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Rider Insider: The Best Horse Movies

 



One of our most popular articles of all time here on HorseIllustrated.com is our 2006 list of the 30 Best Horse Movies. The continued traffic to that page proves that plenty of people are looking for some horsey cinema to enjoy. The sometimes strongly worded disagreement (and occasional whole-hearted agreement) in the comments section shows that people also have very strong opinions on the topic.



The list was limited to 30, which means the editors who compiled it couldn’t select everyone’s favorite. And now the article is eight years old! Since its publication, the world of equine film has had several notable additions, including War Horse, Secretariat and the documentary Buck.

For this month’s Rider Insider, we’re recruiting your help in updating this list. Are there any classics that we missed? Are there some newer titles that deserve recognition? Even those movies that aren’t exactly Oscar-worthy might still earn a place on the list because of other good qualities. Beautiful cinematography, a few laughs, a compelling plot or—the rare and beautiful Holy Grail of horse movies—accuracy in the depiction of horse behavior or equestrian practices are totally valid reasons for adding a movie to our new and improved list.

So what is your favorite horse movie of all time, and what makes it better than the rest? Click “Submit a Comment” below and let us know your thoughts. Some of the best responses could be included in an upcoming issue of Horse Illustrated!

This month, Noble Outfitters is sponsoring the Rider Insider column in Horse Illustrated with a prize for the selected featured response. If you’d like to be considered for a prize, make sure to include your contact info in the email field of the comment form (emails will not be publicly displayed.)

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Horse Illustrated

Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers.

View Comments

  • My favorite horse movie of all times is Flicka. I love Flicka, Flicka 2, and Flicka 3. I really like that horse movie because it shows how a horse-crazy girl will do anything for her horse -- Flicka.

  • So many I have missed, and it would be hard to pick a favorite, because they are all great!!

  • Miracle of the White Stallions. As a history/dressage fan, this movie tells the tale of the rescue of the Lipizzaner stallions in WW2. Plus, at the very end, there's a thrilling exhibition of the horses in performance at the Spanish Riding School!

  • My favorite is not on the list but it was a television show called The Adventures of The Black Stallion. It has Mickey Rooney as Henry and Richard Ian Cox as Alec Ramsey, Doc's Keepin Time as the Black. There were three seasons and was amazing.

  • Who doesn't love a good story? Hidalgo is a great movie. But right up in my favorites along side is Buck. Its not always a fairy tale. His comments about not always liking what you see in the mirror are so true.
    I really wish the documentary 'Wild Horse, Wild Ride' had made this list. I've come across so many people who find the mustangs to be 'junk horses' and if more people could see how smart and talented they really are, perhaps their opinions could change. Maybe bring more awareness to their reality.

  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron has been a favorite of mine for a while - I enjoy the perspective of the horse, all the more so that it is that of a wild horse.
    However, there is no horse film more special to me than King of the Wind. I read the book when I was a kid and though there are many creative liberties taken with the story of the Godolphin Arabian, I still feel that both the book and the film are a wonderful, enjoyable look into the history. Much of my love for the film itself stems from love and a great soft spot for the book, but I do think it is a must-see for horse lovers be they children or adults.

  • The Man from Snowy River! Love the coming of age story and the music. One of the first horse movies I remember seeing.

  • The movie Phar Lap has always been my absolute favorite horse movie, with The Man From Snowy River as a very close second.

  • How can you choose just one to be your favorite. I love anything with horse in it. Watch all the movies over and over again and I don't get tried watch them.

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