Meet Lindy Lonsberry the Stunt Double Behind Amy Fleming

Amber Marshall is a hell of a rider. Let’s get that straight before the comments section catches fire. But after seventeen seasons of watching her heal horses on the screen, there’s a truth we need to talk about: Amy Fleming is a two-person job.

If you’ve ever watched a runaway horse tear through the brush in Season 12 or a high-stakes jump that made your stomach drop, you weren't just watching Amber. You were watching Lindy Lonsberry. Lindy has been the shadow in the saddle for nearly two decades, and she’s the reason the show feels raw instead of like a cheap studio set.

There is a moment on set that I call the silent nod. It’s the ego-free hand-off. Lindy has admitted that after all these years, she and Amber don’t even need to speak. If a horse is acting twitchy or a jump looks like a broken collarbone waiting to happen, Amber just catches Lindy’s eye. A tiny nod, and they swap. It’s a rhythmic, practiced dance that keeps the production moving while the rest of us are distracted by the scenery.

But here is the part that actually blows my mind: The horses know. Phoenix—the horse we all know and love as Spartan—actually shifts gears when Lindy slides into the seat. Lindy calls it 'stunt mode.' The horse’s ears prick up. His muscles tense differently. He knows he isn't just going for a scenic trot for the cameras; he knows he’s about to work. He feels the shift from Amber’s gentle touch to Lindy’s high-precision, high-risk command.

And then there’s The Braid Trick. Ever notice how Amy’s hair is almost always in that signature long braid during the high-action sequences? That’s not a style choice. It’s a technical mask. When Lindy is galloping at breakneck speeds, that braid swings exactly like Amber’s. It’s the visual glue that tricks our brains. It allows for those fast cuts that make the action feel seamless. Without that braid, the illusion would shatter the second the camera caught a profile shot.

Lindy doesn't just ride; she has to mimic Amber’s posture. She has to sit how Amber sits and hold the reins exactly how Amber holds them. It’s a hauntingly accurate performance that most fans never even notice.

As we sit here biting our nails for a Season 18 confirmation, take a closer look at the Season 17 reruns on UP Faith & Family. Watch the braid. Watch the way the horse’s energy changes. Lindy Lonsberry is the unsung reason Amy Fleming looks fearless, and it’s time we gave the woman her flowers for every time she hit the dirt so the story could live on.