True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

Velvet’s orphaned niece, Sarah, follows her dream of Olympic glory with her horse Arizona Pie.

The true story of a Australian racehorse that becomes a champion with the help of a local stableboy.

The fates of horses, and the people who own and command them, are revealed as Black Beauty narrates the circle of his life.

In 1890, a down-and-out cowboy and his horse travel to Arabia to compete in a deadly cross desert horse race.

Young Jim Craig returns to his home in the Australian high country. He finds that things are not as he left them – his girlfriend is being pursued by another man, and her father doesn’t want Jim back into her life.

A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England’s Grand National Sweepstakes.

Frederick Bolton has to solve two problems. First, his boss has instructed him to come up with a reasonable campaign to promote a new product, a stomach pill named “Aspercel” – by tomorrow. The second problem is Fred’s daughter, Helen. She is absolutely fond of horses, takes riding classes and has already had decent success in some competitions. Her biggest wish is to own a horse herself, a dream her father cannot afford at all. Now Fred tries to solve both problems at once by simply combining them: A horse named “Aspercel”, ridden by his daughter should bring the name of the pill into the papers and make Helen happy, too. But there’s still one more obstacle: Helen and Aspercel of course have to win a few prices to make this idea work…

As a wild stallion travels across the frontiers of the Old West, he befriends a young human and finds true love with a mare.

This is the story of Sonora Webster, a teenage runaway during the Depression. Her life’s ambition is to travel to Atlantic City, where “all your dreams come true.” After leaving home she accepts a job from Dr. Carver and his girl-and-horse high diving act.

First, some brief housekeeping: due to company and some internet issues during the only time I had to blog, I couldn’t get these polls up over the weekend. Sorry! We’ll go double time this week in order to catch up. Each poll will still be open for 24 hours of voting.

The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl’s equally injured horse.

Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown.

Charlie is a 16-year-old orphan struggling to raise her two younger brothers when she endeavors to train a rogue horse she names Sylvester and turn him into an eventing champion.

In 1880s Australia when young Jim Craig’s father dies Jim takes a job at the Harrison cattle ranch and he is forced to become a man.

DAY 1!

The Black Stallion (1979)

While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion who is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a desert island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued, both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once-successful trainer. Together they begin training the stallion to race against the fastest horses in the world.

Young Albert enlists to serve in World War I after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry. Albert’s hopeful journey takes him out of England and to the front lines as the war rages on. (Pictured: Benedict Cumberbatch with the title horse. You’re welcome.)

It’s time! Here’s the bracket for our March Madness voting, based on the poll that ran Monday and Tuesday. I chose the top 16 vote-getters, and then randomized the brackets using a handy-dandy website generator.

I know I said I’d start voting today, but doing this bracket has taken all my extra mental concentration for the day, so I will set up the polls to start voting tomorrow. Get ready! Some crazy matchups in there.

It’s finally warm enough to ride consistently, so of course I am sick as the proverbial dog with the nastiest upper respiratory infection I have had in years. I’ve had no voice for coming up on 72 hours now, my phlegm is neon & rainbow-colored, and I can’t really be vertical for long periods of time. THANKS, UNIVERSE.

Anyway.

Quick post to say VOTE in the Horse Movie March Madness poll. The top 15 vote-getters will be seeded in their bracket in a post tomorrow, and then we’ll start the elimination polls. Are you psyched?

(I would be, but I’d probably pass out.)

VOTE VOTE VOTE