How Well Do You Know Your Disney Horses?

Some of the most integral characters in Disney films have been horses. Can you imagine the ending of Snow White if her prince had to carry her off piggyback?  They're important to the story!  Since day one, the horse has been a character in so many Disney films. Sadly, some haven't been given the honor of a name (For example, Snow White's prince's horse is just as nameless as he is.  Ichabod's horse was borrowed so we suppose even he didn't know the name.), but recently we have been seeing more and more personality from these wonderful creatures.

You may have noticed some are more memorable than others, but how well do you know your Disney horses?  Can you name the movie they appeared in and who their rider is?  Could you name all the below? 

Test yourself!  For the sake of the exercise, every horse pictured has a name. :)

Answers:

Ready?  Even I had trouble remembering some of these names!

1. Name: Cyril Proudbottom
Movie: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, 1949
Rider: Mr. Toad

2. Name: Major
Movie: Cinderella, 1950
Rider: None

3. Name: Jaq, Gus, and one nameless mouse (after the magical song, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo)
Movie: Cinderella, 1950
Rider: None, drew Cinderella's carriage to the ball

4. Name: Samson
Movie: Sleeping Beauty, 1959
Rider: Prince Phillip

5. Name: Captain
Movie: 101 Dalmatians, 1961
Rider: None, barn horse

6. Name: Phillipe
Movie: Beauty and the Beast, 1991
Rider: Maurice and Belle

7. Name: Achilles
Movie: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996
Rider: Phoebus

8. Name: Snowball
Movie: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996
Rider: Frollo

9. Name: Pegasus
Movie: Hercules, 1997
Rider: Hercules

10. Name: Khan
Movie: Mulan, 1998
Rider: Mulan

11. Name: Bullseye
Movies: Toy Story 2 and 3, 1999 & 2010
Rider: Woody

12. Name: Buttercup
Movie: Toy Story 3, 2010
Rider: None

13. Name: Maximus
Movie: Tangled, 2010
Rider: Captain of the Guard

14. Name: Angus
Movie: Brave, 2012
Rider: Merida

15. Name: Sitron
Movie: Frozen, 2013
Rider: Hans

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How many of these names were news to you?

Many of these characters are often depicted as very large dogs; loyal pets to their riders.  You really see this with Pegasus, Achilles, and Bullseye.  Very few have been given speaking roles, which is probably why the physicality of these steeds have been tested time and time again.  Much better than being, well, just a mare.  Nobody gets excited if you just chew hay in the background. Depending on the role, horses were either part of the scenery (like in Snow White) or fully cartoony (like both horses in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad).

That is why I especially love what they did with Tangled's Maximus.  He had a much bigger role than his rider, and was a fantastic match for Flynn.  He doesn't speak a word, but the animators were incredibly creative with his mannerisms and facial expressions.  Maximus is a true part of the cast, and it shows just how much can be done with animation now. 

Which is your favorite horse to date?  Mine is the lesser known, nameless filly below. :)

~Amy Melissa