Some may think that the only daughter of a ranching patriarch may be an equestrian expert, but once again, Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) breaks the mold. Most notable for the misery she causes anyone she even mildly dislikes, Beth has only one weakness in “Yellowstone.” As opposed to her brother, Kayce (Luke Grimes), who has an affinity for breaking horses, Beth won’t go near them. Beth’s unwavering loyalty to her father (Kevin Costner) doesn’t seem to stem from any goodwill or affection for the ranch and its horses. It is only because the Duttons are family, as toxic as they are.
It may be easy to accuse Beth of disliking horses because they contradict her big-city living, but the reason is far more personal. Her deep-seated phobia of these animals springs from a traumatic event when she was only a child. At the time, young Beth is already skittish around horses. Her reluctance is made worse since her brusque mother, Evelyn (Gretchen Mol), harbors no patience for coddling her daughter.
On a horse ride with Beth and Kayce, Evelyn falls from her horse. The horse, in turn, falls on her, immediately crushing her. She doesn’t die at the time but wastes no time blaming her daughter for the incident. She demands that since Beth was responsible for scaring the horse, she should be the one to get her father. While Evelyn probably intends her tough-love approach to strengthen Beth, it does the opposite, and she holds onto that fear into adulthood.
Beth confronts her fears
Beth may not be the person most comfortable on horseback, but she does her best to conquer her fears. The end of Season 1 is the first step as she allows cowboy Walker (Ryan Bingham) to show her the ropes. This scene is a stark contrast to Kelly Reilly in real life. Showrunner Taylor Sheridan confirmed she was the best horseback rider on “Yellowstone,” though she rides the least. Reilly has a history of riding horses, which she uses when she rides on the show — as rare as it is.
“I grew up riding but I’m the only character that doesn’t really ride in the show but I have ridden all my life,” Reilly told WFAA (via The Cinemaholic). “… I have over the years ridden a lot of Western but I grew up riding English and I was also a groom for a polo club.” Reilly enjoys the aspects of nature that come with riding the majestic beasts.
Beth later shows her appreciation in Season 5 when she joins the ranch to brand the Dutton cattle. This scene is a rare opportunity to see the former banker get back to her roots, and she shows that she has come a long way since her younger days as a traumatized girl.
