Certified Animal Action Overview

No Animals Were Harmed™ monitored the film’s horse and general animal action from preparation through the final take, ensuring every sequence was carefully planned with the animals’ safety and comfort in mind. Before filming, horses were given time to become familiar with each location, rehearsed their routes, and worked under the close supervision of experienced wranglers and riders, while effects such as explosions, smoke, fire and visual enhancements were carefully managed or added later to keep the animals at a safe distance. Even the most dramatic moments, including battle scenes and high-speed riding were performed using proven training methods, dedicated stunt professionals and carefully prepared environments designed to support the horses’ natural behavior. Between takes, the horses were returned to their handlers for water, hay or oats, shade and rest, reflecting the production’s ongoing commitment to their well-being throughout filming.

Detailed Animal Action Report

In the scene when actor wakes up in a covered wagon, jumps out and we see he’s in the middle of a heavy battle with men on horseback riding past him, prior to filming wranglers brought horses to set. They walked the horses on the path several times for acclimation. The wranglers were positioned at both the “a” and “b” marks. On action, the actor climbed out of the wagon, while an air mortar detonated nearby and the horse master gave the horses the cue to travel. The mortars were safely distanced from horses and pre-approved by our office. Upon completion, the horses were walked back to the lorry where they were untacked, given water and hay.

In the same sequence, the actor stops a horse, mounts him and rides up a hill, the scene was rehearsed several times. On action, the horse walked towards the wrangler off-camera. On cue, the actor mounted the horse and rode off. Subsequently, we see the actor riding the horse up a hill, prior to shooting the horse and rider came to set to discuss the animal action. The rider walked the horse along the path that it will run. When rider, cameras, and horse were ready, the stunt rider and horse rode along the planned path.

In the scene where the actor helps the young boy onto the horse, leading him in field before the kid rides on his own, the child actor was acclimated to riding the horse. Prior to filming, the two horses were brought to set and placed on their marks. On action, the child actor mounted the horse on his A mark. The other actor held the horse’s reins giving the impression he’s releasing the horse. The child rode the horse to mark B before they called cut.

When we see the older version of the actor riding across an open field, the horse was walked to the set. The horse had been previously warmed up and walked to his mark.

On action, the horse galloped three hundred yards, reaching the “b” mark. On cut, the horse was offered water and brought back to his trailer.

In the scene where the actor walks into town to ask for a royal commission, prior to filming the actor rode horse up to warm up area. On action, the background actors moved around the town as the actor rode horse along the predetermined path.

In the scene where the two men walk horses in snowy field and a group of Native Americans block the road, prior to filming the two actors were assisted to mount horses by grooms. The snow was created with VFX and was chemical free and approved by our office. On action, they rode horses at a walk along a laneway in a forest. On reset, the horses were met at their B marks by the grooms. When the Native Americans lead the men and their horses to a path where they point to a French fort, the fort was added in post production.

In the scene where the actor and young lady ride horses across the field, the horses were ridden by stunt riders.

In the scene where a line of soldiers march through the forest and the actor and his friend ride side by side exchanging dialogue, prior to filming the horses were tacked up in their period tack and weaponry, and walked to set. On set, the horses were lined up in a single file. The horse wranglers were close but stood out of frame. On action, the horses and riders moved forward to lead the procession at a slow pace. This same kind of scene shows up later and was filmed on this day as well.

In the scene where the line of British soldiers face off with the French regime in an open field, prior to filming, twenty-five horses were mounted by riders in costume and ridden to a location which was a large field. On action, the horses were ridden at a walk and halted in line, side by side while characters exchanged dialogue.

In the scene where the soldiers build a fort and we see horses in background, before they exchange dialogue with British generals, tacked and uniformed horses were ridden to set, which was a large field with a tented working period camp. Costumed supporting artists in military costume were busy around the camp as characters exchanged dialogue.

In the scene where the French attack the fort and they shoot the general who falls off the horse, prior to filming the horses were walked to set. On action, the actor exchanged dialogue with an actor on the ground. Suddenly, the actor gives the impression he’s been shot, slumping over on his horse’s neck. During this action, the mounted wranglers and horses were within the background moving around in a variable pattern at a walk. Also, stunt pads were positioned beside the cast horse. A wrangler stood in front of the cast horse. On action, the actor fell off the horse and onto the stunt pads.

Now that the soldiers engage in firefight with invading French soldiers, the scene was well choreographed and prepped before shooting. The gunfire and mortars were detonated at a safe distance from the horses. Background foot soldiers were placed in front of the fort. Additional wranglers stood immediately out of frame. On action, nine horses cantered out of frame as if they were retreating from the front line.

Later, when the soldiers surround the decimated fort with some of them on horseback, prior to filming the horses were walked to set. On set, the riders mounted their horses. The fire was ignited at the fort with the horses standing at a minimum distance of a hundred and fifty feet away. On cut, the fire was turned off.

In the scene where the actor rides on horse with other soldiers and passes out, falling off horse, prior to filming production brought fifteen horses to location in suitable trucks.

On arrival to set and six of the horses were mounted by actors. Foot soldiers walked among and behind the horses. An actor on a bay horse halted and slumped over in his saddle as if he had fainted. They called cut and the horse was mounted by a stunt double. On action, the stunt double fell off the left side of the horse.

In the scene where the soldiers march on a field, they hear Native Americans war cry, and then get attacked by a bunch of soldiers, the scene was rehearsed several times. The mortars and gunshots were pre-approved by our office and the added sound of gunshots were added in post. The scene begins with the actor climbing out of the wagon as an air mortar is detonated. On cue, the horse master gave the horses a signal to travel once clear. On action, the actor moved past the horses, while foot soldiers are fleeing and battling during the scene (this is the same scene as the opening sequence of the film).

As the actor rides into the forest with men running everywhere, prior to filming production created paths for horses to ride safely. Meanwhile, separate paths were created for background actors to perform without colliding with horses. A third separate lane was also created for the special effects smoke to be utilized. As the actor watches the British soldiers retreating while he’s on horseback, he is shot off his horse, with the horse falling on the ground. This scene was rehearsed, using a horse that was trained to fall on command. They used soft dirt to prepare the fall. On action, the stunt rider rode the horse to its mark, came to a complete stop near the soft dirt, and the wrangler cued the horse to fall, which it did without any problems.

In the subsequent scene, the actor rides through the forest and tells other soldiers not to retreat before dismounting and shoots a soldier off his horse, prior to shooting the horses were walked to set. Once the horses were acclimated to the path, the background included the stunt foot soldiers were placed around the field. On action, the lead horse was ridden by a wrangler to its mark. The actor completed dialogue where he speaks to the soldiers, then dismounts before shooting the stunt rider off his horse. After the lengthy battle scene, all horses were ridden back to the holding area where they were given oats and water and shade.

In the scene where the actor rides past the invading soldiers, while bending behind horse as they shoot at him, prior to shooting the path was cleared. On action, the wrangler rode the horse from A to B, in front of soldiers. On cue, the rider leans down on the side of the horse, accomplishing the trick. The rider remained on side flank position until reaching the “b” mark. The camera car capturing the scene was never close to the horses.