Ten Epic Movies: Animal Films: Horses

Another movie list! I had this period from around 5th grade to 7th that I was absolutely, head-over-heels, in love with... horses. I went around telling people that I was a horse. Seriously, no joke. Naturally, I still own a ton of horse DVDs and have a seen a ridiculous amount of horse-related movies, so picking ten will be easy:

10. Moondance Alexander (2007): This movie, while really well-made, is quite a cliche. A troubled man finds himself haunted by his past when an eccentric teenager shows up. He overcomes his personal troubles to help her achiever her dreams. There is a spectacular ending, which is why this film is even on the list.

9. Misty (1961): The movie had the real Misty in it: awesome! She didn't play herself, though. The movie is a film adaptation of Marguerite Henry's book about a pony on a Virginian island, Chincoteague Island, titled Misty of Chincoteague.The actual Misty has something like 80 descendents still living on Chincoteague!

8. Two Bits And Pepper (1995): This is more of a film for horse-people, particularly horsey kids. It's about two girls and two ponies who act incredibly brave when faced by some very bad criminals.

7. War Horse (2011): I actually haven't seen this whole movie. Didn't get to watch the last half hour or so, but the beginning and middle were definitely amazing. The book was awesome, and the film was a Spielberg film, practically guaranteeing awesome-ness.

6. Secretariat (2010): As a horse-racing film, it was dramatic and suspenseful and pretty much awesome, but it still doesn't trump Seabiscuit (2003).

5. Breaking Free (A Leap Of Faith) (1995): I personally am absolutely in love with this film because it combines my two loves: horse-jumping and gymnastics. The blind gymnast's story is inspirational and awesome, even though the origin of her blindness gave me nightmares about a particular balance beam dismount for weeks.

4. Black Beauty (1994): Because it's such a beloved story, there are naturally something like six film adaptations. My favorite, however, is the one from 1994, I think. I can't be sure because 1. The internet provides poor descriptions of them and 2. I have no idea where my personal copies of the various versions are.

3. Dreamer (2005): While Dreamer at first seemed like a Seabiscuit copycat, it was far from being so. The horse of Dreamer overcame his own obstacles. The movie showed a heartwarming bond between a horse and his person, a relationship every equine-obsessed kid craves.

2. Seabiscuit (2003): Seabiscuit, the horse, the book, and the movie, are three American legends (haha, get it? Probably not). The horse was it's own 1930's racing star, the book that chronicled its life inspired and continues to inspire mounds of jockeys and trainers to be, and the movie was the pioneer of horse-racing films.

1. Flicka (2006): Seriously, just watch this movie. It's got everything: family and horses. What else could you need?

I get that not everyone likes watching multi-ton, smelly animals lumber around chewing hay. But I think each action (except for cleansing their bodies of waste) of the horse is majestic and beautiful, even tasks as simple as eating. Obviously, the above movies do more than show horses eat. They highlight the things that make horses amazing even to those not completely in love. The ones made in 2003 and on are the best for a wider range of audiences, but they really are all great!