WAR HORSE

Two million lost in battle in World War 1.  Not soldiers, but horses.  That's a tragic figure by anyone's account.  And even some of those steeds lucky enough to survive were subsequently slaughtered for horsemeat.  The harrowing equine saga on the WWI frontlines took a back seat to the human conflict until recently, when War Horse evolved from a book to an award-winning play to a blockbuster film directed by Steven Spielberg.  In bringing the story to life, author Michael Morpurgo found inspiration from a variety of real sources, including accounts from veterans.  But perhaps most poignantly, the story's deep connection between a boy and horse came from an encounter witnessed by Morpurgo on a Devon farm (the story's setting). The author sponsored a special event enabling urban kids to spend time with animals on the farm. He met one troubled boy who a bad stammer and chose not to talk-- until Morpurgo spied the boy alone in a barn, having a private 'talk' with a horse.  The boy seemed confident and at ease; the horse appeared to understand what he was saying. This gave Morpurgo the genesis for his book.

The play's co-director also found inspiration in a letter sent by his great grandfather to his son, serving in the war.  In the note, a Devon farmer provides plenty of invaluable advice on the proper care and feeding of horses.  "When campaigning, there are lots of things you can do with horses which may say you a lot of trouble and a lot of danger," he said.  Unfortunately, most soldiers in the conflict were ill informed on how to tend to their mounts.

World War I marked a major transition in the use of horses in battle.  The film offers an authentic, yet sad depiction of these creatures caught in the crossfire and lugging huge artillery to the point of death.  Trench warfare, machine guns, poison gas, tanks and barbed wire took a major toll on the animals (some horses even wore gas masks).  As a result, horses were primarily used for transporting machinery and supplies rather than charging into the fray.

A unique exhibit entitled "War Horse Fact & Fiction" opened in 2011 at London's National Army Museum to coincide with the play and film. The exhibit chronicles the use of horses in wartime throughout history and gives insight into the story's background.