Checkout our list of great horse documentaries available right now. As avid horse lovers we are always looking for new inspiring documentaries to watch in the equine world. We have listed our top 19 horse documentary favorites below.
EQUESTRIAN DOCUMENTARIES
The Story of Totilas
Totilas is one of the most famous horses in the world. As a gorgeous black stallion he won the hearts of thousands of fans around the world when he scored 90% in the European Championship in Dressage in Windsor as an 8 year old. He would go on and win 53 out of 55 starts with his current owner Edward Gal. He took 3 world records, 3 world championship gold medals, 2 European golds, and won the World Cup final. But what happened next? Why was he sold? What was the sale price? Why did he disappear from the spotlight? Watch the intriguing documentary ‘The Story of Totilas’ to find out.
Year released: 2018
Language: German
Genre: Dressage Documentary
How to watch: Rent for $3.99 here.
No.1 – Targeting the Top of the World
A documentary about the swedish showjumper Peder Fredricson and his journey to the number 1 in the world on the worldwide ranking in showjumping. Will Peder reach his goal? What does it take to be the best in showjumping in the world? Follow along in Peder’s daily life and get insights into his mindset and horse training techniques. Please note the documentary is in swedish with english subtitles available.
Year released: 2021
Language: Swedish (English subtitles)
Genre: Showjumping Documentary
How to watch: Buy for $6.50 here.
Golden Genes
The documentary follows the dutch warmblood Big Star that rose to fame after his win in the Rio Olympics 2016 with rider Nick Skelton. Get insights into the life of a breeding stallion at the top level and the dark side to the sport. Nick Skelton refers to Big Star as ‘the best horse he has ever ridden’.
Year released: 2019
Language: Dutch (English subtitles)
Genre: Showjumping Documentary
How to watch: Rent for $2.99 here.
Eurosport Documentary – Edwina Tops Alexander
Follow along in the life of Edwina Tops Alexander, the talented Australian rider moved by herself with her horses to Europe as a 24 year old. What is it like to be in top 10 riders in the world as the only woman? Get a closer look into her life far away from her family in Australia and busy show schedule.
Year released: 2013
Language: English
Genre: Showjumping Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free on Edwina’s youtube channel here
Harry & Snowman
Harry & Snowman is a true story about a white horse that was rescued from slaughter by a dutch immigrant. Within 2 years they would reach massive success and win the Triple Crown of show jumping and become the audience favorites wherever they went. You can’t miss this movie about the magical Amish plow horse that became triple crown winners.
Year released: 2016
Language: English
Genre: Showjumping Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
WESTERN DOCUMENTARIES
Buck
Buck Brannaman is an American horse trainer and specialize in horsemanship and starting young horses and fixing ‘problem horses’. Buck had an abusive childhood with a violent father, the documentary follows his journey to becoming a successful horse trainer. Buck says he doesn’t fix problem horses, he ‘helps horses with people problems’. Buck was also the inspiration to the movie ‘The Horse Whisperer’. The documentary has an astonishing 90% score on rotten tomatoes. ‘God had him in mind when he made a cowboy”
Year released: 2011
Language: English
Genre: Western Documentary
How to watch: Rent for $3.89 here.
Wild Horse Wild Ride – Mustang Makeover Challenge
Hundreds of wild mustangs are caught and sold on to become domesticated horses every year in the United States. These horses have never been touched by a person and will have to learn to trust and bond with humans. The extreme mustang makeover challenge was created to encourage riders to adopt a mustang. Please note a wild mustang should only be handled by expert horse trainers. These horses can be very dangerous to an inexperienced horse trainer. An incredible documentary about the American mustang you can’t miss!
Year released: 2011
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
HORSE RACING DOCUMENTARIES
Check out great horse racing movies and documentaries you can’t miss in the list below.
Dark Horse
An inspirational true story of a group of friends from a small mining town in Wales who decides to go together and breed a racehorse to take on the elite ‘sport of kings’. Their horse turns into an unlikely champion winning every race it enters. A feel good inspirational film that will put a smile to your face.
Year released: 2015
Language: English
Genre: Racehorse Documentary
How to watch: Rent for $3.99 here.
Kentucky Derby (7 Days out – S1 E4)
7 Days out is a documentary series showing a range of sports events and leading up to them. Episode 4 is about the horse racing industry and leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Witness the planning of a huge event in the world of horse racing and the excitement and hard work that is required.
Year released: 2018
Language: English
Genre: Racehorse Documentary
How to watch: Watch on Netflix here.
WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES
The Last Of America’s Wild Horses
North America’s wild horses use to rule the American west however they are now near extinct because of humans slowly taking over their habitat and catching them to be domesticated or to be used for food. Where do the last wild mustangs live today? And where did they originate from? An interesting documentary about America’s wild horse.
Year released: 2001
Language: English
Genre: Wildlife Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
Under The Spell of Horses – The Icelanders and Their Strong Horses
A short documentary about the Icelandic horses. The vikings brought horses to Iceland in the 9th century and they have become a symbol of Iceland and famous for their 4th gait “tolt”. The documentary shows stunning footage of life on the edge of the Arctic Circle and follows the family Goroarsson and their work with horses. A group of brave riders joins the famous ride to the glacier which is more challenging than a normal trail excursion. Will they make it or is the fog too thick? Watch the documentary to find out.
Year released: 2009
Language: Icelandic & English
Genre: Wildlife Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
National Geographic Documentary – Horses – Amazing Story about this wonderful creature!
Humans have used horses for transport and agricultural use for thousands of years. National Geographic’s documentary covers the history of horses and their use today including sports, entertainment, therapy, leisure and agriculture. An original documentary that is worth a watch in your spare time.
Year released: 2018
Language: English
Genre: Horse Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
HORSE TRAINING DOCUMENTARIES
40 jours, 4 criollos et du silence
Jean Francois Pignon, a french self taught horse trainer, gave himself 40 days to break in 4 wild horses. This documentary follows his progress and Jean’s training unique technique where he doesn’t use his voice at all. All training is down with hand gestures and ‘acting like a horse’.
Year released: 2022
Language: French
Genre: Horse Documentary
How to watch: Buy the DVD on Jean’s website here.
The Path of the Horse
The successful horse riding instructor and trainer Stormy May made a documentary about her insights into horse training and the life of horses. Learn how to understand horses and work with them without using force or pain.
Year released: 2012
Language: English
Genre: Horse Documentary
How to watch: Watch for free here.
BEST HORSE MOVIES
The list below shows the best movies in the horse world today.
Black Beauty
The movie Black Beauty was a childhood favorite for many kids. A great movie about gorgeous black stallion that recalls his hard life in 1870s England. He goes through many good and bad owners before he finds his amazing forever home in retirement.
Year released: 1994
Language: English
Genre: Horse Movie
How to watch: Rent on Amazon for $2.99 here.
Hidalgo
Frank Hopkins and his mustang horse enters a tough competition that run for 3000 miles in the desert. A popular Viggo Mortensen movie you can’t miss!
Year released: 2004
Language: English
Genre: Western Horse Movie
How to watch: Rent for $3.99 here.
War Horse
A great horse movie showing the bond between Albert and his horse Joey. When Joey is sold to serve in world war 1, Albert enlists to serve in the war in hopes of finding him and bringing him back. The movie received many oscar nominations and is still a heartwarming horse movie favorite today.
Year released: 2011
Language: English
Genre: Horse Movie
How to watch: Rent for $3.89 here.
The Horse Whisperer
A young girl and her horse has a terrible accident where the are more emotionally and physically scared. Their mother reaches out to the ‘horse whisperer’ played by Robert Redford for help. The story is inspired by the horse trainer name Buck Brannanam.
Year released: 1998
Language: English
Genre: Horse Movie
How to watch: Rent for $4.29 here.
All the Pretty Horses
The movie All the Pretty Horses is an adaptation of the book with the same name. With Matt Damon as the lead actor and the human star of this movie we get to follow his life full of love, heartache, betrayal and survival.
Year released: 2000
Language: English
Genre: Western Horse Movie
How to watch: Rent for $3.99 here.