Horse Videos

Horse Videos

Videos about horses and horseback riding.

The Horse Whisperer

The Horse Whisperer

For director Robert Redford the trick was directing himself. The Oscar-winning director (Ordinary People, Quiz Show) says that he is one kind of actor (in the moment) and a different kind of director (more controlling). Whatever the problems, Redford has worked it out beautifully in this leisurely paced adaptation of Nicholas Evans's bestseller. When the prized horse of New York magazine editor's (Kristen Scott Thomas) daughter suffers a horrible accident, she tracks down Tom Booker (Redford), a Montana horse healer who is known for working magic. Soon East Coast brashness meets Old West simplicity as the reluctant Annie takes her even more reluctant daughter (Scarlett Johansson) to Marlboro country. Booker's influence goes beyond the horse through healing the heart of daughter and mother. The 2-hour and 44-minute film is a beautiful travelogue of scene and sky (with a giant assist from Oliver Stone's usual cinematographer, Robert Richardson). Never complicated, the movie's rewards may be hidden in its length and Redford's tendency to introduce us to a way of life instead of focusing on a story. The major deviation from the end of Evans's novel is a welcomed change. --Doug Thomas

Monty Roberts: A Real Horse Whisperer

Monty Roberts: A Real Horse Whisperer

Even as a child in the horse world, Monty Roberts was uncomfortable with the conventional method of breaking, or training, a horse. He competed in rodeos for 22 years, all the while searching for a better way. Eventually, he learned it from the horses themselves. By watching wild mustangs, Roberts was able to identify some of their body language and apply it himself. A good portion of this 48-minute video is devoted to Roberts demonstrating his "whispering" technique on a mustang separated from the herd. His mission: to get the wild horse to accept a saddle and rider within the space of a few days--without force. Of course, he is successful. But knowing the outcome doesn't diminish the exhilaration of watching the dance between wild animal and gentle conqueror. Roberts used some of the same principles in raising his 3 children and more than 40 foster children and now teaches his method to corporate management groups. --Kimberly Heinrichs

The Horse Soldiers

The Horse Soldiers

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The Legend of the Lone Ranger

The Legend of the Lone Ranger

This much-maligned big-screen version of the well-loved radio and TV show stands as one of the rare cases in which the entire performance of one of a film's stars was redubbed by another actor. (For the others, see Andie McDowell in Greystoke and Harvey Keitel in Saturn 3.) In this case, it was youngster Klinton Spilsbury (and whatever happened to him?), cast as the famous Texas Ranger, ambushed by villains and left for dead, only to return with silver bullets, a horse named Silver, a mask, and a Native American sidekick named Tonto (Michael Horse) on a one-man mission for justice. In this film he battles a vicious group of bad guys led by a flinty-eyed Christopher Lloyd. Spilsbury's every line was redubbed by James Keach. Despite a critical drubbing, this is actually a better Western than you would expect, given its long-sullied reputation. --Marshall Fine

Eyewitness - Horse

Eyewitness - Horse

If we stop to think about horses, these beautiful animals become all the more amazing. Our culture once relied on them just as we now rely on cars ("horseless carriages"), but now only a few people know much about them. Eyewitness: Horse sets out to rectify that, and the video is a delight for everyone with an interest in the natural world. DK Vision dazzles us with their trademark brilliant graphics, showing horses' evolution, their cousins like zebras and donkeys, and how the modern horse coevolved with another species--our own! Fascinating and engaging for all ages, Eyewitness: Horse makes perfect family viewing and once again shows that learning can be fun. --Rob Lightner

National Geograhic's The Noble Horse

National Geograhic's The Noble Horse

The Noble Horse is a spellbinding journey through the ages, beginning with the origins of the animal some 60 million years ago. Superb writing and stunning photography ignite this history lesson: "Spark of ancient myth, pride of king and conqueror; history was forged to the beat of its hooves...." At the documentary's center is a modern horse race in Mongolia, where horses are so revered that the national drink is fermented mare's milk. The narrative touches on an exclusive riding school in Spain, the fluctuating state of wild horses in the U.S., and the breaking of a wild horse in northern California. The epilogue is the story of Carousel, an aging horse that helped its handicapped rider win a blue ribbon in the 1996 Paralympics. Just 60 years before the first moon landing, the world was driven by horsepower. This video could make you believe it still is. --Valerie J. Nelson

National Geographic's Ballad of the Irish Horse

National Geographic's Ballad of the Irish Horse

The dog may be man's best friend, but the horse can be our inspiration. Nowhere is this more true than Ireland, where horses can be found racing, working, and simply living as part of the wild landscape. National Geographic's Ballad of the Irish Horse is a searching portrait that thoroughly explores the relationship of the Irish to this noble beast. Outstanding camera work and in-depth research create a lovely, enduring tribute to horses wild and tame and the Irish families that love and care for them. The Galway races, riding schools, fox hunts, and more all fit together in a mosaic of useful beauty, the more beautiful for the interdependence, which ensures that, despite the technological advances of the 20th century, the Ballad of the Irish Horse will outlast us all. --Rob Lightner