For 25 years, Carlotta Montanari lived her dream as an actress in the entertainment business. However, a pivotal moment on set, working with a horse for the first time, changed the course of her life. This profoundly healing and beautiful experience ignited a passion for rescuing horses, leading her to adopt her first horse, Mumbo. Realizing her deep desire to spend more time with these magnificent animals, Montanari founded “Four Legs on Set,” a specialized horse training company for Hollywood productions, three years ago. What began with making children’s birthday dreams come true quickly blossomed into a successful enterprise, serving prestigious clients like Chanel, the Kardashians, Beyoncé, Amazon, and Sony.
Montanari’s company provides both “glamor horses,” hired for their striking appearance, and “trick horses,” trained to perform specific actions on set. The company’s fees are dynamic, influenced by factors such as the number of wranglers required, travel expenses, and the duration of the shoot. While primarily catering to photo shoots, film, television, and commercials, Montanari also shares heartwarming stories of providing horses for proposals, including a man who wanted to recreate his marriage proposal on horseback for his wife’s birthday. Photo shoots typically range from $500 to $1,000 per hour, with longer jobs potentially costing around $25,000.
Working with Talent Afraid of Horses
One of the most captivating aspects of Montanari’s work is her ability to quickly assess the psychology of her clients and make them feel comfortable around horses, even those with a deep-seated fear. She often describes horses as “big puppies” to ease their apprehension. Montanari’s skill lies in building trust, first with the client and then facilitating a bond between the client and the horse. She recounted an instance where she worked with a well-known celebrity who had a traumatic childhood experience with a horse. For a project requiring her to pose with a Friesian stallion, Montanari stayed by her side, held her hand, and explained the horse’s movements, ensuring both were at ease. By the end of the session, the celebrity, initially intimidated, was able to affectionately interact with the horse, resulting in natural and captivating on-camera chemistry. Learn more about horse training for film here.
Scripted Preparations and On-Set Adaptability
Just like human actors, Montanari’s horses are meticulously prepared for their roles. Upon receiving a script, she tailors the horse’s training to match the requirements, ensuring they understand their actions and what is expected of the human talent working with them. For instance, if a singer needs to perform on horseback while wearing an elaborate costume, experienced horses might require minimal adaptation. However, for less common scenarios, such as an umbrella or a unique wig, Montanari introduces these elements days in advance. If a scene demands a horse to run and then rear, this is practiced beforehand.
Despite thorough preparation, Montanari acknowledges that directors often make last-minute changes. When faced with an unexpected request, such as a horse needing to rear without prior rehearsal, she calmly takes a few minutes to work with the horse privately on set. Through gentle communication and leveraging the strong relationship she has built, she helps the horse understand and perform the new cue. Montanari emphasizes her presence on every set, even with a team, as she believes her direct involvement is crucial for the horse’s comfort and successful performance. She maintains a philosophy of gentle interaction, refusing to compromise on animal welfare, which is why her company, for example, avoids Westerns that might involve horse falls or injuries. They also tend to steer clear of extremely long projects like the series “Yellowstone,” preferring to bring their horses home after work.
Prioritizing the Well-being of Living Beings on Set
The most challenging aspect of working on set, according to Montanari, is when individuals forget that horses are living, breathing beings with their own needs and sensitivities. Stallions, in particular, can become anxious in new environments and may require time to adjust. Montanari attentively observes each horse, offering comfort through gentle walks, treats, or cuddles as needed. The true difficulty arises not from managing fear, but from a lack of understanding from the production team regarding the horse’s requirements. On rare occasions, directors may not grasp that horses are not inanimate props and that flexibility is essential. For photo shoots, Montanari stresses the importance of allowing horses the natural space to shift their balance, walk, and move, understanding that this may inevitably add time to the schedule. Discover the benefits of reined cow horse training.
A Passion-Driven Career in Hollywood Horse Training
Montanari stresses that horse training in Hollywood is not a get-rich-quick scheme but a career that demands profound love and dedication. Aspiring wranglers don’t necessarily need to own horses; instead, she advises learning from established companies. Finding and emulating the work of respected trainers is the recommended path. Crucially, this endeavor must stem from a genuine passion for horses, as the financial rewards alone are insufficient to sustain the demanding nature of the work. Montanari likens a Hollywood horse wrangler to a “starving artist,” emphasizing that the fire and passion for the craft are the ultimate drivers for success. Building relationships with horses and within the industry takes time and persistent effort. Explore resources for finding a horse trainer in Washington. Consider the principles of Doug Ingersoll’s horse training methods. Find Parelli trained horses for sale.
If you are involved in Hollywood and wish to share your story, please contact Eboni Boykin-Patterson at eboykinpatterson@insider.com.
