George started life as a nag toughing it out in Gisborne but in a magical twist of fate has landed an enchanted role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The station-bred horse was living without a rug on a patch of bare land with nine other horses when Waikanae couple Janine Sudbury and Andrew Froggatt found him.
Ms Sudbury and Mr Froggatt, a horse whisperer, bought 10-year-old George for about $2500 several months ago.
They also snapped up four other horses from Gisborne and took them to their farm at Te Horo, on the Kapiti Coast, the site of their horse training business Horsesense.
Initially unhappy with life, George blossomed with the love and tasty morsels his new owners lavished on him.
The couple advertised horses for sale in a horse trading publication. A woman called and told them she had looked everywhere for a white horse, about 15 hands high, for a role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, soon to be filmed in New Zealand.
Having seen photos of George, she bought him for $4500 and asked the couple for help finding more horses.
Ms Sudbury was told George would play the part of the unicorn and she understands he will be ridden by the wicked witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
British actress Tilda Swinton has been cast as the White Witch.
“He’s got lovely big eyes so he will make a wonderful unicorn,” Ms Sudbury said.
It would be hard to part with him because he was a real character but she has the chance to buy him back after filming. “He’s come a long way from living on that patch of dirt to being a superstar,” she said.
That’s no horse, it’s a unicorn
15 June 2004
By LEANNE BELL
