My daughter (age 3) LOVES this movie. Obviously it was not intended for the entertainment of adults or even older children. It does, however, do what I had deemed impossible-it keeps the attention of my daughter. Even when she isn't watching it, she sings the songs and rides on her stick horse (which she has appropriately renamed after the video horse "Clip Clop"). I, too, have been raised around horses and currently own one soley for the enjoyment of my daughter. Any mistreatment to the horses or danger to the children in this video has went unnoticed by myself. I personally didn't expect this film to be educational. I feel the purpose of this video is to give young children a glimpse inside the horse world in an entertaining fashion. I also have concluded (by the entrancing effect on my daughter) that it has met those requirements and is deserving of a favorable review. Basically, if you are searching for a video that can replace a knowledgable adult when dealing with horses--this is NOT it. But, if you have or know small childen who are interested in horses on any level, then this would be a Great gift. I rated this video all 5 stars, not because I particularly enjoyed it, but because of the effect it has had on mydaughter.

well, This is one of the movies that I swore I would never have in my house, but my 3 year old son BEGS for it every time we are at the video store, so I am finally breaking down and buying it for him for his birthday. Both of our kids are mesmerized by this, they sing all the songs ( A warning here, these are HORRIBLY written songs, and they tend to stick in your head for days) until I make them stop. the only thing worse, is Casey singing the song "Nine Lives" on the other real animal video about cats... the kids love that one too. I give this tape 3 stars purely on the entertainment value from the kids aspect....and that it keeps them glued long enough for me to cook dinner!

5 out of 5 stars Young American Rider, June 18, 2001

"A Young American Rider" follows the progress of an 11-year old girl and her pony through the rigors of horse showing on the highest level. The viewer learns first-hand of the responsibilities involved in caring for a pony and the work that is required of the rider, her trainers and her family to succeed. Addison Phillips, the featured rider, is modest, vibrant and passionate about her sport; her love for her pony and the world in which they compete is fully evident. I highly recommend the video to anyone who cares about horses or competitive sports. The production values are high: wonderful camera work and consistently informative narration. This is an excellent family video.

5 out of 5 stars Simply the best!, November 14, 2000

This is, quite simply, the best film version of Anna Sewell's classic novel about the adventures and misadventures of a beautiful horse when he gets seperated from his original owner. Mark Lester(of OLIVER! fame) stars as the young boy who searches desperately for his beloved horse. A gentel, international retelling of the timeless story, and fairly faithful to its source, this version can hold its own against the later, much praised 1994 filmization.

Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of the Anna Sewell novel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a time and a place that could be both beautiful and cruel. Black Beauty faced both hardship and kindness as he passed through the hands of many owners throughout his life. Some are generous, but the agonies endured by the title character may be too harsh for small children. Unfortunately, director Caroline Thompson did not resurrect her magical touch a few years later with another animal tale, Buddy. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Adapted from the beloved novel by Walter Farley, this 1979 family classic was hailed by no less than hard-to-please critic Pauline Kael, who wrote that "it may be the greatest children's movie ever made." A visual feast from start to finish, the timeless tale of The Black Stallion plays out on almost mythic terms. A young boy survives a shipwreck and is stranded on a deserted island with a graceful black stallion, with whom the boy develops an almost empathic friendship. After being rescued and returning home, the two make a winning team as jockey and lightning-fast racehorse under the tutelage of a passionate trainer, played by Mickey Rooney in an Oscar-nominated role. From its serenely hypnotic island sequence to the breathtaking race scenes, this delightful film is guaranteed to enthrall any viewer, regardless of age. The Black Stallion is a genuine masterpiece of family entertainment. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the DVD edition.

This beautiful story of Australia's wild horses will captivate with it's scenery and message.

Narrated by Bryan Brown, it tells of the wonders of these magnificent wild horses and the problems that are created when they are allowed to roam free in the Australian bush.

This is a beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking story.

I havent seen this movie in years but even years later I remember it and look for it in blockbuster even though I usually cant find it. If it wasnt so good I wouldnt remember, sure its a little old but it adds to the charm. It shows that those who are determined can get what they try for, an inspiring movie for any person.

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

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, November 12, 2000

This little gem, overpriced as it is, should be in every little kid's video library. This kind of movie is rare today, a family movie with no explosions, evil doers, violence, disrespect, etc etc etc. It's about a poor farming couple who has a little girl named Meg, and Gypsy is her best friend. During an extreme drought, Meg's parents decide they have no choice but to sell Gypsy. Gypsy's new owner, a race-horse breeder, is nice enough, but the man he employs to handle his horses is hateful and Gypsy repeatedly runs away from him and back to Meg. To make a long story short, this is a great family movie, just wish it wasn't so hard to find at a reasonable price.

Critics largely dismissed this 1978 movie despite the fact that it was directed by a serious filmmaker, Bryan Forbes (The L-Shaped Room, King Rat). A sequel to National Velvet, the film stars Nanette Newman as the grown-up Velvet (played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1944 film), and Tatum O'Neal as her niece. O'Neal's character decides to become an Olympic-caliber horsewoman herself, and the prestardom Anthony Hopkins plays the no-nonsense trainer who helps her get there. No dull shadow of its famous predecessor, International Velvet is an exciting film in its own right, with a distinct tone and personality (Hopkins has a lot to do with this), and some very nimble work by Forbes behind the camera. This is more than just a movie for the kids. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

This is one of the most engaging video field trips about horses

An elegant little video about an elegant little horse... This video definitely deserves a spot in the winner's circle.

One of the best horse movies I have seen.

This 1961 family film, based on the novel by Marguerite Henry, inspired a generation of children to name their pet dogs, cats, turtles, and so on after the lovely colt of the title. Set on Virginia's coastal island of Chincoteague, the film begins on "Pony-Penning Day," an annual celebration that involves rounding up for auction wild ponies on neighboring islands. Two young children, a brother and sister (David Ladd, son of Alan, and Pam Smith), capture an elusive mare nicknamed Phantom and hope to take ownership of her colt, Misty. A stranger has other plans, however, setting his mind on buying both animals, and the disappointed kids turn to their sympathetic townspeople to find a way out of the dilemma. A great-looking film shot on location, Misty is an effusive adventure about that special, even mythic, bond between children and wild creatures. Performances are strong, the scenery is splendid, and the film lingers in the memory for a long, long time. --Tom Keogh

This gorgeous 1943 family film stars Roddy McDowell as a Colorado rancher's son who takes a shine to a colt named Flicka and chooses to train her. The boy's father (Preston Foster) isn't happy about the idea: the horse is an offspring of a stormy mare who may not be right in the head. For a while, Flicka seems determined to prove the rancher's point, fiercely resisting young McDowell's efforts at domestication. But persistence and love win the day, and Flicka grows up to be a magnificent animal and friend. The film was shot by director Harold Schuster and cinematographer Dewey Wrigley as if for the ages, marrying such perfect elements as a Technicolor sweep of the beautiful Rocky Mountains setting with a wonderful story, plus McDowell's charismatic earnestness. Based on the Mary O'Hara novel, this film was popular enough in its time to inspire a couple of sequels, though the original best stands up as a perennially worthy adventure tale for kids ages 5 and up. --Tom Keogh --This text refers to the VHS Tape edition.

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

Over the centuries, horses have captured the hearts and minds of the Irish people. Nurtured by the mild Irish climate and rich grasses, the horses of Ireland have always flourished. From magnificent wild stallions to the sturdy work ponies and the elegant racing thoroughbreds - Ireland's horses are an enduring part of the country's history, work, and play. BALLAD OF THE IRISH HORSE is a romantic portrait of man and animal for viewers to treasure.

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

This classic family film made a star of 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor in the title role as spunky Velvet Brown, a girl who's determined to enter her horse, Pie, in the Grand National Steeplechase. Critic Pauline Kael called it "One of the most likeable movies of all time." Mickey Rooney costars as a young man who helps Velvet train Pie for the big race. At the last minute, Velvet herself has to ride Pie in the tournament and cuts her hair to pass for a jockey. Anne Revere won an Oscar as Velvet's mother, as did editor Robert J. Kern, who cut together a terrifically exciting horse race. Donald Crisp and Angela Lansbury are also featured as members of the Brown family. --Jim Emerson --This text refers to the DVD edition.

In the mountainous high country above the Australian bush, wild horses run free: Australians call them wild "brumbies." Author Elyne Mitchell's book, The Silver Brumby, on which this movie is based, is about a magnificent silver stallion, Thowra. The story opens on a dark and stormy night in the high country. Elyne (Caroline Goodall), spins a tale to comfort her daughter, Indi (Ami Daemion). The beautiful mare, Bell-Bell, gives birth to Thowra, an exceptional cream-colored foal, with a mane and tail that gleam silver in the moonlight. We see Thowra grow up through several seasons. Winter has its hardships; the herds of horses find survival difficult in the snow-packed mountains. But summer may be even more dangerous, for that's when men return to the high country to try to catch the brumbies and cruelly break them of their wildness. For one man (called simply "The Man" in Elyne's story), capturing Thowra, now king of all the brumbies, becomes an obsession. The Man is played by Russell Crowe, whose usual fine acting is enhanced here by impressive horsemanship. The struggle between Thowra and The Man takes on mythic proportions, building to a haunting climax. Gorgeous footage of wild horses running and rearing in the mountains make this the perfect movie for horse-lovers of all ages. We come to care deeply about the fate of these splendid creatures, whose wisdom and passion are rivaled only by their beauty. --Laura Mirsky

Based on a true story, Second Chances is the uplifting tale of a little girl's physical and emotional reawakening after a car crash claims her father and her spirit. The accident leaves 10-years-old Sunny Mathews (played by award winning child actress Kelsey Mulrooney) unable to walk without crutches. However, the damage to Sunny's legs pales in comparison to her emotional wounds, which cause her to withdraw from life and everyone around her. Miraculously, things begin to change when Sunny and her mother Kathleen (Isabel Glasser--Pure Country, Forever Young) move next door to a horse ranch run by one-time rodeo star Ben Taylor (Tom Amandes--The Long Kiss Goodnight). Sunny's recovery begins as she develops an affinity for Ben, and a love for a mean-spirited, crippled horse named Ginger. This inspirational family film also stars Academy Award winning actor Stuart Whitman, Academy Award nominees, Theodore Bikel and Terry Moore, plus Charles Shaughnessy and Madeline Zima from television's The Nanny.