Lawsuit Claims Horses Mistreated on HBO's "Luck"

[Hollywoodmike]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Several of the horses used on HBO's canceled series Luck were drugged, underweight and sick during production, an animal rights worker who oversaw conditions on the show alleges in a lawsuit.

Barbara Casey's suit, filed Monday, says she was wrongfully fired from her post at the American Humane Association after complaining about the conditions horses faced on the show, which was canceled after a series of high-profile animal deaths.

The suit claims four horses died during the show's production, not three as previously reported. Horses were "often drugged to perform," and "underweight and sick horses unsuited for work were routinely used" by producers, her lawsuit alleges.

Casey is suing HBO, which has repeatedly denied abusing horses on the show, and the humane association.

"We took every precaution to ensure that our horses were treated humanely and with the utmost care, exceeding every safeguard of all protocols and guidelines required of the production," HBO wrote in a statement. "Barbara Casey was not an employee of HBO, and any questions regarding her employment should be directed to the AHA."

"American Humane Association is unable to comment on pending litigation," said Jone Bouman, director of communications for the film and television unit.

Casey's suit states she urged the humane association to report HBO and producers to authorities for possible animal-cruelty criminal charges.

The association "bowed to political and financial pressure and refused to report the production defendants' conduct to the authorities," the lawsuit states.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2 ... k/1807669/

[Igeteven]

Mike, it was all over the news yesterday.

this is bad if true.

[Clockerbob]

All the horses racing in'luck' were high headed...

[Trackmomma]

Fact: Many racehorses are trained on the tranquilizer Ace Promazine. It makes them calm and easier to handle. This would especially be the cased when they are going to be surrounded by cameras and strange equipment. Remember, these horse were not "Movie Stars" they were racehorses.
Fact: Many people not familiar with TB's can look at a fat one and believe hey are underweight. This is because the way they carry their weigh is different then other breeds of horses. They are the greyhounds of horses. Add in the fact that these were in race training and they were bound to be even tighter.

This lady sounds like just another animal extremest only she's out to make a buck. If the Humane Association says there was no problems here, I believe them. Because, they are pretty darn extreme themselves.

[Clockerbob]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2 ... 7669/Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming.

How did Hometrader die?

I never heard of this.

The final horse that died during the series' production had been examined by a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian shortly before it suffered a head injury while being led by a groomer to a stable

[MaryS]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/01/03/lawsuit-claims-horses-mistreated-on-hbos-luck/1807669/Casey claims a fourth horse, named Hometrader, was killed in summer 2011 but its demise wasn't documented because it occurred during a hiatus in filming.

How did Hometrader die?

I never heard of this.

The final horse that died during the series' production had been examined by a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian shortly before it suffered a head injury while being led by a groomer to a stable

A "groomer"?

[WhipNRide]

None of the horses used for production were allowed to have Ace.
All horses were jogged on a shank daily and were vet inspected in front of AHA people.
There were age restrictions on horses that could be used for workout and racing shots, no horse 3 years of younger was allowed to work or do more than slow gallop or jog.
The horses were trained like race horses at cheap tracks, every other day and if they were used on a shoot the day before they got 2 days off. Most were rescued from the killer pen and every horse after the show was canceled was found a home by HBO.
I worked for the show and saw daily care for these horses who now had a job and a chance at life. My opinion of the AHA is that they haven't a clue about race horses and their life.
They treated the set like some Disney picture with no idea the conditioning and training that race horses need, even if its just a TV show. The day that the horse that killed itself wasn't the handlers error it was AHA error as they wouldn't even let a horse be led from 3 barns away with a shank on its nose. Anyone that has a clue about race horses knows that a chain on the nose or lip can be vital to keeping them from hurting themselves

[Fredo]

Miss Whippy welcome back. I have learned quite a bit about HR from your and Trackmommy's posts. Both of you tell it like it is.Unlike some of the hards and publishers that continue to be KIA's. Youz two bring experience and facts not like the shills and track employees who continue to post with rose colored wine glasses on. I applaud both of you.

[Trackmomma]

I didn't mean to say that the horses on the show were aced, only that this practice is fairly common on the track & that someone unfamiliar with racetrack protocol might misinterpret it. What you are describing is just the sort of nonsense I would expect from these self- proclaimed humane organizations. They haven't the first clue about the process of training these animals & the conditioning needed for them to perform safely. Then they point fingers when horses break down. The reality is their own rules and regulations caused them.
Idiots!!

[Hollywoodmike]

I didn't mean to say that the horses on the show were aced, only that this practice is fairly common on the track & that someone unfamiliar with racetrack protocol might misinterpret it. What you are describing is just the sort of nonsense I would expect from these self- proclaimed humane organizations. They haven't the first clue about the process of training these animals & the conditioning needed for them to perform safely. Then they point fingers when horses break down. The reality is their own rules and regulations caused them.
Idiots!!

These idiotic organizations figuratively made Larry Jones retire briefly after the Eight Belles tragedy. They made him feel so bad
and I know he loves his horses.