Bolden (2019)

All horseback riders were stunt riders or experienced actors who were skilled at riding, mounting and dismounting. All running/galloping scenes were well choreographed, and actors used caution while on and near animals. When teams of horses pulled wagons or carriages, the drivers were experienced and teams of horses were familiar with each other and accustomed to the pulling action. Whenever horses were seen tied to posts/fences, they were attached to lead ropes tied to posts.

In the scene where we see a horse-drawn wagon in the background, on the dirt road, production closed the road to traffic. Trainers drove wagons themselves. Horses were watered and fed between takes.

In the scene where we see the musicians playing on the back of the mule drawn wagon, the mules were hitched by the wranglers to the wagon at the livestock trailer. American Humane reps checked the trail for hazards. Once on the mark, the mules were unhitched by the wranglers but left standing in front of the wagon. Wheel chocks were place under two wheels of the wagon by wranglers before unhitching the mules. Once the mules were positioned, the set dressing crew set up band instruments on the wagon and seven musicians were positioned in the back of the wagon.

During filming, the actor playing Bolden attracted the crowd with his trumpet then headed towards the wagon and climbed aboard to join his band in playing a tune. The mules continued to stand as the crowd approached the wagon. The mules continued to stand calmed by the two wranglers off camera and because they had been trained to stand at the front of a wagon until asked to move.

In the scene where the actress had a cat lodged in her dress, prior to filming the trainer placed the cat in the woman’s arms after start of rolling and moved off camera. When the band started playing the character swayed with cat to music.