Nice horse – shame about the rider

BBC news reports that the online Chinese official newspaper has fallen for a spoof by the US satirical website, The Onion. The Onion’s declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be “The Sexiest Man Alive” for 2012 and the People’s Daily ran a 55-page photo spread of  him. Here’s a pic of him and his horse (well, probably just one of his probably many horses). Yes it’s a fabulous grey horse. Looks properly fed and healthy too (which is reportedly somewhat more that most North Koreans).

But the rider? OK, well-fed. But a wildly attractive man?

Also, fellow horsey people, does he look like he has a good seat? 

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War Horse – and War Paint

The fabulous film War Horse has been showing on Sky TV in the UK this week.  But did you know that the horses playing the main equine characters had a specialist make-up team of their own?

Their were coats dyed and markings added to ensure continuity between them. And for the scene where Joey, the war horse of the title, is born, a ‘non-toxic slime’ make-up was devised and smeared on to the foal playing the part. And for the really dramatic scene where Joey has fled through World War One’s muddy trenches (see picture) and then lies bleeding, tangled in barbed wire, special non-toxic make-up was used for the blood, mud and cuts on his skin.

For more on horse make-up in film, see Lights! Camera! Gallop! The Story of the Horse in Film