Meet Lindy Lonsberry: The Woman Behind Heartland’s Most Dangerous Amy Fleming Stunts

We all know Amber Marshall is the real deal when it comes to horses. After 19 seasons of Heartland, that’s not even up for debate.

But when you’re watching Amy Fleming tear through the woods, take a difficult jump, or handle a riding scene that carries more risk, there’s a good chance you may actually be watching Lindy Lonsberry.

For nearly two decades, Lonsberry hasn’t just been Marshall’s stunt double. On set, the crew calls her the second half of Amy Fleming.

And one of the biggest reasons the switch is so hard to notice is hiding in plain sight: Amy’s braid.

It isn’t just part of the character’s look. From behind, with the same clothing, horse, posture and long braid moving with the ride, the footage can be cut between Marshall and Lonsberry without drawing attention to the change. Most viewers never realize when one woman has stepped out and the other has taken over.

That only works because Lonsberry studies Marshall closely.

It’s not just about riding skill. She pays attention to the way Amber sits in the saddle, how she carries her body, how she moves with the horse and the small habits viewers probably never consciously notice. If those details changed too much, the illusion would fall apart.

The two have worked together for so long that the switch can happen quickly. A look across the set can be enough for both of them to know what comes next, without turning the whole production into a long reset.

Even the horses pick up on it.

Lonsberry has said that Spartan — or Phoenix, if you want to get technical — seems to go into “stunt mode” when she takes the reins. The horse understands that the job is about to change.

That may mean moving faster, hitting a particular mark, repeating a movement for another camera angle, or handling a sequence that needs more precision than an ordinary riding scene.

Marshall still does a huge amount of her own riding on Heartland, which is part of what has always made Amy’s horse scenes feel so convincing. But some shots are more technical, more dangerous, or need to be repeated under conditions where a professional stunt performer makes more sense.

That’s where Lonsberry comes in.

Fast riding, difficult terrain, jumps and more demanding horse work can require a different level of planning. Even when the finished scene looks simple, there can be much more happening behind the camera than viewers realize.

Lonsberry’s job is to make all of that disappear.

If she sits differently, moves differently or handles the horse in a noticeably different way, viewers might spot the switch immediately. The best stunt work is the kind you never notice.

That’s also why her role doesn’t take anything away from Marshall’s riding ability. Amber has spent years around horses both on and off the show and performs plenty of the riding herself. Lindy is there for the moments when a scene demands more risk, precision or repetition.

Together, they make Amy Fleming’s riding scenes look seamless.

There’s a behind-the-scenes video that gives fans a closer look at Lonsberry’s work and how some of these scenes come together:

So the next time Amy Fleming takes off across the ranch at full speed, watch a little more closely.

Look at the braid. Look at the horse. Look at the way Amy moves in the saddle.

Sometimes you’re watching Amber Marshall. Sometimes you’re watching Lindy Lonsberry.

And if you can’t tell exactly when the switch happened, that’s probably the best compliment a stunt double can get.