12 Famous Horses From History

Figure The Morgan horse breed, one of the earliest in the United States, is often overlooked. Figure, a small bay stallion, was given to Justin Morgan at three years old for a debt. He gained fame for his workhorse and racehorse abilities, and was known as the Justin Morgan horse. Figure's unique abilities were passed down through generations, and he continued to sire foals and be used in various activities. He died in 1821 after being injured by another horse. His legendary sire is featured in Marguerite Henry's "Justin Morgan Had a Horse" and a 1972 Disney film.

Copenhagen Copenhagen, a 15-hand-high ornery stallion, gained fame after carrying the Duke of Wellington for 17 hours in the Battle of Waterloo. Born in 1808, Copenhagen was of thoroughbred and Arabian stock, likely due to his stamina and fiery temperament. The Duke of Wellington rewarded Copenhagen, but his grumpy, tireless horse nearly took his head off with a kick. Copenhagen died at 28 and was later stolen from the Duke, who turned it into an ink stand.

Marengo Marengo, a small Arabian horse, was captured and put on display in Britain after the battle of Copenhagen. His skeleton is preserved at the Imperial War Museum in London. Marengo is not mentioned in Napoleon's stable records, possibly being a nickname of another horse, Ali or Aly. Marengo is one of two horses used as models in the famous painting of Napoleon.

Comanche Comanche, a bay gelding from mustang stock, was a notable equine war hero who survived the Battle of Little Big Horn. He was the mount of Captain Myles Keogh and was seriously wounded in the battle. Comanche was named after his bravery and steadfastness, having been shot by an arrow in 1868. After retiring in 1878, Colonel Samuel D. Sturgis ordered his care and comfort, ensuring his life was preserved to the utmost limit. Comanche was given a comfortable stable, never ridden again, and was given full military honors when he died in 1891. His remains are preserved and can be seen on display at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum.

Godolphin Arabian Marguerite Henry's "King of the Wind" is a fictionalized account of the Godolphin Arabian, a famous Arabian horse credited with founding the thoroughbred breed. Born in Tunisia, the horse was given to Louis XV of France in 1730 but eventually became the Earl of Godolphin. His genetic influence on thoroughbred horses continues today. The Godolphin Arabian died in 1753 and is buried in Cambridgeshire.

Seabiscuit Seabiscuit, the highest grossing movie about a horse, tells the story of a descended racehorse with a less-than-perfect body and short legs. Despite initial laziness, Seabiscuit found his stride under trainer Tom Smith and jockey Red Pollard. Despite challenges and injuries, they won big races, including the Santa Anita Handicap. Seabiscuit retired from racing in 1940 and died at 14.

Man o' War Man o' War, a star equine athlete in the early 1900s, gained international attention for thoroughbred racing. Born in 1917, he won 20 of 21 races, making the U.S. the center of the racing world. He retired after two racing seasons and started a successful career as a sire, producing 64 stakes winners and champions. Despite multiple offers, Man o' War died at age 30 and is buried at Kentucky Horse Park.

Bucephalus Alexander the Great's favorite horse, Bucephalus, was a large black stallion that was untamable until he was tamed by Alexander. This taming of the horse, which was a turning point in Alexander's life, demonstrated his confidence and determination in conquering Asia. After the horse was stolen, Alexander promised to destroy the land and kill its inhabitants. Bucephalus died in 326 B.C., and Alexander founded the city of Bucephala in his honor.

Sergeant Reckless Sergeant Reckless, a modern-day war horse, is the most decorated horse in U.S. military history. Born in 1952, she became part of the U.S. Marine Corps and became a pack horse carrying ammunition for recoilless rifles and supplies during the Korean War. Despite her bravery and her appetite, she survived the war and was recognized for her role. Reckless was brought back to the U.S. in 1954 and was promoted to staff sergeant in 1959. She retired with full military honors in 1960 and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with star, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Beautiful Jim Key Beautiful Jim Key, a 20th-century horse known for his intelligence, was a significant performer and trainer. He was known for his abilities in counting, math, spelling, Bible verses, timekeeping, and using a phone. The horse and his trainer, Dr. William Key, were the biggest act of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, attracting an estimated 10 million people. Dr. Key, a former slave, advocated for animal kindness and trained Beautiful Jim without a whip. They received awards, including the Humanitarian Gold Medal from MSPCA and multiple humane and literacy awards. Together, they made significant strides in animal welfare and breaking down barriers for African Americans.

Trigger Trigger, a palomino stallion, was a famous horse used in Roy Rogers' films and television shows. Born in 1932, he was initially named Golden Cloud but was chosen due to his quickness. Rogers purchased Trigger for $2,500 and outfitted it with a $5,000 gold/silver saddle. Trigger appeared in all 81 films and 100 television episodes over 20 years. He died at 33 and was later sold at auction to RFD-TV.

Secretariat Secretariat, a famous American racehorse, was born in 1970 in Virginia. He was known as "Big Red" and "the Clark Gable of horses" and held the fastest times in all three American Triple Crown races. Secretariat became an international star, appearing on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated magazines. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974 and included in ESPN's list of 50 greatest athletes of the century in 1999.
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