gentle nag while filming The Prisoner Of Zenda |
| was I never wanted to ride one of these bloody | | | | (1937). He brought his animal next to Raymond |
| things again!" | | | | Massey's stallion, and both reluctant riders |
| He wasn't the only one. Jack Nicholson took a | | | | prepared for the director to call action. Suddenly |
| hard fall in The Missouri Breaks (1976) which he | | | | Niven noticed a shadow above him, Massey's |
| shrugged off saying,"It would have hurt if I was a | | | | horse had risen on it's hind legs. Niven realized his |
| real person instead of a movie star." | | | | nag was in heat and dived out the way as |
| Some performers get along famously with their | | | | Massey's stallion came down on Niven's mare. He |
| horses, the relationship can go on for years. Gene | | | | watched stunned as the helpless Massey bounced |
| Autry had Champion trained to jump through a | | | | on top of what now looked like a giant rocking |
| ring of fire at rodeos, the stunt always worked | | | | horse! |
| perfectly until Champion aged and Gene had to | | | | |