MovieChat Forums > The Lone Ranger (1949) Discussion > Why was Silver such a fast horse?

Why was Silver such a fast horse?


At the beginning of each show the Lone Ranger is in hot pursuit; taking careful aim and firing his 45. When he fires the 45 it's only about a foot from poor Silver's ears. You'd probably run pretty fast to if someone did that to you. :)

reply

Actually, the stories that Jay Silverheels told at various
publicity appearances included ones about how "Silver" was
a great "show horse": patient between camera/scene takes
and good with the kids at the appearances---but he wasn't
a particularly fast steed. In fact the various Paints
used as "Scout" were all faster! To shoot the typical
scenes of the two friends riding together (the Lone Ranger
HAD to be in the lead, since HE was the primary star)
required that Tonto restrain "Scout" who, if given free
rein, would easily get ahead of "Silver."

Yet, even "Scout" wasn't a speed demon either: at some
appearance someone suggested that a good stunt would be
to promote a race between the two horses. Tonto didn't
think too much of the idea, saying something like, "Hell,
even I could beat 'Scout'!"

reply

Silvers speed comes from evolution and survival of the fittest. White horses are faster than dark colored ones. This is because the color white is harder to hide from predators while they are still young. So they are running at high speeds at an early age and the white horses who make it to adulthood are the fastest in the world

reply

Really? How many white horses have won the Triple Crown?

reply

Thats because white horses when they are young are not able to hide from predators. They kinda stick out. If a white horse does survive to adulthood, they are too fast to be captured and domesticated by humans

reply