Horses @ the Morranon

[Ardeth Bay]

Alright, what happened to the horses
@ the battle of the morranon (the black gate), aragorn and co. are mounted when they confront the mouth of Sauron and when he gives his speech

After that, where did the horses go

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

It's conceivable that they were released North but I think they were just forgotten about by the film-makers.

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

They went to the cutting room floor.
(ah, for bad humor)

[Elladan and Elrohir]

This almost ruins the scene for me. I mean, one minute they're on their horses, and Aragorn's riding his horse around giving this moving speech, and then, next thing you know, Merry and Pippin take off, and everybody follows them -- ON FOOT. Either they're all dumber than your average Mirkwood pretty-boy, or PJ and crew didn't notice the goof till too late but decided to keep it because of the great emotional image of M and P taking off.

[Ardeth Bay]

It's conceivable that they were released North but I think they were just forgotten about by the film-makers

Where's north? and why would they release their horses in the first place?

[Kath]

Now that I think about it it does seem odd though at the time I was so distracted by Aragorn's insane way of speaking I barely noticed! But then, PJ always says he loves it when people notice these things, so maybe he left it for amusement. As to the horses, why they morphed into extra soldiers!

[mormegil]

It quite simply is one of many mistakes made, which has always been a delightful aspect of film.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

The Captains of the West were facing South towards the Black Gate, so they could have let their horses go North out of pity. It's conceivable.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

AH! NO! I'd never noticed that before, mainly due to being half asleep by that point in the film. Gah! I'm never gonna be able to watch that seen without it bugging me now!

[mormegil]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

The Captains of the West were facing South towards the Black Gate, so they could have let their horses go North out of pity. It's conceivable.

For pity you would send your horses into the Brown Lands?

I think there is even a potential that it was a known mistake. PJ wanted a regal and kingly looking Aragorn mounted on his steed during some shots but having that in battle wouldn't give the dramatic effect of two hobbits ( ) charging headlong into battle.

Off topic: Merry NEVER should have been there!

[Essex]

If you think it's a mistake for not showing the horses 'departing' then Tolkien makes the same 'mistake'.

From The Black Gate Opens after Sauron springs his trap:

The Captains mounted again and rode back............... (next paragraph we then hear of Aragorn next...)Little time was left to Aragorn for the ordering of his battle. Upon the one hill he stood with Gandalf, and there fair and desperate was raised the banner of the Tree and Stars

We never hear mention of the Horses again, or any men mounted on them.

You can't show EVERYTHING. You know, maybe even one of the men of the West had to go to the toilet before the battle started, but thank the Stars we didn't see that!

[mormegil]

Yes of course essex however the medium being different, if they were intentionally released then at least we would have seen them in the distance but we did not. The sequence is quick enough to show them because they wouldn't have been able to get too far.

Now I dont' expect perfection in my movies, in fact I expect mistakes to be made and being there usually doesn't dimish the experience for me, though at times they can if they are too glaring. However I find this an innocent mistake and nothing I get worked up over.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

When Tolkien says Aragorn stood with Gandalf, he may not have literally meant "he was standing on the ground next to Gandalf". It most likely meant Aragorn was near Gandalf, with the meaning "to stand in battle", ie be in a battle. But hey, that's just my crazy opinion. ^_^;