20 Best Horse Movies
Horses are exceptionally grateful film characters. They often appear as faithful companions to humans, and sometimes as autonomous characters. Films about horses capture the beauty and nobility of these animals. They show that this four-legged creature can be man’s best friend, help him in difficult times, and sometimes even save him from imminent danger.
Horses have always accompanied humans, helping them in their work and, above all, in traveling long distances. Almost since the beginning of time, humans have also formed close relationships with these animals, recognizing their intelligence and great reserves of sincere feelings. In film, horses began to appear primarily as characters in Westerns, faithful companions to cowboys, sometimes their only friends and confidants. Over time, horses gained the status of almost independent characters in many films, capable of performing difficult tasks or making sacrifices that endangered their own lives.
Films about horses, on the one hand, emphasize the unquestionable advantages of these four-hoofed animals, and on the other, turn them into meaningful symbols. Wild horses symbolize freedom, but also the pursuit of dreams and living in accordance with one’s own principles, beyond external pressure.
Horse Movies
1. „Karino” (1976) – dir. Jan Batory
„Karino” is a Polish film, which is a cinema version of a popular television series. Jan Batory’s film tells the story of the adventures of a racehorse, whose difficult birth is attended by a young veterinarian, Grażyna Barska (Claudia Rieschel). This event intertwines the fates and hearts of the girl and the horse. The film shows Karino’s story from his early childhood to his great successes on the racetrack. The story is full of drama and touching moments.
2. “War Horse” (2011) – dir. Steven Spielberg
„War Horse” is another film in which a horse plays the leading role. Steven Spielberg’s film is set during World War I. Joey is a horse who grows up on a farm surrounded by the friendship and care of Albert (Jeremy Irvine). When war breaks out, however, the animal is sold to the army and sent to the front. He takes part in the biggest battles, inspiring admiration among soldiers with his courage and devotion to humans. Even in the worst circumstances, Joey never forgets his beloved friend Albert.
3. „Black Beauty” (1994) – dir. Caroline Thompson
„Black Beauty” by Caroline Thompson is a beautiful film made with great sensitivity to the fate of horses forced by humans to work beyond their strength. The title horse is lucky to be born in a wonderful place: a farm that gives him shelter and proper care from his owners. One day, however, the animals are sold, and Black Beauty begins his journey through hostile farms, where, despite hard work, he faces cruel treatment.
4. “Animal Farm” (1954) – dir. John Halas, Joy Batchelor
„Animal Farm” from 1954 is a popular animated adaptation of George Orwell’s 1943 book. The parabolic novel, disguised as a story about the fate of a farm, contains a statement on totalitarianism, and Stalinism in particular. On the farm, the animals rebel, driving out their unjust owner and taking power themselves. Pigs become the leaders of the new order. However, it soon becomes apparent that their rule is also turning into a dictatorship, whose most moving victim is Boxer, a draft horse who works devotedly for the common cause.
5. “The Long Shot” (2004) – dir. Georg Stanford Brown
“The Long Shot” tells the story of a woman who, after being abandoned by her husband and moving to northern California, tries to cope with living alone and raising her daughter. When Annie (Julie Benz) gets a job at a horse farm, she becomes involved in caring for a horse named Toledo. The woman intends to enter the horse in races, but it turns out that the horse is going blind. Despite this, the protagonist does not intend to give up.
6. “The Horse Whisperer “ (1998) – directed by Robert Redford
“The Horse Whisperer” is also a beautiful film in which horses play a very important role. The protagonist of the film is a teenage girl, Grace (Scarlett Johansson), who loves horse riding. One day, during a morning ride, Grace has a serious accident – she is hit by a truck and loses her leg. Her horse, Pilgrim, is also seriously injured and loses all trust in people. The girl’s mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) comes up with the idea of sending her daughter and her beloved Pilgrim to the ranch of the famous “horse whisperer,” Tom Booker (Robert Redford).
7. “The Misfits” (1961) – dir. John Huston
“The Misfits” is a unique movie by John Huston, starring a whole host of Hollywood stars: Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Montgomery Clift. This adaptation of Arthur Miller’s novel tells the story of three people: Roslyn, Gay, and Perce, who go hunting for wild mustangs together. However, when the horses are captured, Roslyn, moved by the fate of the animals, changes her mind and decides to free them. The film is still shrouded in mystery. It was the last appearance of MM and Clark Gable.
8. “Tangled” (2010) – dir. Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
“Tangled” is a funny animated film based on the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale about Rapunzel, a girl who was promised by her parents to an evil witch. The witch locked the girl in a high tower and, thanks to her long magical hair, remained eternally young. In Tangled, one of the funniest characters is the royal steed who chases a man named Flynn. When the robber accidentally ends up in Rapunzel’s tower, the fates of all three characters become intertwined, leading to a surprising finale.
9. “Windstorm” (2013) – dir. Katja von Garnier
“Windstorm” is a German family film about the friendship between 14-year-old Mika (Hanna Binke) and a skittish horse. After the girl fails to move up to the next grade, she is sent to the countryside to her grandmother to help her with her work. The protagonist’s attention is drawn to a horse kept in the stable, which everyone is afraid of. Unexpectedly, Mika manages to bond with the animal.
10. “Hidalgo” (2004) – directed by Joe Johnston
Joe Johnston’s “Hidalgo” is a movie based on a true story set in the late 19th century. The main character is Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen), a horse courier who decides to take part in a race called the Ocean of Fire. This is a dangerous and exhausting competition organized by an Arab sheikh, and the route covers 3,000 miles through the wilds of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. Hopkins does not know that, together with his faithful horse Hidalgo, he will not only be competing for the trophy, but also for his life.
11. “King of the Wind” (1990) – dir. Leslie Sayle, Phil Frey
“King of the Wind” is a fairy tale about a horse marked by Allah. The movie is set in the 19th century. A boy named Agba takes care of a small foal. He soon becomes so attached to the animal that when the horse is sold to the King of France, the protagonist sets out to follow him. Together, they experience many incredible adventures.
12. “Ride Like a Girl” (2019) – dir. Rachel Griffith
“Ride Like a Girl” is a film by Rachel Griffith based on a true story. It tells the story of a girl who loved horses and dreamed of winning the world’s toughest race, the Melbourne Cup, even though no woman had ever achieved this before. Michelle Payne (Teresa Palmer) sacrifices almost everything to achieve her goal and does not give up even in the most adverse circumstances.
13. “The Black Stallion” (1979) – dir. Caroll Ballard
“The Black Stallion”, directed by Caroll Ballard, is an Oscar-winning film about the extraordinary adventures of a boy and his horse. Alec (Kelly Reno) and a black Arabian stallion miraculously escape from a sinking ship. They end up on a deserted island, where they have to fend for themselves, supporting each other. By a lucky coincidence, they are rescued. Alec decides to train his beloved horse with a great trainer (Mickey Rooney) to become the best racehorse. The film is based on the novel by Walter Farley.
14. “Seabiscuit” (2003) – directed by Gary Ross
“Seabiscuit” is a movie that received seven Oscar nominations. The film is set in the 1930s in the United States. Three men who lost almost everything during the Great Depression decide to train a horse to win a race. Competing in the race means much more to them than just winning a trophy; the characters hope to achieve a specific goal and, despite their personal losses, get back on track with their lives. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, and Tobey Maguire.
15. “Lean on Pete” (2017) – directed by Andre Haigh
“Lean on Pete” is a British film directed by Andrew Haigh. The main character of the story is 15-year-old Charley (Charlie Plummer), who moves to Portland with his father. He soon finds a job caring for racehorses. When he learns that one of the horses, Pete, is to be sent to the slaughterhouse, he steals the animal at night. The boy goes to his aunt’s house, where he hopes the animal will be able to die in peace.
16. “White Mane” (1952) – dir. Albert Lamorisse
“White Mane” is a moving French film by Albert Lamorisse. It tells the story of a boy named Folco (Alain Emery) who manages to tame a wild horse. The Camargue guards who control the area where the horse lives promise the protagonist that if the animal likes him, he will be able to keep it. However, when this happens, they want to take the horse away from the boy. Folco then flees in panic on his steed, which leads to a terrible tragedy.
17. “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story” (2005) – dir. John Gatins
John Gatins’ “Dreamer” tells the story of the racehorse Sonador, who unfortunately breaks her leg during a competition. The enraged owner blames trainer Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) for the whole incident. He fires the rider and offers him the crippled mare as severance pay. Ben and his daughter Cale (Dakota Fanning) decide to do everything they can to help the horse recover and regain its fitness.
18. “Secretariat” (2010) – dir. Randall Wallace
“Secretariat” is a 2010 film produced by Disney. Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) takes over her father’s horse farm. Although she knows nothing about the industry, she decides to train Secretariat to be a winner. Her special relationship with the animal will change her whole life. John Malkovich stars alongside Diane Lane in the film.
19. “The Mustang” (2019) – dir. Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
“Mustang” is a true story set in a prison environment. Roman Coleman is a convict who volunteers for a rehabilitation program that involves training wild mustangs. Forming a relationship with a horse will shake the man and initiate his inner metamorphosis. Matthias Schoenaerts stars in the lead role.
20. “The Witcher” (Netflix series, 2019 -)
„The Witcher” is a Netflix series based on the prose of Andrzej Sapkowski. This fantasy series tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, who kills monsters that oppress humanity. The introverted Geralt does not have many friends, which makes his beloved horse, Płotka, all the more important to him. Płotka keeps him company and often gets him out of trouble.