The scene, depicting the harrowing demise of a horse and its rider during a high-speed chase across the American frontier, unfolds over roughly 20 shots and was brought to life by a 50-person team led by VFX Supervisor Mo Ghorbankarimi and Ryan Ng. The sequence required a seamless blend of digital artistry and practical effects to capture a pivotal and emotionally charged moment in one of the season’s final episodes.

WeFX’s 50-person team, led by VFX Supervisor Ryan Ng, went into full research mode for this sequence. The artists studied real-life horse racing accidents to understand how horses fall, roll, and collapse.  And while these videos of racetrack accidents were not the most pleasant task for our artists, it was important to make sure that the way the horse falls is believable. From muscle contractions to hair physics to dust kicks, every detail mattered. 

A full digital double of both Pete and his horse was created, complete with:

  • Muscle and skin simulations

  • Dynamic hair and tail physics

  • Saddle modelling and accurate cloth dynamics

  • Full CG environment asset for dust and ground interaction

Watch 1923 Season 2 WeFX Breakdown

1923 Visual effect breakdown by WeFX.
1923 Visual effect breakdown by WeFX.
1923 Visual effect breakdown by WeFX.
1923 Visual effect breakdown by WeFX.