Kit Harington: No more 'swords and horses'

Kit Harington stars in the TV show Game of Thrones.

Actor Kit Harington lost interest in shooting horse-riding scenes after enduring a painful time on a movie set when he had to mount a galloping steed with no saddle.

The British star has showed off his riding skills several times onscreen, including during his time on hit TV show Game of Thrones and for 2014 movie Pompeii.

Kit Harington and Emily Browning in a scene from the movie Pompeii.

Last year he revealed he had told his agent he wanted no more roles involving "swords and horses", and now he has revealed his decision was prompted by eye-watering bruises to his groin after a movie shoot.

Harington tells the New York Daily News, "In Thrones, there's saddles, but I had to ride bareback for a different movie and it's incredibly painful. Trust me, it's really not fun."

- WENN