Olivia Wilde says she narrowly avoided serious injury after a horse-riding incident on the set of the 2011 film “Cowboys & Aliens.” Speaking on the “Armchair Expert” podcast, Wilde describes a moment while filming a galloping sequence in which her horse falls into a ditch, leaving her exposed as a herd of horses approaches. She says she feared being trampled as the animals ran toward her.
Across multiple reports, Wilde credits her co-star Walton Goggins with preventing a worse outcome. She recounts that Goggins quickly reacted by positioning his horse to shield her from the oncoming herd, helping keep her safe during the stampede. Variety and other outlets report Wilde’s remarks that she “owes him” her life and refers to him as a “real-life hero,” emphasizing both his split-second action and his riding skill.
Other coverage also notes that Wilde frames the incident within the context of filming Western-style riding, which she said differed from the English riding she was accustomed to.
