The Best True Horse Movies Ever!

 

Are you ready for some fabulous “true” best horse movies based on the lives of real horses? I re-watched (for about the 10th time) both Secretariat and Seabiscuit last week. Here are the Top 3 that made my list.

 

Secretariat

 

Secretariat remains known as one of the most successful thoroughbred racehorses of all-time. Furthermore, he won five Eclipse Awards. And, In addition, is second to only Man o’ War in the listing of the greatest racehorses of the 20th Century by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 2010, the movie that told the story of this amazing horse was brought to the big screen by Disney. Diane Lane (who is one of my favorite actresses) is the human star of this movie. She plays Penny Chenery, the owner of Secretariat. John Malkovich stars as the horse’s trainer, Lucian Laurin who also trained the famous racehorse, Riva Ridge. I loved him in this movie. In case you don't know the story of this horse.

 

Secretariat was an American thoroughbred racehorse who, in 1973, became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is widely regarded as one of the greatest races in history. This chestnut colt, who supposedly had a HUGE heart (both anatomically and emotionally) was given the nickname “Big Red”. Enjoy this amazing true story.

 

 

 

I really enjoyed watching this film again last week. Seabiscuit: an American legend was actually a book published in 1999 by laura Hillenbrand. Furthermore, the book is the biography of the racehorse Seabiscuit. It was then adapted as a feature film in 2003. Additionally, the film is based on the life and racing career of this amazing, undersized (only 15 hands), and often overlooked thoroughbred racehorse, whose unexpected successes made him a hugely popular media sensation in the united states during the great depression. Seabiscuit was nominated for seven academy awards!

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite newer movies, a documentary released in 2016, was based on a horse called Snowman. He lived to be 26 years old! I read the book, written by Elizabeth Letts, before I saw the movie and loved them both! Snowman was a former plow horse of mixed breed ancestry, possibly a cross of Quarter Horse, Morgan, and various draft horse types. He was purchased for eighty dollars on his way to a slaughterhouse and became a champion in showing jumping in the United States during the 1950s.

 

The story begins

 

As Harry de Leyer, a Long island, New York, riding instructor, attends a horse auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania, looking for school horses. He arrived late, and the only remaining horses were those waiting to be loaded into trucks bound for slaughter plants. De Leyer made eye contact with a large gray horse. It was this horse he bought for only eight dollars. He first used Snowman as a lesson horse for children. De Leyer recognized talent in the horse after he sold him to a neighbor and the horse jumped high fences to return home. De Leyer then began training Snowman as a show jumper. During his career he was known as “The Cinderella Horse” due to his “rags to riches” story. You will love following the course of this horses amazing life.

 

 

 

As you are spending a little more time inside, enjoy those wonderful true horse movies. If you can get out and be safe and ride your horses, do that too! Or at least give them all some apples and carrots until you can get back to riding again! enjoy and stay safe and healthy!