Great Horse Movies

 I think I was born to love horses! When I was a kid, that's all I thought about. Every Christmas and birthday, I asked for horse stuff. Mainly, I asked for my own horse, but this wish was difficult for my parents to fulfill because we lived in town. I did finally get my own horse, to be followed by numerous others, but I'll never forget the powerful yearning I had as a young girl to have my very own equine.

As a horse lover, I've always loved movies about horses, too. I'm sure I've seen just about every horse flick ever made - at least the ones in English! Below are ten of my all-time favorite horse movies:

 This movie is about wild horses in Australia, called “brumbies.” The story is told of Thowra, a beautiful colt that grows up to be the lead stallion of a brumby herd. One man, played by Russell Crowe, becomes obsessed with catching Thowra and breaking him. Viewers will love the panoramic views of the highlands of Australia and the spirited herds of brumbies and will certainly gain empathy for the plight of the wild horses.

 This is another film set in the rugged Australian high country. It’s full of action, romance, and glorious scenery. The story is about a ranch owner, tough cowboys, the rancher’s beautiful daughter, and a young frontiersman set out to prove himself and save his land. The movie stars Tom Burlinson, Kirk Douglas, Sigrid Thornton, and Jack Thompson.

 This stars Tim McGraw and Maria Bello and is based on the bestselling novel by Mary O’Hara. Young Katy, played by Alison Lohman, is filled with teen angst. After she befriends and tames a wild horse, against the wishes of her parents, she “finds herself” and bridges the chasm with her dad. This is a wonderful family movie.

Starring Robert Redford, Scarlett Johansson, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Sam Neil, this is the story of of horse that is severely injured and loses its trust in humans. When the owners take him to trainer who has a special gift with horses, a miraculous recovery ensues. Based on the equine training methods of natural horsemanship, the film includes sweeping scenery of Montana.

 This is based on the true story of Seabiscuit, an underdog colt who goes on to become the most famous horse in the world during his lifetime, with the help of other “misfits” – his trainer, owner, and jockey. The movie stars Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, and Cameron Bowen. This is definitely a must-see for any horse lover or history aficionado.

Velvet Brown, played by a young Elizabeth Taylor, is in love with horses. When she acquires The Pie, she begins to dream of riding in the Grand National Steeplechase. An unlikely trainer, played by Mickey Rooney, helps her achieve her dreams. In order to ride Pie in the race, however, Velvet must assume the disguise of a male jockey. The 1945 film won two Oscars and is a definite classic!

 This wonderful movie stars Tatum O’Neal as a young girl who feels totally out of place after the death of her parents. She moves to England to live with her aunt and her boyfriend. After training her horse, she becomes part of the Olympic Equestrian Team and competes. The movie includes beautiful scenery of the English countryside and rugged coast. The all star cast includes Christopher Plummer, Anthony Hopkins, and Nanette Newman.

This is an old 1961 classic, based on the beloved books by Marguerite Henry. It tells the story of the Bebee children who go to live with their grandparents on Chincoteague Island. Scenery of the islands and information about the feral island horses and Pony Penning Day are included. The film stars David Ladd, Arthur O’Connell, and Pam Smith.

Based on the favorite Anna Sewell novel, this is the best of all the Black Beauty movies, in my opinion, because it sticks the closest to the novel. Beauty tells the story of its life, straight “from the horse’s mouth,” so to speak. Parts of this movie are very sad, but there’s a happy ending – at least for Beauty. The stars are Sean Bean, David Thewlis, and Jim Carter.

 This stars Kelly Reno and Mickey Rooney and is based on the novel by Walter Farley.  The horse is played by a black Arabian stallion named Cass Ole. When a boy is shipwrecked on a deserted island, he befriends a black stallion. Once the boy and horse are rescued, they become successful in horse racing. Beautiful scenery in this film!