An enterprising teenager acquires a lost pinto pony and, with hard work between herself and the pony, wins jumping competitions together. This film will resonate with young equestrians of all ages and inspire them not to give up!
This epic tale of triumph from poverty features an amazing cast.
Harry and Snowman
Harry and Snowman is an emotional true tale about an immigrant horse trainer who bought an unruly white plow horse off of a truck headed for slaughter for just $80 and transformed him into an accomplished show jumper. By using old footage as well as interviews with actual people involved, director Karin Offield creates a documentary which feels like a time capsule from its time period.
Harry de Leyer was an unemployed Dutch immigrant in Long Island during World War II who took up riding as an instructor for girls at a girls’ school there after. To his utter surprise, Snowman (his scruffy white plow horse purchased for $80) turned out to be an exceptional jumper! Once Snowman was properly trained he and Harry competed at both local horse shows with high society present, then at New York National Horse Show where they stunned everyone by clearing all jumps and winning the title!
This movie provides powerful lessons about looking beyond appearances and having an open heart. Families can discuss what Harry and Snowman’s success as entrepreneurs means about having dreams and working towards realizing them; additionally they can explore their relationship and its significance for how humans treat animals.
Hot to Trot
Troubled teenage girl finds solace and friendship through befriending an outlaw horse she believes can become a top show jumper.
Bobcat Goldthwait’s 1988 comedy was his transition from stand-up comedy to major motion pictures, featuring him alongside an equine voiced by John Candy as well as Dabney Coleman, Virginia Madsen and Ted Kazurinsky as supporting players (Burgess Meredith was his heterosexual life partner at the time). Although not an outstanding movie in terms of quality and success at box offices worldwide.
This 1952 black and white film explores the seedier side of racetrack life. It follows a disgraced sports agent as he attempts to use an upstart jockey as his way back into prominence.
This film depicts the relationship between a boy and his horse. Dubbed “hot to trot” by a local veterinarian, its name comes from its ability to trot on any terrain at speed. Though frequently mistreated by its owner, its relentless determination and perseverance eventually pay off with him winning the Triple Crown and becoming an iconic national figure. Based on true events, this movie follows one trainer whose relationship with their animal became tenuous; eventually they parted ways after they were fired for mistreatment of animal.
Wild Hearts Canât Be Broken
Phar Lap, an iconic race horse of the 1930s, overcame prejudice to become a multi-race winner before tragically succumbing. Meanwhile, an outcast teen girl is sent to a juvenile home, but soon discovers a talent of caring for Phar Lap instead.
At an orphanage during the Great Depression era in Waycross, Georgia Sonora Webster (Gabrielle Anwar) runs away to answer an advertisement in her local paper advertising for diving girls – those who can leap off a horse onto a 40 foot tower platform into an underwater tank on horseback – as part of a traveling carnival show in Atlantic City. Through hard work and perseverance she masters this craft – eventually becoming legendary at Steel Pier.
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken is one of the most significant movies to explore horse jumping history and Hollywood cinematic magic simultaneously. Corky Randall carefully trained all the horses that jumped off tower platforms under him; these horses never exceeded ten-foot jumps as per the American Humane Association Guildelines for maximum jumping distance.
Velvet
This movie is noteworthy because it highlights the close bond between a girl and her horse, as well as showing perseverance and not giving up. No wonder so many young girls find comfort in riding; horses provide them with power while making them part of something larger than themselves.
Elizabeth Taylor is not one to take no for an answer when it comes to horses, particularly her passion. In National Velvet, she inherits an unruly horse named Pie and decides that entering him into the Grand National steeplechase race would be the best way to show his worth despite criticism from adults (she even rides him herself in one scene!). Although some adults disagreed with this plan, Elizabeth trained Pie until he became champion despite all odds – as was seen in National Velvet.
This film takes some creative liberties with Pie’s story, including altering his name (which in this instance is pronounced “pie-bald”) but still manages to show how important horses can be in our lives, and the lengths people will go to save them. Watching this movie will leave viewers inspired and is a must for horse lovers of any kind; kids also find this inspiring! It serves as an invaluable reminder that anyone is capable of fulfilling their goals if they set their minds to it!
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