Horses have been the companions of humans for centuries past. Many noblemen have traveled around the world on them; a number of soldiers have ridden them to war; numerous courageous jousters and athletic jockeys have triumphed over their opponents, all with the help of horses. Horses have also been utilized as modes of passenger transport in the Victorian era, and they are still being used so even today. These unique uses of horses have made them companions of filmmakers too. Let us take a look at five of the greatest movies featuring horses.
- Seabiscuit (2003): This movie is based on a bestselling biography ‘Seabiscuit: An American Legend’ by Laura Hillenbrand. Seabiscuit was an undersized thoroughbred race horse who went on to win many races despite its abnormality. The movie traces that horse’s life who gave hope to its team and the country as a whole. A beautiful movie that is certain to inspire you, and I would recommend reading the book as well.
- The Black Stallion (1979): It is hard to believe that this movie is an adaptation of a children’s book. The story is too gripping, emotional and inspiring to floor any adult. The book with the same name by Walter Farley was published in 1941 and had become quite a sensation then. The movie was also nominated for a number of awards, but unfortunately failed to bag any. It tells the story of the relationship between a kid and a horse he encounters while traveling on the seas. They become close when they are stranded on an island, and the boy eventually takes it with him in order to train it for the race.
- National Velvet (1944): The movie brings out the human love for horses wonderfully. When a former jockey ends up meeting a young girl with a passion for riding horses (no pun intended), he reignites his interests while training her horse for England’s Grand National Sweepstakes. This movie too is based on a novel with the same name by Enid Bagnold, which was published in 1935. You will find Elizabeth Taylor in one of her finest roles.
- Secretariat (2010): It was great to see Diane Lane after two whole years back on the silver screen again, and she couldn’t have picked a better role than this one. The ‘Secretariat’ tells the story of a housewife who is called upon to handle her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow stables. Though she has no knowledge of horse-racing whatsoever, one of her horses goes on to win the Triple Crown with the help of a veteran trainer. The movie is inspirational to the point of invoking goosebumps by the end.
- War Horse (2011): Steven Spielberg takes the horse-human relationship to another level with this fascinating movie. When a young boy grows close to a horse owned by his father, it is sold off in order to raise funds for purchasing a more profitable animal. The story then moves on to the boy’s army life, wherein he again encounters his beloved creature, but unfortunately when it is about to be auctioned off. This movie was nominated for as much as six Academy Awards, but unfortunately failed to win any.
Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
About Today's Contributor:
Jack Stark is a movie buff to the core and has a collection of movies at his disposal. He provides horse supplies in Perth and his love for stallions is unmatched. An avid blogger, he has listed his 5 favorite movies on horses in this article.
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