The most famous horse

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Jaii

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Was having a discussion with my mother today as to who the most famous horse in the world is/was, as in the ones even non-horsey people would know.

In the UK it would maybe be Red Rum or something but I'm unsure about how well known horses are in other countries. Was thinking maybe Shergar or Seabiscuit, or maybe a historical horse like Copenhagen?

What do you think?
 
Everyone will know Red Rum in this country. America will be Secretariat. Australia will be Makybe Diva. France will be Goldikova. Most countries around the world will know their one great racehorse as it will bring them so much glory world wide.

Red Rum - won 3 Grand Nationals among many other things.
Secritariat - the last winner of the Triple Crown, broke 5 track records 2 of which still stand today.
Majybe Diva - won the Melbourne Cups - the race that quite literally stops a nation.
Goldikova - One of the greatest racehorses ever to grace the planet at the moment.

Normal people don't follow eventing, dressage, jumping etc. as it isn't readily available to the public. Racing is however. It is very open and speaks out that's why everyoe will know their racehorse but maybe no others.
 
I reckon you'll have to count in imaginary horses too if you're probing the minds of the general public - so Black Beauty would certainly be high on the list of anyone my age.

Champion the Wonder Horse was very popular on the kiddy cowboy films along with Roy Roger's Trigger - Hopalong Cassidy also featured in a weekly (mainly aimed at kids ) soap opera cowboy shown in cinema too so both he and his fantastic blonde Quarterhorse would have been known to millions - though his name escapes me for the moment! And of course - there was Mr Ed - the talking horse - he had his own T.V. show!!!

Then there would be all the horses of history - there are still enough folk around the world who appreciate things happened longer ago than last week - Alexander the Great's Brucephalus (sp) ( he has the benefit of a million statuettes out there somewhere!)

Napoleon's Marengo - who's skeleton I amazingly saw in a shop window in Wandsworth!!! And his opposite number - the Duke of Wellington had Copenhagen - both of these feature in major works of art.
 
I think if we were to go out and stop 100 people in the street and ask 'Who was a famous horse?' then the answer most to the fore would be Black Beauty. A horse known to non horsey people.
A lot depends on your age and equestrian interest.
 
Red Rum...he drove past our yard to go to stay at another we all waited for his lorry to go past lots of happy 12 year olds!

Shergar tinged with sadness that anyone could do this, dont think it ever got solved? Greed and money?
 
I asked my very non-horsey OH - after saying "Maiden... no? Is your horse not famous?" he made a sensible reply of Red Rum. Then he got on a roll and went with Shergar.

Then he ran out of ideas :p
 
I think some of the replies are right in that different people, different answers, my first thought Milton (John Whittaker) I have always loved a nice grey :)

Also I think of (can't remember name!!) Ian Stark, lovely grey (again), can anyone tell the name or this will really bother me.

It's maybe an era thing?
 
Phar Lap Todman,Even Stevens Australia.
Red Rum, Arkle, Mossman, Millhouse, Grundy etc
But surely the most famous horse of all is the greek horse of Alexander the Greats Buch----, cann't spell it.:o:o:o:o
 
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