What better way to spend downtime than snuggled up on the couch on a Friday with snacks and a great movie? Some have us laughing the popcorn off our laps and others… well, let’s just say they have more of a knack for opening the waterworks (looking at you, Black Beauty). Get comfy and let’s take a look at the best horse movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in 2021.
Trawling through reviews trying to make a decision on what to watch isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun time. Luckily for you, we’ve done all the research. There’s no particular order here. We’ve tried to keep differing tastes and genres in mind so that there’s something for every horse lover.
Best Horse Movies on Netflix
Netflix is famous for its wide variety of movies and TV shows to choose from. That’s what makes it the most popular streaming service available in 2021. While there isn’t a huge choice of horse movies, a quick search for “horse” brings up a decent number of options. Let’s explore some of the best horse movies on Netflix.
Rock My Heart
To kick off our list of best horse movies on Netflix, we’ve picked a beautiful German drama. Rock My Heart is the tale of a teenage girl called Jana. We first meet Jana in the hospital, where it is revealed that she has a congenital heart condition. She is reluctant to have more surgery despite her doctor’s recommendation, which upsets her parents.
Jana is later offered the opportunity to work with a horse called “Rock My Heart”, an out-of-control black stallion. Equally rebellious and angry, the two form a bond that Jana finds emotionally therapeutic and healing. She undertakes jockey training for a race she is fully aware may kill her.
Rock My Heart is aptly named, and even the toughest cinema-goers will be unable to remain unmoved by this emotional and touching drama. The original language is German, but if you’re watching on Netflix, you can change the audio to another language or use subtitles.
Walk. Ride. Rodeo.
Our second pick is an action-packed, inspiring biopic — Walk. Ride. Rodeo. Horse lovers may be familiar with the person Walk. Ride. Rodeo is based upon. It tells the story of Amberley Snyder, played by Spencer Locke, a champion barrel racer. who was left paralyzed from the waist down by a car accident in 2010.
Doctors told her she would never walk again, but this did not defeat her. Snyder was riding again only four months after the accident despite having lost all feeling in and use of her legs. She even did her own stunts for Walk. Ride. Rodeo. Her sister also did some of the movie’s stunts.
For anyone who wants to learn more about Amberley Snyder’s sheer resolve and nerves of steel, Walk. Ride. Rodeo. could be just what you’re looking for.
Horse Girl
Time for a change of genre — this one is for fans of psychological thrillers. The title Horse Girl refers to protagonist Sarah, a caring, unassuming yet creative horse lover struggling with feelings of loneliness and isolation. She lost her mother to suicide and finds it very hard to form connections with her peers.
She previously owned a horse, Willow, who she still frequently visits. Sarah remains deeply bonded to Willow despite no longer owning her. She attempts to give advice to the students learning with Willow, which the riding school owners aren’t too happy about. They’re also irritated by Sarah behaving as though Willow is still hers and remind her that she is not.
This makes for pretty uncomfortable viewing as we see Sarah pushed further and further out by the community that she loves being a part of, treated rather like a fly that must be repeatedly swatted. This aura of “otherness” around Sarah is really stifling.
Sarah’s behavior becomes more bizarre over the course of the movie. She finds it increasingly difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality. This leads to a host of disturbing incidents. Horse Girl is truly the most mind-boggling and thought-provoking of our picks for best horse movies on Netflix.
The World We Make
The World We Make is a heartwarming romance that follows the story of Lee and Jordan, an interracial couple “from two different worlds”, as Jordan calls it. Lee lives on a ranch with her father and brother and she is a passionate equestrian. Jordan comes to help out at the ranch after a family tragedy occurs.
Initially wary of horses, Jordan takes steps to overcome this, helps out with them and learns how to ride with Lee’s encouragement. He grows closer to the horses with time and eventually sheds his fear of them. The horses and the character’s relationships with them are a symbol of the theme of personal growth in The World We Make.
Tale as old as time — Lee and Jordan’s initially hesitant friendship grows into love. As an interracial couple living in a small town, the two find themselves facing hostility and prejudice that threatens the life they plan to build together.
Best Horse Movies on Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime is a little different from Netflix. Once you pay for a Netflix subscription, all of the content on the site is free. With Amazon Prime Video, you get some content for free with your subscription, but you may have to pay for certain movies and shows not included in the subscription fee.
That said, if you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars for some of the content, it might be worth giving Amazon Prime a whirl.
War Horse
Renowned battle drama war Horse was nominated for six Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and five BAFTAs. It is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo. War Horse tells the story of Albert, a farmer’s son, and an Irish Hunter that he names “Joey”. Ted Narracott, Albert’s father in need of a working horse buys Joey at an auction. Albert and Joey develop a tight bond and work as a team on the family’s farm.
Of course, challenging (to say the least) times lay ahead for the duo. When the first world war is declared in 1914, Ted sells Joey as a cavalry horse, which devastates Albert. Millions of horses died in WW1, and Albert is all too aware that he may never see his best friend again.
The story continues, following Albert and Joey’s separate journeys through the events of the war. War Horse was the first movie that sprung to mind when narrowing down our picks for best horse movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, it isn’t available on Netflix and if you watch it on Amazon Prime, you will need to pay a fee.
Emma’s Chance
A lesser-known horse movie that is definitely still worth a watch is Emma’s Chance. PG-rated Emma’s Chance has an audience score of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes — not too shabby! The movie’s protagonist, Emma, is caught breaking and entering and is forced to complete community service at a ranch for horses with troubled pasts.
She takes a shine to a horse called “Chance” and gradually builds friendships with the staff. When Emma discovers the ranch is in financial trouble, she is willing to go to great lengths to help prevent its closure.
Emma’s Chance is a horse movie that can be described as wholesome and heartwarming. So, if you’re looking for something that will make you smile and won’t pull at the heartstrings too hard, you might want to give this movie a “chance”. You can watch Emma’s Chance at no extra cost if you have an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Spirit Untamed: The Movie
Our last pick is from the beloved children’s franchise Spirit. The Spirit TV series can be found on Netflix, but Spirit Untamed is only on Amazon Prime Video. This lovely animated children’s movie follows a young girl nicknamed “Lucky” as she keeps her late mother’s legacy and “spirit” alive.
When she meets and connects with a Kiger Mustang named “Spirit”, she is determined to help save his friends who are endangered by cruel wranglers. This movie is perfect for horse lovers old and young. It is available on Amazon Prime Video, where you can rent it for $5.99.
Best Horse Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime: Final Thoughts
Both Netflix and Amazon Prime have wonderful horse movies in their libraries. Our post today is far from an exhaustive list of what’s available. You can find psychological thrillers, comedies, dramas and heartwarming tales of the unbreakable human-horse bond on both platforms.
That said, it’s a little easier with Netflix when it comes to choosing something to watch. That’s because the monthly subscription you pay covers all Netflix content, whereas some Amazon Prime Video movies and shows require an extra fee to buy or rent.
But if you are a member of Amazon Prime, do check out their selection and you’re sure to find something you love that falls within your subscription. Now, settle in and enjoy the best horse movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime!
