The whistleblower revealed that the horse was already sick, sustained head trauma and was seen frothing at the mouth when he collapsed on the set.
HBO is being pressed to conduct an internal investigation after a whistleblower informed animal rights charity PETA that a horse allegedly died during filming in Nassau County.
The incident took place on the 28 June on the set of the television series The Gilded Age.
According to the source, the horse was 22 years old with possible health issues. PETA added that it was told that the animal sustained head trauma and was seen frothing at the mouth.
“If it weren’t for these whistleblowers, the apparent death of this vulnerable horse would likely have been swept under the rug,” PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in a statement.
In a letter to HBO Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys, PETA noted: “Horses aren’t props. They’re sensitive animals who can be startled easily.
“They should not be used in film or television productions at all. If they are, an equine behaviorist should be on set at all times, and this person must be given the authority to stop filming if horses begin to show what are often subtle signs of agitation.”
This isn’t the first time HBO has been called out for equine deaths on its sets.
Back in 2012, during production of the television series Luck, PETA revealed that three horses had died, which consequently led to the cancellation of the series.
Guillermo added: “PETA is reminding HBO that watchful,...
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