This is a wonderful movie, which launched mine and I am sure other peoples interest and amateur careers in show jumping. The rider who rode him for the US Equestrian Team, Hugh Whiley passed away recently. He had a very active career long after Nautical. After Nautical retires, Hugh Whiley would always have young kids and other riders asking him about Nautical and wanting to know how he was and where he was.
8 Reviews
Great
elmh7 June 2003
This is a wonderful film about a horse with whom I was personally acquainted. It is a true story about his rise from the very bottom of the heap. When I first knew him, he was known as Injin Joe. I met him at the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania. I followed his career for several years. Then he dropped out of sight at Devon. I missed him very much, and hoped that nothing had happened to him.
Imagine my delighted surprise at seeing this film one day at our local movie theater! I absolutely adored seeing his early history and his subsequent career.
When he was at Devon, you always thought he was going to take the jump with him, but he would give a real buck at the top, which cleared the jump for him. In the movie, I saw that they had trained most of the buck out, but didn't get rid of the flip of the tail which gives the film its name.
I heartily recommend this film for anyone who loves horses and/or rags to riches stories
I would love to acquire a copy of this film, tape or DVD, to see again and to show to my Eventing daughter and grandchildren.
Imagine my delighted surprise at seeing this film one day at our local movie theater! I absolutely adored seeing his early history and his subsequent career.
When he was at Devon, you always thought he was going to take the jump with him, but he would give a real buck at the top, which cleared the jump for him. In the movie, I saw that they had trained most of the buck out, but didn't get rid of the flip of the tail which gives the film its name.
I heartily recommend this film for anyone who loves horses and/or rags to riches stories
I would love to acquire a copy of this film, tape or DVD, to see again and to show to my Eventing daughter and grandchildren.
Awesome historical film of a true story
janettoforgetto4 June 2002
This movie I caught one night on the Disney Channel. Being a horse jumping enthusiast, I was surprised when I saw Frank Chapot and George Morris! It was then that I realised that this was a true story. I think that it should be re released for the kids on the jumping circuit to see. It's an awesome story of a horse that is against all odds and overcomes them to become one of the US Equestrian Team's Champions in Europe. Kids nowadays need to see films like this. It will boost their interest, will and dreams to become an olympic rider, with the little horse they currently have.
Worthy of a re-release
Minoan22 December 1998
This is a wonderful story of success against all the odds; made all the more fantastic because the story is true. This horse was one step away from the glue factory when he was rescued and went on to glory on the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team. This would be dramatic enough but made all the more so since the horse was a palomino. Not exactly known as jumpers. But this one certainly was and he was extraordinary. His talent became painfully evident to a string of owners because he would constantly escape from every corral they would put him in....one being seven feet high. Great story and one that is deserving of a re-release.
Great film
robertaltman9 April 2002
This was a genuinely touching film. It is very sensitive in telling how the horse started out innocent, and peaceful and how people mistreated it, or didn't quite understand it very often. I was impressed by how I could see the feelings of the horse itself. The horse had this fantastic will, and I identified with that and it was intriguing. When the horse did well in the jumping shows and kept doing better and better.. I cheered. When the end part came-I was ecstastic with joy!! It was such a great story.. I had to look it up on the web and write about it. I found on the web it's a true story too-which makes it all the more great. I strongly suggest all watch this classic-it won an Academy Award in 1960.
OLYMPIC stuff true - the rest pure Disney
smarrujo20 December 2006
While I absolutely agree that this is a fun movie and should be re-released, people should be aware that the 'abused cowpony' portion of the movie is pure Disney poetic license. Nautical ("The Horse with the Flying Tail") was bred to be a jumper. He was by the QH stallion (palomino) Muchacho de Oro out of an Army Remount (mostly TB mare). His registered name was "Peter de Oro." His prior to the Olympic Team history was of being a temperamental jumper who was inclined to "stop" at water and ditch jumps. Hugh Wiley acquired him, and with the help of USET Coach Bert de Nemethy, trained him to be the Olympic level jumper he became. The Olympic team stuff is true, but he cowpony stuff, not so.
Exceptionally well made film which won an Oscar for Documentary Feature
llltdesq26 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This Disney documentary won the Oscar the year it was released and I just watched it last night. There will be mild spoilers:
This is the story of Nautical, a jumping horse which was ridden by a member of the US Equestrian Team in competition. The nature of the story is such that much of the footage is either a recreation or a dramatic exaggeration of fact. When the actor Slim Pickens can be easily recognized playing a cowboy on the ranch in an early scene, it's fairly obvious that portions have been staged.
Regardless, this is an enjoyable and entertaining film which is fascinating in its own right, whatever license may have been taken with the story. The show jumping footage at the end is clearly real footage of competition, as it isn't nearly as well-lit as most of the rest of the film. The presentation footage at the end is also taken from the real event for the most part, with one or two shots inter-cut for effect.
This film is available on DVD through the Disney Movie Club as an exclusive release. The print looks good and is well worth watching. Most recommended.
This is the story of Nautical, a jumping horse which was ridden by a member of the US Equestrian Team in competition. The nature of the story is such that much of the footage is either a recreation or a dramatic exaggeration of fact. When the actor Slim Pickens can be easily recognized playing a cowboy on the ranch in an early scene, it's fairly obvious that portions have been staged.
Regardless, this is an enjoyable and entertaining film which is fascinating in its own right, whatever license may have been taken with the story. The show jumping footage at the end is clearly real footage of competition, as it isn't nearly as well-lit as most of the rest of the film. The presentation footage at the end is also taken from the real event for the most part, with one or two shots inter-cut for effect.
This film is available on DVD through the Disney Movie Club as an exclusive release. The print looks good and is well worth watching. Most recommended.
Wonderful movie that Disney should re-release and put on videotape
sgeil8 August 2002
This is an outstanding documentary with tremendous appeal to all horse lovers--especially those equestrians interested in jumping or in true-life Cinderella stories. The former Olympic rider, Hugh Wiley, does a wonderful job with "Nautical," the palomino who can jump to the moon (well, almost). Disney definitely should resurrect this one--and put it on VHS or DVD!
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