Horse safety check list for filming

Horse safety check list for filming



Info
1stAD & Productions considerations for risk assessment

  1. Ensure you have film experienced, professional horse handlers to advise you.
  2. Ensure sufficient water, food, shade, cooling/warmth is available. (Who is supplying this)
  3. Fully equipped medical kit is provided together with rescue aids.
  4. Avoid using inexperienced riders / actors / models where possible. (Trick, ask the rider if they can jump a horse over a 3ft fence and ask to see a video of them doing it)
  5. Ensure the actor isn't allergic to horses.
  6. Check the weather reports before and during your shoot for the horses comfort.
  7. Who is providing insurance? Where is the divide between the horse suppliers and productions responsibility?
  8. Try and use geldings (a cut male) where possible, but avoid stallions, as they will leave the set if they smell a mare in season on a nearby farm.
  9. Running horses at liberty, beaches and deserts. Ensure the handlers bring extra horses to capture the hero horse/s when they bolt or escape, because sometimes they do. (Trick, other than show/circus horses, ex endurance horses are best for running at liberty)
  10. Rehearsals / Introductions for both horse & actor will save a lot of time on set. Horses that have experience of camera cranes/ drones etc will save a lot of time.
  11. A horses working day starts at the beginning and end of its travel. Being transported is hard work on their legs.
Warning
Middle East. Mid June - Mid September. Forget shooting horses outdoors, it is unethical and you will get limited performance.

Notes
Notes to add to call sheet
  1. Horses can kick, bite and accidentally tread on your feet. (They can weigh over 1 ton and they wear metal shoes)
  2. Never walk around the back of a horse without giving it good distance.
  3. Anybody working in proximity of the horses should wear safety boots.
  4. Do not feed horses without the express permission of the handlers.
  5. Do not bridle, decorate or add makeup to a horse without the handler, better still let them do it.
  6. Horses are timid do not make sudden actions around a horse as it can startle them.


Animal Handlers available in Dubai and UAE for filming, link

Idea
Please feel free to drop us a mail if you think there's anything we missed. support@filmservices.me

This document is intended as a starting point and by no means is it definitive.



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