The Dark and the Wicked (2021)

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. The horse(s) rearing was a trained behavior. The horses were specially trained “falling horses” and “lay down horses” that fell on cue onto a soft landing area. 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.

Shot of a farm with cows, sheep and goats on a livestock barn – the animals were filmed in their natural habitat, where they lived. Prior to filming, wranglers move the sheep from the corral area to the main section of the barn about 30 mins prior to filming to allow the livestock to settle in.  Food was placed out in several areas to keep the livestock  in one general location.  The livestock walked on and off camera but the wranglers were just off camera with flags to keep them in a group.

When the woman walked into the stable surrounded by goats, one of the trainers dressed like the actress and walked into the inner pen and stood on her mark. Trainers threw feed on the ground to keep the sheep in place. Trainers stood inside the entrance using herding sticks to keep the sheep moving..

In the scene where the goat approaches the actor and he puts it in a chokehold, on action, the trainer released the goat, the goat walked toward a pile of food on the ground. The actor approached the goat without an issue. The actors were acquainted with the goat prior to shooting the scene.