The Longest Ride (2015)

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. Whenever horses were seen tied to posts/fences, they were attached to lead ropes tied to posts.

Prior to filming any of the bull riding sequences, production and the Professional Bull Riders (PBRs) held safety meetings with the cast, crew and animal personnel. American Humane Association’s Certified Animal Safety Representative™ checked the arena with the stunt coordinators and PBR’s prior to filming anything. Extra gate panels were placed across the arena along with a red plastic tarp material to decrease the amount of movement the bull saw and to deter the bull from getting excited. The cameras were placed in cut outs on the gate panels. Additionally, the bulls ran through the sequence prior to shooting the scene so they were aware of the expected route.

Bulls were transported to set and flags were used to herd bulls through the chutes.

In the rodeo scenes featuring bull riding, all the riders were PBRs and the bulls were accustomed to this type of action. The actors were never riding the bulls (we only see the actors sitting on the bulls in the chutes). Production used multiple bulls in each of the bull riding scenes to make sure that each bull was not overworked. The chutes are sanctioned by the PBR, and they are designed to prevent the bull from backing up, and they also prevent injuries. The coliseum itself was air-conditioned at all times and the animals were given water between takes. The chutes were also designed to keep the bulls from seeing the action outside, and therefore kept them calm. Additionally, the cast and crew were educated on how to approach the animals prior to shooting.

Whenever we see the bull riders on the bulls, getting bucked, and sometimes thrown, the PBRs were accustomed to this kind of action and knew how to handle the bulls. In order to have the bulls kick out during a ride the wranglers would use a stick with a flag on the end of it and use it to touch the bull’s hind legs.

In all of the bull riding scenes there was a wrangler on his horse in the arena. The wrangler on horseback was there as part of the scene as well as for safety of the bull riders, and wrangling the bull. He would ride around as needed throughout the shot and assist the bull wrangler (the guy “on foot” who wrangles the bull once the rider comes off the bull) in getting the bull away from the rider and back into the exit chute. Again, the riders and the wrangler on the horse are professional wranglers and bull riders. They are not actors.

In the scene where the actor and actress ride horses in a vast field, horse wranglers were off-camera the whole time to make sure everything went okay. The actors were prepped on horse riding prior to the scene.

In other scenes where the actor preps in the chute to ride the bull, the wranglers loaded the bull into the chute for the shot. Prior to action, the actor got onto the bull as if he were prepping for a ride. Wranglers held the bull steady on both sides of the chute. Just before what would be the release of the bull, cut was called and the actor got off the bull.

In the scene where the actress visits the parents of her student and we see chickens in the front yard, trainers spread feed over the yard to keep the chickens in place.

In the scene where we see the rider get thrown off the bull and hit the arena side panel, a real life bull rider achieved this stunt. When the chute opened, trainers called the bull to the right side of the arena so the rider could leap off of the left side and hit the panel. The bull never came close to the panel. The panels in the arena were all padded for safety.

Whenever we see cows in the background, trainers were on-site to make sure they were fed and watered. Bulls and horses were also fed and watered between takes.