5 of the Most Legendary Horses of All Time

Horses hold a special place in our hearts and have for centuries. Some horses have become legendary because of their stories, success, and impact on their breed. 

Godolphin Arabian

The Godolphin Arabian is one of the few horses recognized as one of three foundation sires for today’s Thoroughbred. Born in Yemen in 1724, he was given to King Louis XV of France. Not seeing the value of the powerful bay stallion, King Louis put him to work as a cart-horse and ultimately sold him. 

He was eventually imported to the UK and was known for passing his color, conformation, and speed to his offspring. These attributes made him a highly sought-after sire in the 18th century as his offspring quickly became successful on the track. Nearly all modern Thoroughbred lines can be traced back to three Arabian stallions - the Godolphin Arabian, the Darley Arabian, and Byerly Turk.

Seabiscuit

One of the most famous racehorses in the 20th century, Seabiscuit’s story is one of triumph for the underdog. With a terrible start to his career, Seabiscuit eventually beat one of the most competitive racehorses of the time, War Admiral. Overcoming injuries and small size, Seabiscuit won America’s Horse of the Year in 1938.

Secretariat

Born in 1970, Secretariat is one of the most famous horses in the world, with multiple records still unbroken today. He is one of two horses to ever finish the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes.

Secretariat became the first horse to win the Triple Crown in over 25 years. He then went on to win a record-breaking victory at Belmont Stakes, winning by 31 lengths. Secretariat was named Horse of the Year twice and won the Eclipse Award, the first two-year-old to ever win this award.

In addition to an unrivaled racing career, Secretariat was featured on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. He was the first horse to have a Hollywood agent to manage all of his appearances. 

Bucephalus

Owned by Alexander the Great, Bucephalus was known for his courage and stamina in battle. Bucephalus was a beautiful black stallion with a white star. Purchased by Alexander’s father, Bucephalus was described as a massive horse with a wild spirit. He was famously tamed by Alexander when no one else could work with him. Alexander rode Bucephalus in many battles, including the conquest of the Greek city-states, Thebes, and India.

Much beloved, Bucephalus can be seen in numerous images with Alexander the Great and is believed to have died from injuries in battle.

Trigger

This famous palomino horse was owned and trained by Roy Rogers. Trigger was featured with Roy in numerous films and performed at live events. He knew over 150 tricks, including walking on his hind legs, was fully house trained, and was often seen visiting sick children in hospitals. This extraordinary horse was taxidermied after his death and can be seen at the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum in Missouri.