Are you a horse lover and looking for some inspirational and feel-good horse documentaries to watch? Then join us as we explore the best horse documentaries.
Introduction -best horse documentaries
Horses are truly magnificent creatures. There is so much we can learn about them and ourselves from watching true stories about people and horses that have changed their lives for the better.
Many of them are available to watch for free on the YouTube channel. The rest can be rented on Amazon.
I have written some other posts about my favorite horse movies you can read this post called The Magic of a Movie with Horses: The Best Horse Movies to Watch and Best Horse Movies of all time-Top 21 List You Will Want to Watch Now! They are all excellent movies that are not documentaries.
Now let us dive into my favorite horse documentaries.
Best Horse Documentaries List:
Wild Horse, Wild Ride (2011)
Each year, the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge sees 100 people from across the country attempt to tame a wild mustang in 100 days. Following this harrowing feat is a public showcase that determines whether these horses can be saved from a life in captivity. “Wild Horse, Wild Ride” provides a fascinating glimpse at the incredible relationship between man and animal.
The Path of the Horse
‘I used to be a horse trainer. I used to be a riding instructor. Until the day I realized that somewhere, I had gone off course.’ So begins this documentary about one woman’s self-funded, round-the-world journey to rediscover the beauty, majesty and freedom of horses and our relationship with them.
Harry & Snowman (2015)
Dutch immigrant Harry DeLeyer journeyed to the United States after World War II and developed a transformative relationship with a broken-down Amish plow horse he rescued off a slaughter truck that was bound for the glue factory. Harry paid eighty dollars for the horse and named him Snowman. In less than two years, Harry & Snowman went on to win the triple crown of show jumping, beating the nation’s top pedigree horses and wealthiest socialites. Eighty-six-year-old Harry tells their Cinderella love story firsthand, as he continues to train on today’s show jumping circuit. This is a true Cinderella story. This is one of the best horse documentaries out there!
Buck (2011)
American cowboy Buck Brannaman has a unique way of communicating with horses, and it’s exactly this unorthodox style of training that inspired the novel “The Horse Whisperer.” In this documentary, director Cindy Meehl gets to know the real-life Buck as she reveals his fascinating story about how an abusive childhood helped teach him the compassion and insight needed to train horses, not with punishment but by treating them the way he would treat humans — with respect. This story is both heart breaking an inspiring film and his incredible bond with horses is worth watching.
The Horse Boy (2009)
The Horse Boy is the title of an autobiographical book and a documentary feature film that follow the quest of Rupert Isaacson and his wife, Kristen Neff, to find healing for their autistic son, Rowan, after discovering that Rowan’s condition appears to be improved by contact with horses.
The Icelanders and their Strong Horses
Icelandic horses are considered the liveliest horses in the whole of Europe with the greatest stamina. Life without horses would be unthinkable for Haukur Goroarsson, too. The 34-year-old lives with his family in a fertile valley in the North – four hours by car from the capital city, Reykjavik. For him Icelandic horses are “a sort of Viking on four legs”. The settlement of this inhospitable island on the Arctic Circle would not have been possible without the animals. The stone deserts in the country’s interior are too vast to be crossed on foot.
Horses by National Geographic
This far-reaching, inspiring documentary will remind you why horses call to you like no other animal. It’s not aimed at knowledgeable equestrians, but you’ll be glad you watched it – and you’ll definitely learn something new!
North America’s Wild Horses
If you can’t get enough of mustangs, this documentary is incredibly informative, looking at their past, present and future, as well as their cultural importance. The filmmaker, Jan Delaporte, follows mustangs in the wild and through the processes of round-up, capture and domestication.
“The Wild Horse Redemption” (2007)
At a prison in the high desert foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, hard-core criminals are given 90 days to tame wild mustang horses. Most of the inmates who volunteer for the program have never trained a horse before, or even ridden one. The best horse documentaries will make you think about things in whole new way.
Dark Horse” (2015)
Set in Wales, Dark Horse is the inspirational true story of a group of friends who decide to take on the elite ‘sport of kings’ and breed themselves a racehorse. Raised on a slagheap allotment, their foal grows into an unlikely champion, beating the finest thoroughbreds in the land, before suffering a near fatal accident. Nursed back to health by the love of his owners, he makes a remarkable recovery, returning to the track for a heart-stopping comeback.
The Last of America’s Wild Horses
The North American west was once a wild horse dominion, but today, only a few hundred remain wild. In captivity, they literally will themselves to die. This documentary captures the rare sight of a wild mustang running free.
Wild Horses Return to China
Do you know the amazing story of Przewalski’s Horse? If not, click here to brush up on your equine evolutionary history, then watch this beautiful, eye-opening documentary about the first herd of Przewalski’s Horses to be returned to the wild in China.
In the Valley of Wild Horses
In the breathtaking Canadian wilderness, a group of young Xeni Gwet’in riders embark on an eight day, 200 kilometre journey through the Nemiah Valley in the footsteps of their ancestors. Travelling through their homeland, they reconnect with their culture, their country and each other. Don’t put those tissues away.
The Horse Whisperer
An alternative to the full-length cinematic epic that goes by the same name, this dreamy documentary is just five minutes long and tells the story of Jean François Pignon, a French horseman whose connection to his herd will astound you.
The supreme Marwari Horse – India’s magical creature
Proud elegance, silky-shiny coats and a graceful, powerful physique – the supreme Marwari horses have been worshipped in India as magical creatures for thousands of years. Marwaris are the proud horses of the Indian Rajas. Each year in November, the small, barren desert oasis of Pushkar is transformed into a place of pilgrimage for millions of Indians. Everybody who is anybody on the horse scene in Rajasthan – Maharajas, breeders and horse masters – meets at the Pushkar Mela, the turbulent market for over 50,000 horses and camels. Pushkar is the place where the legendary Marwaris are bought and sold.
Secretariat
Secretariat (March 30, 1970 — October 4, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby, and the Belmont Stakes-records that still stand today.
Clydesdale: Saving the Greatest Horse
In Clydesdale: Saving the Greatest Horse join Janice as she embarks on an unprecedented and emotional two-year quest. Not only will it test her in ways she never expected but it will also alter her life forever… and change the destiny of an entire breed.
https://www.cbc.ca/documentarychannel/docs/clydesdale-saving-the-greatest-horse
Fate of the Mustang
Fate of the Mustang is an award-winning documentary that follows what truly happens to America’s wild horses and explores the possibilities of what will happen to them in the future. Featuring experts across the field, from those fighting to keep them on their home range, to those who train these horses to become excellent companions.
Chasing the Win
Chasing the Win follows the meteoric rise of a rookie trainer, a longtime owner, and their beloved racehorse after an unprecedented victory thrusts them into the global spotlight of horse racing. Success and fame are followed by the hard-hitting reality of what it means to survive in the Sport of Kings.
Conclusion to the best horse documentaries
The best horse documentaries offer more than just a glimpse into the lives of these magnificent animals; they invite us to reflect on our own humanity and the unique bond we share with the natural world. Whether it’s the wild mustangs of the American West or watching an amazing Kentucky derby winner each story reminds us of the beauty, resilience, and untamed spirit of horses. So, saddle up, grab the reins, and embark on a journey through the world of horse documentaries – you won’t be disappointed.
What is your favorite horse documentary? Leave a comment below! and don’t forget to share the best horse documentaries with your friends!
