I have (another) confession: The Fourth of July has never been my favorite holiday because I don’t love fireworks. But there is one thing I genuinely love about this time of year (especially this year!): the Revolutionary War period.
I love reading about it, studying it, and watching movies and shows set during that time. I love thinking about all the people, circumstances, and divine intervention that came together to create our country.
It’s why I love Hamilton so much and why I had a poster of George Washington hanging in my office at school.
It’s why, as soon as I heard about Young Washington, I wanted to go see it.
But I had seen the previews. I knew what I was getting myself into. So before we even bought the tickets, I was already worried about the horses.
Not the horses from 250 years ago. The horses on today’s movie set pretending it’s the 1700s.
Whenever we’re talking about animals in movies – and this time, specifically, horses – Darren tries to reassure me, “The horses are fine.”
I know he’s right.
But I wanted to know why they were fine.
So, in an effort to reassure myself – and maybe reassure a few of you, too – I decided that before I went to this movie, I’d finally learn how filmmakers create those battle scenes with horses.
Here’s what I found out:
1. Preparation happens before the pressure.
The horses used in movies are carefully selected and trained for film work.
They learn to respond to specific cues from their riders and handlers, practicing things like running to a mark, standing calmly, moving through smoke, and repeating the same action over and over. What looks chaotic to the audience is often familiar and controlled for the horse.
2. The environment is designed to reduce unnecessary risk.
Modern film productions use safety rules and animal welfare guidelines to protect horses.
Trainers, wranglers, stunt coordinators, and sometimes veterinarians carefully plan each scene. Running paths are mapped out, special effects are timed, and filming is adjusted if a horse shows signs of stress or fatigue. Every effort is made to create the safest environment possible.**
3. Separate pieces come together to create one experience.
Editors create the illusion of one continuous battle by combining many separate shots, effects, and sounds.
The horse running, the rider falling, the cannon fire, the smoke, and even some of the horses may all be filmed or created separately. Camera angles, editing, stunt performers, prop horses, sound design, and CGI work together to create one convincing scene.
4. Our brains create meaning from the information they receive.
Audience members experience the story their brains are trained to see.
If we see a horse running, hear a gunshot, watch a rider fall, and then see a horse on the ground, our brain naturally connects those moments and concludes, “The horse was shot.”
Filmmakers understand that. They know they only have to give our brains enough pieces to complete the story. Meanwhile, the horse is usually participating in a carefully choreographed performance supported by training, safety guidelines, editing, visual effects, and skilled professionals.
Now. Humor me for a minute.
Let’s borrow those same four headings.
1. Preparation happens before the pressure.
Just as movie horses don’t learn their jobs during the battle scene, we don’t usually learn emotional skills in the middle of our hardest moments. We practice them beforehand.
We learn to notice our breathing, calm our nervous system, question anxious thoughts, ask for help, and tolerate uncertainty. Over time, those responses become more familiar.
When life feels chaotic, our goal is to recognize the situation and think, “I’ve practiced this before. I know what to do next,” not to magically become calm.
2. The environment is designed to reduce unnecessary risk.
Movie productions can’t rely on luck. They carefully plan the environment to protect the horses.
We can do something similar for ourselves. While we can’t remove every challenge from life, we can make choices that support our nervous system. Things like getting enough sleep, eating regularly, asking for support, setting healthy boundaries, allowing enough time, and reducing unnecessary pressure all make it easier to think clearly when life becomes difficult.
3. Separate pieces come together to create one experience.
Editors build a convincing story by combining many separate pieces.
Our sometimes-anxious brains do something similar, but they often leave out important information. That’s why it helps to slow down and intentionally gather the facts. What actually happened? What did someone actually say? What evidence do I have? What am I assuming?
The more complete the information, the more accurate the picture becomes.
4. Our brains create meaning from the information they receive.
Sometimes those stories are accurate. Sometimes anxiety fills in the missing pieces with worst-case scenarios.
We want to tell ourselves stories that are better supported by the facts. As we practice calming ourselves, reducing unnecessary stress, and gathering better information, our brains become more capable of creating stories and explanations that are more balanced, realistic, and helpful.
I can’t wait to hear which of these four things resonated with you the most. And if your brain has been leading you into a few imaginary battle scenes of its own, I’d love to help.
**It is fair to say movies were not always this careful. Older films sometimes used dangerous methods that harmed horses. Modern standards, better oversight, better training, and better technology have changed what is considered acceptable.
PS If you liked this post – or any others, I’d love you to pass me and my work on to a friend. They can find out much more about me here if they’re interested!
