Why National Velvet is still my favorite horse movie!

As a horse-loving child, I grew up watching every movie with a horse that I could get my hands on. I still get excited when I find DVDs of those classics on sale in movie bins and online. There are a handful that I just kept watching over and over and over… But the number one request was always National Velvet. And I would still say it’s my favorite horse movie!

I’ve been home sick with the flu over the past week and have spent a lot of down time resting. This prompted me to get out my horse movie collection and I remembered why I love this movie so much!

When I was younger, I could relate a little too well to Elizabeth Taylor’s desperate need for a horse. I, too, used to pretend that chairs, swings and other objects were horses. I even had a giant stuffed horse that I would set onto the swing and then “ride” off into the sunset. ha! This horse had a home-made bridle, reins and saddle of course. As a child, this movie really struck a chord with me and encouraged my dreams of riding even though I didn’t always have a horse of my own. It showed me that it’s OK to have an imagination and that if you really want something, you have to work hard to get it. And also, as a girl, that I could do anything I wanted! Girl power!!

Years later, I was so pleased to learn that “Pie” (a Thoroughbred whose real name was King Charles) was gifted to Elizabeth Taylor after the film wrapped. Their bond was immediately apparent in the film, and I had always heard of her love for animals. When asked about him, years later, Elizabeth Taylor had this to say:

“The relationship between King Charles, the horse’s real name, and me was so special,” Taylor told Cowboys & Indians Magazine through her spokesperson at The Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation. “He was given to me on the last day of shooting and it is a memory that I cherish. There never was a sweeter, more noble animal, and caring for him was a great source of responsibility and happiness. We trusted each other. We loved each other. He lived at stables in Pacific Palisades, California, and I rode and visited him whenever I could. Every little girl deserves the kind of miracle experience that I enjoyed while doing National Velvet and bonding with that magnificent soul. My heart still swells whenever I think of him, and I still do — often.”

I just love that they continued to have that special relationship after the movie ended. I also did a bit of research on King Charles and learned that he is the grandson of Man O War. He was 7rs old at the time of filming and originally owned by a society woman at the Riviera Country Club in LA. He was trained as a show jumper and immediately caught the attention of Elizabeth during filming. She underwent a serious training routine prior to filming and rode King Charles for 90 minutes every day, as well as taking care of him at the stable.

It was said that King Charles wasn’t an easy horse to get along with. Those on set complained that he wouldn’t listen to their commands, was a frequent biter and once seriously injured a trainer during a scene. Many say that the only person he would listen to was Elizabeth! Somehow, that makes me like him even more! (Maybe he reminds me of Dancer?! He’s also a distant relative of Man O War…possibly a hereditary trait? haha!)

If you haven’t seen this movie in a while, I encourage you to watch it again and re-live those wonderful childhood memories! Some other horse movies I recommend are:

• Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
• Miracle of the White Stallions
• The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit

What’s your favorite? Post your recommendations in the comments below!