15 Horse Movies You Absolutely Have to Watch

The horse holds a place of its own in cinema, thanks to its elegance and to everything it conveys on screen without a single line of dialogue. We have gathered here 15 horse movies you absolutely have to watch, from biopics based on a true story to animated classics, by way of racing dramas and modern ranch films.

Depending on what you are after, go straight to the right title:

• Horse movies based on a true story: Jappeloup, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, In Harmony, The Rider.
• Horse racing movies: Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Jappeloup.
• Animated horse movie: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
• Horse movies to watch as a family: Flicka, White Mane, The Black Stallion, Black Beauty.
• Movies about the bond between people and horses: The Horse Whisperer, War Horse, The Mustang, Danse avec lui, Hidalgo.

Jappeloup (2013)

Jappeloup is a free adaptation of Karine Devilder's novel Crin noir and tells the true story of Pierre Durand, a passionate rider who walked away from a career in law to devote himself to show jumping. His horse Jappeloup, however, is as magnificent as he is unpredictable. Director Christian Duguay delivers a large-scale biopic led by Guillaume Canet, himself a rider off screen.

The film follows the pair from their crushing failure at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to the Olympic title they took against all odds in Seoul in 1988.

Flicka (2006)

Flicka follows a teenage girl who finds a wild mustang and sets out to gentle it herself, hoping to convince her parents to let her take over the family ranch.

The story is not only about the bond between a girl and her horse, but also about the ties inside a family. You watch a father struggle to connect with his daughter, and a brother and sister do everything they can to protect each other. The devotion between the girl and the horse mirrors the devotion the family ends up showing one another.

In Harmony (2015)

Released in France as En equilibre, In Harmony centres on Marc Guermont, a much sought-after horse stuntman in the film industry. During the shoot of a period film, a bad fall with his mount breaks his back.

Not only is he left paraplegic, but his insurance company tries to short-change him. Two solid reasons for Marc to be bitter and angry, and he is very much waiting for the insurer's representative. When she finally files her report, the assessor turns out to be a woman he cannot ignore, Florence Kernel. The film is drawn from a real accident and the long rebuilding that followed.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)

Released in 2002 by DreamWorks Animation, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is a beautifully made animated horse movie. Instead of having the horses talk, as almost every other animal film does, it lets them communicate through sounds and body language, exactly as a real horse would. Critics took notice and the film earned an Oscar nomination.

The story follows a young foal who grows into a proud stallion and the leader of his herd. He is captured by men who try to break him in a brutal way, and he meets a young Lakota man with whom he forms a friendship that saves both their lives.

Spirit is a reminder of the true nature of the horse: there will always be a part of him that stays free and wild.

War Horse (2011)

The War Horse film was directed by Steven Spielberg and picked up six Academy Award nominations in 2012. It is the moving story of a horse thrown into the chaos of Europe during the First World War.

It begins with the birth of Joey and his training by a young man named Albert. When Albert's father sells Joey to the army because the family needs the rent money after a storm destroys their crops, Albert can only watch his horse be sent off to war.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Seabiscuit is a 2003 horse racing movie based on the champion thoroughbred who was the best racehorse in America until the 1940s. Seabiscuit was far more than a racehorse: he became a symbol of hope for Americans during the Great Depression.

Car manufacturer Charles Howard is no different, trying to rebuild his life after the tragic death of his only child and the end of the marriage that followed.

With his second wife Marcela beside him, Charles moves into horse racing and ends up with a team of outsiders chasing their own dreams. First comes trainer Tom Smith, who has a natural instinct for spotting a horse's ability. Then comes the horse Tom picks for Charles: Seabiscuit, an unconventional choice, because for all his bloodline he is small and runs with a slight limp.

Danse avec lui (2007)

This French film, whose title translates as "Dance with him", has never been released under an English title. Three years after leaving a serially unfaithful husband and taking a dramatic fall at a show jumping event, Parisian architect Alexandra Balzan, played by Mathilde Seigner, rediscovers her appetite for life and for love after a chance meeting with an ageing, misanthropic riding master, played by Sami Frey, and his horse, in a run-down riding school near Beauvais.

Miguel, played by Jean-Francois Pignon, is the only stable hand who stayed out of loyalty to the master and his values. He also works as a stunt rider for the film industry and suffers the contempt of crews for the risks he is asked to take.

All three carry deep wounds, and all three are heirs to an old equestrian craft handed down by generations of riding masters. The film shows how they use that knowledge to rebuild the training of a magnificent horse ruined by a previous owner who knew nothing and cared less.

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

The Horse Whisperer was directed by Robert Redford, who also stars in it. Based on the 1995 novel by Nicholas Evans, Redford plays a horse trainer known as a whisperer, who comes to the rescue of a young girl, Grace MacLean, played by Scarlett Johansson, and helps her understand horses again.

The film opens with Grace and her horse caught in an accident with a truck that badly injures them both. Grace loses part of a leg and turns bitter, while her horse is left traumatised.

To help heal both her daughter and the horse, Annie MacLean, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, takes them to Montana to stay at the ranch of Tom Booker, a horseman with an almost uncanny gift. Annie falls for him along the way.

Secretariat (2010)

Where Seabiscuit was the racehorse who won America over during the Great Depression, Secretariat is remembered as one of the finest thoroughbreds of all time. He won five Eclipse Awards and ranks second, behind Man o' War, on the list of the greatest racehorses of the twentieth century drawn up by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

In 2010 Disney brought his story to the big screen. This horse racing movie did not match the box office of some of the others on this list, but it was widely praised as an honest, well-made film.

Penny Chenery, a housewife and mother, agrees to take over Meadow Stables in Virginia from her ailing father despite knowing next to nothing about horse racing. Against all odds, and with veteran trainer Lucien Laurin at her side, she finds her way through a male-dominated world and lands the first Triple Crown in twenty-five years.

Hidalgo (2004)

Held every year for centuries, the Ocean of Fire was a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian desert, a challenge reserved for the finest Arabian horses ever bred, from the purest and noblest bloodlines, owned by the great royal families.

In 1890 a wealthy sheikh invited an American, Frank T. Hopkins, and his horse to enter the race for the first time. Hopkins had been a cowboy and a dispatch rider for the US cavalry, and was billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known.

The sheikh puts that claim to the test, setting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the best Arabian horses and riders in the world, some of them determined to stop an outsider from finishing. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes a matter of pride and honour, and then a race for survival.

The Rider (2017)

The Rider, directed by Chloe Zhao, is a quietly devastating drama based on real events, in which Brady Blackburn, a young cowboy and gifted horse trainer, has to face an injury that ends his career and his dream. The film blends fact and fiction: Brady Jandreau plays a version of himself, surrounded by his own family and friends.

It explores the deep bond between a man and his horses while dealing with universal themes: identity, resilience and courage in the face of adversity. The naturalistic approach gives a rare view of the life of modern cowboys, set against vast open landscapes.

The Mustang (2019)

The Mustang, released in France as Nevada and directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, tells the story of Roman Coleman, a withdrawn inmate who joins a rehabilitation programme built around training wild horses. As he works with an untameable mustang, Roman begins to reconnect with his own humanity and to face the damage in his past.

The film is a powerful illustration of the personal change that the bond between a person and an animal can bring about. Matthias Schoenaerts gives an intense performance in this emotional drama, where the horses become a metaphor for freedom and forgiveness.

White Mane (1953)

White Mane, known in France as Crin blanc, is a poetic masterpiece directed by Albert Lamorisse. This short film tells the story of a wild, untameable horse living in the Camargue and his friendship with a young boy, Folco. Together they try to escape the men who want to capture the horse at any cost.

With a visual and narrative approach all its own, the film is an ode to freedom and to the understanding between people and nature. This timeless classic won the Palme d'Or for short film at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

The Black Stallion (1979)

Based on the adventure novel by Walter Farley, The Black Stallion is a captivating film directed by Carroll Ballard. It follows Alec Ramsey, a young boy shipwrecked on a deserted island, who befriends a black Arabian stallion who survived the same wreck. Their bond carries them back to dry land and on into a series of epic races.

The film is celebrated for its breathtaking cinematography, which showcases the majesty of the horse and some spectacular landscapes. An adventure full of suspense and emotion that works for children and adults alike.

Black Beauty (1994)

Black Beauty, released in France as Prince Noir, is an adaptation of the famous novel by Anna Sewell. The film tells the life of a horse named Black Beauty, narrated from his own point of view. From a carefree youth to far darker stretches, it explores the highs and lows of a working horse's life through his encounters with a series of owners, good and bad.

The film puts empathy and respect for animals front and centre, and offers a unique, moving perspective. A must-see for anyone who loves horses and a story with real feeling.

Where to watch these horse movies

Finding the horse movies in this list is easier than ever thanks to streaming platforms and the usual rental services. Here is where you can watch them:

On the main streaming platforms:

• Netflix:

  • Jappeloup (2013), available in some regions and ideal if you like sports biopics.
  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), an animated classic to watch as a family.

• Amazon Prime Video:

  • Flicka (2006) and its sequels, to rent or buy if you enjoy warm family stories.
  • War Horse (2011), available to stream or rent.
  • Secretariat (2010), an inspiring pick for racing fans.

• Disney+:

  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), perfect if you like animation and stories about freedom.

• Apple TV and Google Play:

  • Hidalgo (2004), to rent or buy for a full-blown equestrian adventure.
  • Danse avec lui (2007) and The Horse Whisperer (1998), two more titles you can pick up there.

On specialist platforms and on disc:

• Video on demand in France:

  • In Harmony (2015), a moving French film about resilience and the bond with a horse.

• DVD and Blu-ray:

  • White Mane (1953) and The Black Stallion (1979), timeless classics that are often missing from streaming catalogues but easy to find on disc.
  • Black Beauty (1994), a fine adaptation of Anna Sewell's novel worth rediscovering.

For the recent and independent titles:

• The Rider (2017): available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
• The Mustang (2019): on Netflix in some regions, and to rent on Google Play.

Frequently asked questions about horse movies

Which horse movie is based on a true story?

Five titles in this selection tell a real story: Jappeloup, which follows Pierre Durand to the Olympic gold medal in Seoul in 1988, Seabiscuit and Secretariat, devoted to two American racing champions, In Harmony, drawn from the accident and recovery of a horse stuntman, and The Rider, in which Brady Jandreau plays a version of himself after the injury that ended his rodeo career.

What are the best horse racing movies?

Seabiscuit (2003) and Secretariat (2010) are the two reference points for American racing, one set during the Great Depression, the other around the Triple Crown. Jappeloup takes place in show jumping rather than on a racetrack, but it remains the most memorable competition film of the list.

Is there a good animated horse movie?

Yes: Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002). The horses communicate only through sounds and body language, with no dialogue, a choice that earned the film an Oscar nomination and makes it the benchmark animated film about horses.

Which horse movie should I watch as a family?

Flicka, White Mane, The Black Stallion and Black Beauty all work just as well at ten as at forty. For younger children, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is the simplest choice.

Which movie should I pick if I ride?

Jappeloup for show jumping, Danse avec lui for classical dressage and the work of a riding master, In Harmony for stunt riding, and The Horse Whisperer for rehabilitating a traumatised horse. If you are still weighing up which discipline suits you, our article on the different equestrian disciplines helps place each film.

Which movie features a black horse?

The Black Stallion (1979) centres on a black Arabian stallion who survives a shipwreck, and Black Beauty (1994) adapts Anna Sewell's novel by giving the horse himself the narration. They are the two best known black horse movies.

What is the best horse movie of all time?

There is no single answer, but three titles come up again and again: The Black Stallion for its cinematography, War Horse for its scale and emotion, and Seabiscuit for the true story behind it. If you only have time for one, start with The Black Stallion.