The Life of All-American Actor Kevin Costner

Costner did much of his own riding in Dances with Wolves, including difficult work during the buffalo hunt sequence. He rode bareback and even fired a gun without holding the reins, helping make the scene feel more immediate and physically convincing onscreen.

That hands-on approach strengthened the Western image that would follow him for decades. Costner was not just acting like a frontier figure from a safe distance; he was placing himself directly inside the action, and the gamble would soon pay off in a way few expected.