Your Next Texas Production Needs a Longhorn On Set

Animal Wrangler Austin TX | Longhorn & Horse Rental for Film, Commercials & Theater Production

Austin is a top-5 film city in North America. Productions are shooting here every single day — commercials, documentaries, music videos, theater, branded content, streaming series. And when your script calls for a real Texas Longhorn or horse on set, there is one call to make.

Finding production-ready animal talent in Texas isn't as simple as it sounds. You need an animal that stays calm under hot lights, doesn't spook around camera crews, and is handled by someone who has done this before — not someone who rented their pasture animal to a production once and called it a day.

Hooves & Horns TX has placed Ben the Legendary Longhorn and our horses at major public events with full crowds, live music, pyrotechnics, and complete production setups. Our animals are the real deal. Lead handler Moe Taylor has 30+ years of professional experience and knows how to keep a set moving efficiently and safely.

Here is everything a production coordinator, AD, director, or creative director needs to know before booking animal talent in Austin or anywhere in Texas.

Why Austin Productions Choose Live Animals

No CGI, no prop, no green screen replacement does what a live animal does on camera. The weight, the breath, the presence — audiences feel it. And when that animal is Ben the Legendary Longhorn , with a presence that commands the frame, and a calm - so complete, he barely blinks under studio lights. What you get on camera is something money can't manufacture.

Authenticity That Renders
Texas-set productions — commercials, tourism content, documentaries, western-set narratives — need the real thing. A Texas Longhorn in frame is a location identifier all on its own. It says Texas louder than any production design element you can build or buy.

The Viral Factor
Ben has over 22 million organic social media views. He has been featured on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo News, and Animals Around the Globe. When your production features Ben, that reach follows the content. Brand clients and agencies have used his recognizability to amplify campaign reach far beyond what the media buy alone would achieve.

Austin Is Already a Production Hub
Austin Studios operates three active soundstages. Texas offers an 8.25% sales tax exemption on goods rented for direct use in production. The city ranks fifth in North America for filmmakers. Productions are shooting here constantly — and we are ready to be on your call sheet.

What Our Animals Can Do On Set

Our animals are not pasture animals. They are experienced public performers. Here is what that means in production terms.

Tested Under Full Production Conditions
Ben and our horses have worked events with full PA systems, live music at concert volume, crowds of hundreds, strobe lighting, and pyrotechnic effects. They do not spook. They do not bolt. Moe has worked with Ben since birth and understands his responses in every environment. Your set will not be the first loud, chaotic situation they have worked in.

Indoor Soundstage Capable
Yes — indoors. Ben has appeared in hotel ballrooms, convention centers,  lobby spaces, and pubs. He is fully capable of working on a soundstage, in a controlled studio environment, or in a practical interior location. We work with your location manager and production designer in pre-production to confirm logistics, load-in clearances, and floor protection. We have never missed a call time and we have never had a set incident.

Marks, Blocking & Positioning
Moe can position animals precisely on a mark and hold them there. He understands camera sightlines, directorial blocking, and how to take direction from an AD on set. We are professionals who understand how a set runs. We will not slow down your day.

Extended Set Hours
Our animals are conditioned for long durations and extended presence. We communicate clearly about animal welfare windows and build that into the production schedule in pre-production. No surprises, no last-minute changes.

Full Insurance & Documentation
We carry liability coverage and provide COI documentation required by production companies, studios, and location owners. Your production office will not be chasing paperwork.

 Production Types We Work With

• TV Commercials — Brand spots, regional and national campaigns, Texas-heritage brands, automotive, food and beverage, lifestyle, and tourism content.
• Film & TV Production — Feature films, streaming series, short films, and student productions. Western-set, Texas-set, or any narrative requiring authentic livestock on camera.
• Documentary — Texas culture, agriculture, western heritage, and human-interest docs. Ben's origin story alone is documentary material — our team has been covered by national press.
• Music Videos — Country, Americana, hip-hop, pop. Longhorns and horses have appeared in some of the most-viewed music videos in country music history. We bring that production value to Austin shoots.
• Theater & Live Performance — Live stage productions, theatrical events, immersive theater, and opera. Our animals are conditioned for stage lighting, live orchestras, and audience noise.
• Commercial Photography & Print — Brand identity shoots, editorial photography, print ads, and digital campaigns. Ben has been photographed by some of Texas's top commercial photographers. His angles are already proven.
   

   How to Book Animal Talent for Your Production

  The earlier you bring us into the production timeline, the smoother your shoot day runs.

Step 1 — Pre-Production Call
Reach out as soon as you know you need animals on set. Send us the shoot date, location, a brief description of the shot requirements, and any special conditions — indoor or outdoor, lighting setup, duration. We confirm availability and flag logistics questions early so nothing catches you on shoot day.

Step 2 — Location & Logistics Review
We review the location with you — load-in access, floor surface, ceiling height for indoor shoots, shade and welfare considerations for outdoor. We have worked through this process with production offices dozens of times and know exactly what questions to ask.

Step 3 — COI & Documentation
We provide all required insurance documentation and  your production coordinator gets what they need without chasing anyone.

Step 4 — Shoot Day
We arrive early, handle our own setup, and are ready when your crew is ready. Moe works directly with your AD to integrate animal blocking into the shot list. We keep our footprint small and our communication clear.

Production Specs at a Glance

Primary Animal Talent: Ben the Legendary Longhorn —  trained for crowds, lights, cameras, loud noise, and extended set hours

Supporting Animal Talent: Trained horses, Peaches the mini pony, Blue Heeler dogs — all set-conditioned and handler-supervised

Lead Handler: Moe Taylor — 30+ years professional animal handling, zero-incident public event record

Set Capability: Indoor and outdoor. Proven in high-noise, high-crowd, high-light production environments

Coverage Area: All of Texas — Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio — plus out-of-state travel available

Lead Time: Contact us as early as possible. We work with production schedules and rush bookings may be available depending on the date.