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- Trigger. Trigger was a the famous palomino horse of Roy Rogers Trigger not only accompanied Rogers in movies such as “Don’t Fence Me In” and “The Golden Stallion”, but also performed live before large audiences.
- Sergeant Reckless. Sergeant Reckless achieved the military rank of sergeant for her bravery and service in the service of the military. This humble warhorse came from humble beginnings as a packhorse in the Korean war, to become a decorated veteran by the end of her tenure.
- Godolphin Arabian. This famous Arabian stallion is one of the few horses recognized as the foundation sires for the Thoroughbred horse breed as we know it today.
- Comanche. Comanche achieved fame in times of war, but through a sad outcome. He was the lone survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Comanche was bought and ridden by Captain Miles Keogh.
- Famous Horses in Racing
- Famous Horses in Service
- Famous Horses in Dressage
- Famous Horses in Eventing
- Famous Horses in Showjumping
Red Rum
Red Rum remains in the hearts of every racing fan who witnessed him winning the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. The horse came second in 1975 and 1976, too. His third win is considered one of the greatest moments in racing history. That 25-length victory was greeted by tumultuous applause and BBC commentator Peter O’Sullevan stating: “It’s hats off and a tremendous reception; you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the National.” Red Rum was bred to win sprint races o...
Aldaniti
The Josh Gifford-trained racehorse Aldaniti was part of one of the most tear-jerking racing stories in history. He won the 1981 Grand National under Bob Champion. The jockey and horse were a perfect pair. Having both been written off with serious health problems, they made remarkable comebacks. By winning the big race at Aintree, they captured the heart of a nation. Bob had been diagnosed with cancer in 1979 and given a small chance of survival. He underwent a gruelling programme of chemother...
Whistlejacket
A star of the racetrack in his lifetime, Whistlejacket achieved greater fame as the subject of George Stubbs’ renowned portrait. One of the world’s most famous horses, he hangs in the National Gallery, London. George Stubbs’ life-size portrait of the chestnut has a slightly wild look in his eye. The 1762 oil painting was last sold for £11m, and has been fêted as “a paradigm of the flawless beauty of an Arabian thoroughbred”. Stories abound about how this masterpiece came to be. Some contempor...
Burmese
Burmese was the first of four horses given to The Queen by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Queen took on the mare in 1969 when the RCMP visited Britain to ride in a display at Royal Windsor Horse Show. Burmese was trained by RCMP Staff Sergeant Fred Rasmussen. Her Majesty rode the mare for 18 consecutive years in her birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. After 21 years’ service, Burmese was retired to Windsor in 1986. She died in 1990 and is buried at Windsor. While not serving...
Warrior
Warriorwas born in 1908, a compact thoroughbred by Straybit out of Cinderella, and prophetically named. Of those famous horses who took part in battle, Warrior’s is perhaps the greatest story of all. Ridden for most of his 33 years by his breeder, General Jack Seely, Warrior survived four years of war. He spearheaded a crucial and gruesome cavalry charge to check the German offensive in Moreuil Wood in 1918. It is barely believable that Warrior survived all those blood-soaked battles in Franc...
Sefton
In 1982, the IRA detonated explosives that killed seven horses. Sefton, one who survived, became a symbol of hope. It was 20 July 1982. Eleven soldiers died in the two explosions on that day. Four were soldiers of the Blues and Royals. Seven bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets died in another explosion in Regent’s Park. “The poor horses; my poor soldiers,” The Queen reportedly said on learning of it. The names of the soldiers and horses are commemorated on a plaque inside Knightsbridge Barrac...
Valegro
Born in 2002, Valegro is the world famous horse who brought dressage to a wider audience with his rider Charlotte Dujardin.The pair won team gold at the 2012 Olympics and individual gold at the 2016 Olympics. At Olympia in 2014, Valegro beat his own world record in the grand prix freestyle, scoring 93.4%. During his career he set new records in all three types of grand prix. The horse’s part-owner, Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester, gave the ride to his protégée Charlotte. She was to produce...
Totilas
The black stallion Totilas broke records in all three grand prix tests ahead of Valegro’s time, ridden by Edward Gal. He was also the first horse to break the 90% barrier. British Olympic rider Richard Davisonsaid of the horse: “You had to fight through people just to get a glimpse of him. He was incredible, the talk of the town.” The horse’s conformation was harmonious from front to back. He was said to possess the ideal topline for collection and connection, with superb flexibility, too. He...
Blue Circle Boy
Sir Lee Pearsonsays both he and four-year-old Blue Circle Boy “knew nothing about dressage” when they started. But the pair went on to win three gold medals at the Athens Paralympics – in the team, individual and freestyle events. They repeated the feat with triple gold at the 2002 European Championships in Portugal. At the 2005 European Championships, they won another team gold, plus individual and freestyle silver. “My being disabled and having a horse of such beauty and power made people s...
Charisma
New Zealand event rider Mark Todd’s Olympic gold medal-winning ride Charismaachieved a great deal more than would be expected of any 15.3hh gelding. The horse became a national hero and one of the most famous horses in New Zealand after winning two consecutive gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Nicknamed “Podge” because of his love of food, Mark fondly described the horse as “a fat, hairy pony”. He had a prolific international record, winning the British open championships twice and e...
King William
Postmen in British event rider Mary King’sDevon village became accustomed to fielding letters addressed to: “King William, Devon” in the 1990s. “I suppose there weren’t any other King Williams,” laughs Mary. The fan mail started after she and the 17hh gelding won Gatcombe in 1991 and by the following year, hundreds of letters were arriving. With his prominent blaze, alert demeanour and increasingly consistent one-day-event record, the famous horse was easy to recognise. His celebrity status w...
Priceless
Priceless was arguably the greatest of Ginny Elliot’s famous horses, taking her to her first Olympics and giving her the confidence to aim high with all the horses that followed. His purchase price of £900 turned out to be an incredible investment, although he was suffering from a curb when Ginny went to view him at Diana Scott’s Brendon Hill Farm in Devon. Diana had bred him, by Ben Faerie and out of an Irish hunter mare, Reckless, and had hunted him as a four-year-old. “Priceless was plain...
Stroller
Strollerwas a showjumping sensation, a little bay pony who took on the world’s greatest and most famous horses – and beat them. At around 14.2hh, Stroller was among the smallest of stars but also among the greatest. He was a TV sensation whose fans wrote to ask for hairs from his tail. Bought as a junior showjumping pony for a Hampshire farmer’s daughter, Marion Coakes, Stroller and his rise to international fame summed up every young rider’s dream. “When I came out of juniors at 16, Dad want...
Hickstead
One of showjumping’s most famous horses, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist’s life and career was cut short when he was 15. In 2008, Eric Lamazebecame Canada’s first Olympic showjumping champion following a thrilling climax to the equestrian Olympics in Hong Kong riding Hickstead. All the medals were decided in a jump-off and the gold only at the very last fence. Eric and Hickstead jumped off against Sweden’s Rolf Bengtsson on the compact Ninja for gold. Eric and Rolf had jumped the sole double...
Foxhunter
Foxhunter is credited with bringing showjumping to the attention of the British public, making him one of Britain’s most famous horses. Sir Harry Llewellyn began his partnership with the horse after buying the six-year-old bay for £1,500 in 1947. The gelding won an incredible 78 international competitions, including the King George V Gold Cup three times. He won a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics, then most notably team gold, this being the only British gold medal at the 1952 Olympics. He re...
Jun 14, 2020 · 21. Cornishman V (eventer) The tall bay horse and his slight blonde rider Mary Gordon Watson inspired generations of Pony Clubbers, winning Olympic team gold in Munich (the horse also won gold under Richard Meade in Mexico) plus world and European titles. Ridden by John Oaksey, he jumped a car for the film Dead Cert.
Dilbagh and Gulbagh, horses of the Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. Figure (also known by the name of one of his owners, Justin Morgan), the foundation sire of the Morgan horse breed. Gunrock, used in the 1920s at UC Davis to breed horses for the U.S. Army Cavalry. Hollywood Dun It, all-time leading reining sire and Quarter Horse.
- Figure. While many people have likely heard of the Morgan horse breed—one of the earliest breeds developed in the United States—far fewer know about the much loved horse who started the lineage, Figure.
- Copenhagen. Many of the most famous equines in history are those that served alongside humans during war. This is true for a 15-hand-high, ornery stallion named Copenhagen who gained fame after carrying the Duke of Wellington for 17 consecutive hours in the Battle of Waterloo.
- Marengo. On the opposite side of the battle line from Copenhagen was a horse named Marengo, a small gray Arabian who carried none other than Napoleon Bonaparte on his back.
- Comanche. You know whose hooves were not made into inkwells, despite being an equine war hero? Comanche's. This bay gelding was of mustang stock and was part of the U.S. Cavalry.
Nov 10, 2020 · Here are some notable horses behind some leading historical figures. 1. Alexander the Great – Bucephalus. Bucephalus was Alexander the Great’s favourite stallion, described as a beast of a horse with a massive head, black coat and large white star on his brow. Greek philosopher and biographer Plutarch wrote that Alexander won the horse ...
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May 27, 2024 · The most famous horses became essential partners in war, politics and ceremony, their strength and loyalty playing an instrumental role in the key events that defined an era. The bonds between these men and their mounts—whether on the battlefield or parading before an adoring public—offer a revealing glimpse into their lives and legacies.
