6 Most Unusual Demands Made By The Lord Of The Rings Actors

2. Viggo Mortenson Did Not Want A Gelded Horse

Aragorn And Brego
New Line Cinema

In an interview in 2006, Mirando Otto, who played Éowyn in the films, recounted her experiences with her horse. When asked if she had bought her horse to bring home with her, she answered that no, she hadn't. She then went on to reveal that she only received that horse because Viggo Mortenson didn't want him.

Otto's steed was a gelding, which is to say that he had been neutered. Mortenson demanded a stallion for his own scenes, as he felt it more appropriate for Aragorn to ride one. That meant that this horse passed to Otto. She credited the horse as a beautiful soul who was a dream to work with, except for one little problem.

When Otto had first met the horse, he was a smaller, more easily manageable creature. They were separated for some time, during which his new owner treated him very well. According to Otto, when he returned to set, he had been so well fed that he was nearly twice the size. However, despite that she still found him to be a tame animal, and all of this because Viggo Mortenson had no interest in riding a gelding!

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"