My favorite equine star is Cass Ole', otherwise known as The Black Stallion. Who couldn't love this horse. I am a huge fan of the books, and some part of me will forever want a big black Arabian stallion to gallop down the beach bareback on.
I also love many of the horses from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I WANT WANT WANT the horse who they used for Asfoloth (Arwen's horse) and the horse that Eomer is riding (a big iron gray fellow).
Another favorite of mine is the little dun horse from The Man From Snowy River. I hold my breath as he launches out over the cliff and lands at a gallop, it is amazing. I still can't watch the part in the Return to Snowy River when he gets shot.
And of course, Cisco from Dances With Wolves. Who didn't cry when he died? I STILL do. I have to fast forward through that scene.
So, who are your favorites?
I agree with Cass Ole, that movie sparked my love of horses (and horse movies) and growing up in San Antonio I got to drive by the real him (who was not a solid black but a little spray painted for the movie)all the time as he was stabled right in the city on Bitters Road :) Our first horse we bought is a cousin of his with the same ermine spot.
ReplyDeleteDitto to the Man from Snowy River, still takes my breath away with that whip cracking ride down the mountain.
Trigger and Mr. Ed spurred my love for Palominos.
I loved all the horses you mentioned. They were awesome in the roles they were cast for. But my favorite of all times was from the movie "Lady Hawk". Goliath,the Friesian. He was my introduction to the breed. I fell in love the minute he came into the scene.
ReplyDeleteCass Ole, the horse from LadyHawke and Merry legs from Black Beauty.
ReplyDeleteEvery time we see a white pony we yell MERRYLEGS!
Ditto all above... though I still remember the first time I actually stood next to a purebred Arabian- oh the horror...Black will forever be 17.2 in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI also loved the stallion from Snowy River, and the grey horse the King rode in Kingdom of Heaven, and, like, all of the horses in King Arthur...especially Lancelot's (though it may have been Ioan Gruffudd's awesomeness rubbing off on him ;) Oh, and that chestnut (Gelderlanders?) four that is in damn near all of the recent BBC and UK made movies.
Rising Star from the Electric Horseman. I don't know the name of the horse who played the part, but the last scene of him running free is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe Black Stallion is one of my favorites as well (and the Friesian they claimed was an Arabian in the extras for the Young Black Stallion.. horrible movie).
ReplyDeleteI always find it amusing when low budget horse movies switch out the horses they use and think no one will notice. Especially for jumping.. bays love to become chestnuts and switch around markings. The worst was some white stallion movie.. they kept swapping around various grays/cremellos, and of course he was the best jumper -ever-, so he went to some national event.. and apparently they couldn't find a light gray. He managed to become dark gray for one show in the movie.. that's talent.
All of those you mentioned are wonderful. The cinematography in the black stallion and the stallion himself, just beautiful. I loved the movie Phar Lap - reminded me of a big old TB gelding I owned.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in elementary school,many many years ago, the librarian showed us a black and white movie - little dialogue or no dialogue - about a young boy and the wild horses of the Camarague - Crin Blanc. I loved those horses. Something about horses and beaches and water.
I loved all of the above. The horses in Black Stallion Returns were FAB. It was my understanding that Cass Ole is a Quater Horse not an arab!
ReplyDeleteThe horse ridden in Shakespeare in Love (a Friesian). I saw the movie with my sisters and they were oggling the leading man, while I was oggling the magnificent Friesian horse and they laughed at me. They just don't understand horsewomen!
ReplyDeleteCass Ole was not a Quarter Horse. He was an Arabian. The horse that they used in the TV series was.
ReplyDeletethe horse who played Hildalgo, love the movie and horse
ReplyDeleteThe grey arab mare in racing stripes, the horse who played Artax in neverending story (does anyone know if the rumour the horse really died is true?) and the grey arab from the 13th Warrior. The horse got more oogling than Antonio Banderos. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe horse who played Hidalgo, for sure! He had such personality. And according to this interview, it sounds like the personality was all his, not some invention of the film's editors.
ReplyDeleteToo many movie horses to mention them all, but yes- Cisco from Dances With Wolves, Goliath from LadyHawke, and the grey in the swordfight in the cathedral at the end, Phar Lap, The two Snowy River movies, the Horse Whisperer, the team in Sleepy Hollow as well as the grey Christina Ricci rides, National Velvet, the horse Billy Crystal rides in City Slickers and John Wayne's horse Dollar.
ReplyDeleteRaela- I believe you are talking about Lightning the White Stallion. Horrid waste of video. Agreed- the horses change color markings and tack upon entering the arena, circling before starting the course and going over the jumps. And just how many times has anyone heard an announcer comment on a riders ability (or lack of) while they are on the course? None here, unless they slipped up and forgot to mute the microphone for the PA.
Cut-N-Jump: I'd forgotten about the horse Billy Crystal rides in the orginal City Slickers.....I was drooling over that horse all through the movie.
ReplyDeleteI love all of those horses! I met the gray horse at Equine Affaire, very tall ^^ I think his name was Blanco or something along the lines of that..
ReplyDeleteI still love Black Beauty though ^^
When I first saw The Two Towers and Gandalf whistled for Shadowfax, my heart lept into my throat, because I knew what was coming. Then there he was, galloping up to them. I was amazed by that horse.
ReplyDeleteThen I got to meet Shadowfax, aka Blanco, at the Festival of Horses out here in AZ. I HAD to touch him. I had already had some great conversations with Tony, his owner's husband, and Rameus, his horse, but I hadn't gotten to touch Blanco. Tony told me about how Blanco was abused during the filming of LOTR, and you can tell. He is afraid of applause and sudden movements. After the evening show, I walked up to them and Cynthia asked everyone to please only pet him on his shoulder since he can be touchy about his head. Since there wre kids all around him, I just stood off to the side and waited. Blanco looked me right in the eye and reached out his nose TO ME, and wanted me to pet him. Cynthia had no problem with me petting his head then. I gave him tons of love and let him know how special he is, and I had a great conversation with Cynthia. I feel so sorry for him, but he's in a good, safe home now. He is now ridden in a bitless bridle and bareback. That animal has an amazing heart and is so wonderful.
I also loved Asfaloth--I'm a sucker for a gray Andalusian!
I also loved the accuracy of the horses in The 13th Warrior. Especially the giant bay draft horse the tracker Viking rode. GORGEOUS!
Hidalgo, of course, and the bay who played Brego in Lord of the Rings. He was gorgeous, and I loved his character.
ReplyDeleteThe jousting horse Heath Ledger rides in A Knight's Tale is one of my favorite movie horses.
ReplyDeleteI think someone asked about Artax and whether he died in filming of The Never Ending Story, and I do not think he did, I think someone actually posted on FHoTD saying that one of the stunt boys that rode him took him home. I cuold be wrong but I am pretty sure that I did read that in one of the threads.
The City Slicker horse Billy Crystal rode and owned died recently.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best movies with an undercurrent horse theme is Friendly Persuasion. It is about Quakers in the Civil war times and the wife tells her husband to trade in their pretty horse (which hubby raced to meeting) for a nice slow horse. He brings home a Naragansett pacer which is homely but certainly not slow!
OMG...I can't believe I forgot that magnifilicious roany pony from A Knight's Tale... I'm a damn sucker for a big strong roan. There is a Percheron breeder that specializes in blue roans...I'd give my left arm for a blue version of my good hitch mare.
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ReplyDeleteOMG!! and Fury!!! how did I forget him???
ReplyDeleteRex Trailers' Gold Rush, a huge palamino(at least it seemed so when I was 5 or 6) put horses in my heart to stay, and Flicka (Wahana), from the TV show back in the late 50's. I'm not that old!! I must have seen reruns later on!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a website with a lot of hollywood horse info
http://horsefame.tripod.com/index.htm
I also loved the accuracy of the horses in The 13th Warrior. Especially the giant bay draft horse the tracker Viking rode. GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeletePLEASE tell me you are joking! Accuracy?! One, Vikings didn't normally ride horses at ALL, choosing to travel by sea or using the horses as pack animals; two, if they did they wouldn't be freaking Draft horses, but Fjord or similar type horses; three, those paticular types of heavy horses didn't even EXIST in the time that the movie is set (around 900). The Norse culture had not even fully come into their height at this time.
Not that weren't nice looking, but that whole movie is a joke when it comes to historical accuracy. Maximillian plate? Really? A Roman Gladiator helm? A Conquistador helm? Yikes. A positive potpourri of historical innacuracy.
I have a minor in history with a focus in early world civilization. It was a fun movie, a better book, but not even remotely accurate.
I love Doc's Keepin Time, from the most recent Black Beauty incarnation. And the gorgeous bay roan from Knight's Tale, absolutely.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I was a huge Dr. Quinn fan and there was one chestnut that got passed around from character to character - Sully's horse in one episode, Dr. Mike's carriage horse in the next, a cavalry mount in another. He had a unique blaze so I always recognized him, or thought I did.
Zorro's horse from the movies was pretty. I also liked the horses in A Knight's Tale, the one that Heath Ledger rode, and the one that Rufus Sewell rode. There were some really amazing horses in The Lord of the Rings, too. The Rohirrim riding across the mark was an awesome sight.
ReplyDeleteI know one of the horses that was in the LOTR movies, in the battle scenes you will sometimes see a big bay with white stockings, I know that mare she is gorgeous :D
ReplyDeleteOMG, Cass Ole!! *sigh* Some of the most *beautiful* film footage EVER.
ReplyDeleteThe big Friesian in Ladyhawke: my intro. to the breed. So badass!!
The movie "Lightning: the White Stallion" is hilarious if you're drunk. Even if you're REALLY drunk, you can count the horses....
Seabiscuit was really well done, I think. I love the scene where he keeps kicking out his "pets."
The Robert Vavra-looking unicorn is the only thing worth watching in "Legend," except for young Tom Cruse's ass in britches.
I HATE inaccurate horse stuff on TV or in movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It happens all... the... time. And it usually influences impressionable kids whose parents don't know any better *sigh*
How could any of us forget the Fire Mares from the movie "Krull"?
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who watched the series "The Big Valley" because it had horses in it? Bonanza- Lorne Green owned a house across the street in the golf course community.
All the horses in the Clint Eastwood westerns...
cattypex,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about the unicorns in Legend! DUH! Being a unicorn-crazy little girl, when I saw that movie I just melted. Real unicorns on the screen! HEAVEN!
I have to say I really like that movie, just for it's sheer camp. Plus, Tim Curry is incredible. That man is an amazing actor.
But I have to agree that now I'm also more interested in spotting Tommy's tight butt in those britches....YUMMY. I also watch for that in the movie Troy. Sheesh.
All of the above, plus I have a particular fondness for that deeply gorgeous Freisian from "Ladyhawke."
ReplyDeleteHands-down favorite, though? The big red roan horse that Heath Ledger rode in "A Knight's Tale." GORGEOUS. I looked up the breed once and actually found the info, though I can't remember it now. :( It was a native Czech breed, I think.
Oh, and one more! He's not a movie horse, but the quarter horse who played Comet on the TV series "The Adventures of Brisco County Junior" was awesome. The *character* of the horse was really well-written, too... a real nickel-rag sort of star. :D He and Bruce Campbell played well off each other.
ReplyDeleteSince this post is not too old, I'll comment while catching up. John Wayne rode a leopard spotted appy in a couple of movies. They show them on AMC on Saturdays all the time. In one scene the horse is supposed to have thrown him into a creek. But Wayne has just launched himself over the side. The little (compared to the Duke) horse is standing there so calm like, "Why big man falled off me? I not did nothing."
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE ITS TRIGGER! Trigger, the smart gorgeous real life pet of Roy Rogers and also Buttermilk the horse that Dale Evans rode. Palominos won my heart way back then and I learned what a buckskin was... yah yahoo I am that old. But I was very young and what an impression horses made on me! Now I am enamered by Friesians in many movies but of course Ladyhawk's Goliath was outstanding. I have been face to face with a Stallion of the breed and if there ever was a horse that was as wise as the look in that stallion's eyes it was only described in the Lott books.Amazing animal... like meeting real totality!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading everyone's comments! I (as do most if not all of you) love the freisian from Ladyhawke, Widowmaker from Pecos Bill, the red maned horse in ladyhawke (does anyone know what breed that was? I was thinking andalusion (sp?), Hadilgo and Shadowfax of course, and CAss Ole of course. It was just fun thinking about all these horses I remember.
ReplyDeleteI'm blessed to be steward to ten beautiful equine souls each unique unto themself. If only I'd had the blessing of coming of age with a beautiful companion like Flicka (Wahana). For now I'm trying to play catch-up living that 'dream' and embracing each as my own 'Flicka'.
ReplyDelete~"To see her is to love her, and love her forever, For Nature made her what she is." - Robert Barns~
Me.Ed!!! Hello Wilburrrr
ReplyDelete